Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat

Subject: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 11:42 AM

I would like the lyrics to this song. Are there other versions than the one sung by Nelson Eddy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mDmyPBXK7k

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 12:02 PM

Hello, Q. When I tried your URL, I got "this video is unavailable."

Is the song a variation on "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear? You can easily find that poem online.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 12:47 PM

Not the same as the Lear poem (I have a book of Lear's rhymes. Every child should have a copy).

Go to youtube and put in Nelson Eddy or the title of the song. It can be found easily.

I sometimes get that "unavailable." It seems to mean that the video is copyright and can't be downloaded (A lot of these- All videos of "Ashokan Farewell" are blocked, whether by Jay Ungar or Joe Blow, and other recent material as well).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Sep 13 - 08:32 AM

The owl and the bobcat went to sea,
In a beautiful pea-green boat.
The took some honey and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The owl looked up to the moon above,
And sang to a small guitar.
"O lovely pussy, oh pussy my love,
What a beutiful pussy you are."

Pussy said to the owl, "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
Your feathers are neat, you look such a treat,
I think I'll start with a wing!" ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Sep 13 - 11:11 AM

Thanks for the tip about searching for Nelson Eddy, Q. I had assumed that once a video was blocked it was blocked for good.

The lyrics Q wants start with:

A hoot owl sang from a sycamore limb, "to whit to whoo"

They are completely different from the Edward Lear poem. They are fast-paced, and I for one don't feel up to writing them down from the video.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Sep 13 - 12:47 PM

I had trouble listening to that old recording; I will try again to get the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Sep 13 - 12:52 PM

Found it! On the Jeanette MacDonald lyrics site.
I will post it later today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Sep 13 - 03:34 PM

Good! It's a fun song.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OWL AND THE BOBCAT
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Sep 13 - 04:16 PM

In the film "Naughty Marietta," 1935, the song was sung by Nelson Eddy.
It essentially is "The Owl and the Polecat," 1910, from the original musical. Lyric by Rida Johnson Young, Music by Victor Herbert. Revisions in the film by Gus Kahn.

Nelson Eddy sings the words in somewhat different order from those at the Jeanette Macdonald website, and with variations I couldn't catch.

Lyr. Add: OWL AND THE BOBCAT
Rida Johnson Young

The owl says who are you to sit there criticizing me?
Boom, boom, boom, boom
Boom, boom, boom, boom.

The hoot owl sings from a sycamore limb,
To wit, to who
The bobcat said some remark
that made him mad clear thr-u-u-u
Boom, boom, boom, boom,(not sung by Eddy
Boom, boom, boom, boom

The owl said who are you to sit there criticizing me
I understand you're not the kind of a cat you pretend to be-eeeee
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah (sounds like oh--- in the recording)
ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
The cat replied with just one thing,
"Me-ow, me-ow,"
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-
ah------- (held)
And I'm pretty sure that the owl knows better now
AH----------(held)

http://www.jeanettemacdonaldfanclub.com/lyrics.htm

This one submitted by Ollie M.

Help wanted----

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Owl and the Bobcat
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 13 - 01:32 PM

In song, the owl always sits in a sycamore tree.
There are several songs- lovers wooing, other animals

If there is any interest, I will post lyrics and/or location.