Subject: RE: Man in the Moon - old song?
From:
Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 10:45 AM
Thanks for that Reinhard. So it looks as if the Cardiff newspaper version was taken from the book, which would probably accord with the missing first verse.
Here are the three versions side by side. (I had a fancy table which combined and colour-coded the lines to make it easier to see which were the same, but html table is forbidden here and I can't be bothered simulating it!)
Mick
Alfred Williams Everybody's Song Book Cardiff Times
When a bumper is filled, it is vexing, no doubt, When a bumper is ordered, tis vexing no doubt,
To find when you rise that the wine has run out; To find when you'd fill that the wine is run out;
And sure 'tis an equally unpleasant thing, And 'tis surely an equally unpleasant thing,
To be asked for a song when you've nothing to sing. To be asked for a song, when you've nothing to sing.
I could try something old, if an old one would do, I might try something old, if an old one would do,
But the world it is craving to have something new, But the world is still craving to have something new:
What to select for the words or the tune, And what to select for the words or the tune,
I, in fact, know no more than the Man in the Moon. I in fact know no more than the man in the moon.
The Man in the Moon a new light on us throws; Ah! the man in the moon a new light on me throws,
He's a man we all talk of but nobody knows; He's a man we all talk of, but nobody knows,
And though a high subject, I'm getting in tune - And though a high subject I'm getting in tune,
I'll just have a turn at the Man in the Moon. I'll just have a turn at the man in the moon.
The Man in the Moon must lead a queer life, The man in the moon seems to lead a queer life, THE Man in the Moon seems to lead a queer life,
With no one around, not even a wife, With no one about him, not even a wife; With no one around him, not even a wife;
No friends to console him, no children to kiss, No friends to console him, no children to kiss, No friends to console him, no children to kiss,
No chance of his joining a party like this. No chance of his joining a meeting like this. No chance of his joining a meeting like this.
He changes his house each quarter unpleasant, His changing his lodging each quarter's unpleasant, His changing his lodgings so often's unpleasant,
Living first in a circle and then in a crescent; Living first in a circus and then in a crescent; Living first in a Circus, and then in a Crescent;
If he rents by these quarters so fast going by, If he rents by these quarters, so fast going by, If he rents by those quarters so fast going by,
I should think he is rented uncommonly high. I should fancy he's rented uncommonly high; I should think he was rented uncommonly high.
But he's used to high life, for all circles agree, But he's used to high life, for all circles agree, But he's used to all this, for most people agree,
That none move in such a high circle as he, None are moving in such a high circle as he- There are none living in such high circles as he;
And though nobles go up in their royal balloon, For though nobles go up in a royal balloon, And though nobles go up in a Royal Balloon,
They can't get introduced to the Man in the Moon. They can't get introduced to the man in the moon. They can't get introduced to the Man in the Moon.
'Tis said that some people are moonstruck, we find, 'Tis thought that all madmen are moon-struck we find, It is said that all mankind are moon-struck we find,
And the Man in the Moon may be out of his mind, And the man in the moon may be out of his mind; And the Man in the Moon may be out of his mind;
But it can't be for love, for he's quite on his own, But it can't be for love, for 'tis very well known, But it can't be for love, for 'tis very well known
No girls there to meet him by moonlight alone; There's no girls there to meet him by moonlight alone; There are no girls there to meet him by moonlight alone
It can't be ambition, for rivals he's none, It can't be ambition, for rivals he's none, It can't be ambition, for rival he has none-
At least he is only eclipsed by the sun, At least, he is only eclipsed by the sun: At least, he is only eclipsed by the Sun;
And though in his prospects overclouded he sees, Though his prospects are often o'erclouded he sees, And though his prophets are sometime o'erclouded by these,
The Man in the Moon can make light of all these. But the man in the moon can make light of all these. Yet the Man in the Moon can light of all these.
In drinking, I fear, he may sometimes surpass, In drinking, I fear he may sometimes surpass, At drinking, I fear, he can sometimes surpass,
For he always looks best when seen through a glass; For he always looks best when he's seen through a glass; As he always looks best when seen with a glass;
And in smoking, though you may smoke morning and noon, Then for smoking, though we may smoke morning and noon, At smoking, though we may smoke morning and noon,
You can't blow a cloud like the Man in the Moon. We can't blow a cloud like the man in the moon. We can't show a cloud like the Man in the Moon.
He's a mighty sad rake, he don't rise till it's dark, He's a mighty sad rake, he don't rise till it's dark, He's a mighty sad rake, for he rises at dark,
When the night it sets in he sets out for a lark; And when night sets in he sets out for a lark; When the Sun's setting in, he goes out for a lark;
Goes roaming about and sings with the spheres, Goes mooning about, and sings out to the spheres,- He's roaming about, and sings out to the spheres-
'We won't go home till morning, till daylight appears.' "We won't go home till morning and daylight appears." He'll not go home till morning, and daylight appears.
He looks in at the stars that go shooting up there, He looks in at the stars that go shooting up there, He looks to the stars that are shooting up there,
Lets loose the Dog Star to bait the Great Bear; And lets loose the Dog Star to bait the great Bear. And lets loose the Dog Star to bait the Great Bear;
At the Milky Way calls for a minute or two, At the Milky-way stops for a minute or two, At the Milky-way stops for a moment or two,
Has some milk but don't pay, 'cos he swears 'tis sky blue; Has some milk, but don't pay, 'cos he swears it's sky blue. Has some milk, but won't pay, for he says 'tis sky-blue.
But daylight soon takes the shine out of him quite, But daylight soon takes the shine out of him quite, But the daylight soon takes the shine out of him quite,
He goes home and gets into bed by sunlight, And be goes home, and gets into bed by sunlight, And the poor fellow turns into bed by sunlight;
And though you may think him a regular spoon, And though you may think him a regular spoon, And though you may think him a regular spoon,
You'd be plagued to get over the Man in the Moon. You'd be plagued to get over the man in the moon. You'll be plagued to get over the Man in the Moon
Roath. R. F. G.
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sj
