Lyr Req: I've Been Floating down the Old Green Riv

Subject: Lyrics: Green River
From: Ned M
Date: 15 Nov 96 - 11:30 PM

I think this could be considered a folk song.

Something like:

I was floating down that old Green River, On the good ship Rock & Rye.....

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Green River
From: Ned M
Date: 18 Nov 96 - 10:52 PM

I've just found the song referred to by the title:

"Floating Down the Old Green River",

but still need the lyrics. -Ned

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE BEEN FLOATING DOWN THE OLD GREEN RVR
From:
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 10:32 PM

I've Been Floating Down The Old Green River (Words By Bert Kalmer - Music By Joe Cooper) 1914 Half past four, Dan McGraw, came sneak-ing to his wifey's door She'd been wait-ing up all night, Waiting for him to go to bed Danny smiled, like a child, but his wifey grew very wild "Where have you been all night long?," She cried And this is what Danny replied:   Chorus I've been floating down the old green river On the good ship rock and rye. But I floated too far, I got stuck on a bar, I was out there alone, wishing that I was home.   The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew, And there was only one thing left to do, So I had to drink the whole green river dry To get back home to you.^^

Subject: Lyr Add: GREEN RIVER (Cantor, Van & Schenk)^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 12:06 AM

I suppose it's not this one, but this one is fun. George, what's your source?
What does Green River have to do with drinking and Prohibition?
-Joe Offer-

---

GREEN RIVER
(Eddie Cantor and Van & Schenk)

Since the country's turned prohibition, I've been in a bad condition.
Every soft drink that I try just makes me want to cry.
Take it back from whence it came. All your drinks are much the same.
I tried one here today, and believe me when I say:

CHORUS: For a drink that's fine without a kick, Oh, Green River.
It's the only drink that does the trick, just Green River.
Has others beat a mile, makes drinking worth while,
And if you want to wear a little smile, try Green River.
If your girl gives you the sack, try Green River.
You will surely win her back. It's grand, now understand.
That rich man, poor man, beggarman, thief
Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief
Once they drink it, they all think it
The best drink in the land.

When the cannons stopped their thundering, everybody started wondering
How the treaty would be signed; that was on our mind.
Wilson soon forgot his "Wilson." Haig forgot his "Haig and Haig."
Foch said, "No more Rhine wine. Listen, boys, before we sign: CHORUS

(Words by Eddie Cantor. Music by Van & Schenk, 1920)
Source: The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music^^

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Green River
From:
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 11:05 AM

Not sure now. Doing a search this morning, I come up with this http://brisbin.net/Nanci/archives/1999/99713.html. Perhaps that was where I got it.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Green River
From: pattyClink
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 10:15 AM

Bad link, George.

This song is one I literally remember learning at Mother's knee. It was normally sung shortly before or after going to the Pickwick coffee shop, an Art Deco masterpiece, to have a soda made with ice cream and a soft drink called Green River. Very fond memory. Love the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Green River
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 11:01 AM

I've never heard this song, but I've seen the Green River in Kentucky and it seems to fit George's song, sandbars etc. But ships?

It's the same Green River in "Paradise":
Daddy won't ya take me back to Muhlenburg County,
Along the Green River where Paradise lay.

I routinely cross over the Green River in Henderson County where it really is green instead of blue or gray. I always heard that it was so deep that the refracted light was green instead of blue. I don't think that really makes sense though.

The sandbars are in the headwaters which is a more remote part of Kentucky, away from population centers. Green County, Kentucky was featured in National Geographic several years ago. It's one of those places that you almost have to be going there to ever see it. It's just not on the way to somewhere else. ;-)

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE BEEN FLOATING DOWN THE OLD GREEN RIV
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 05 - 09:10 PM

Transcribed from the sheet music images at Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

I'VE BEEN FLOATING DOWN THE OLD GREEN RIVER
(Words, Bert Kalmer. Music, Joe Cooper. 1914)

1. Half past four, Dan McGraw
Came sneaking to his wifey's door.
She'd been waiting up all night,
Waiting for him to go to bed
Danny smiled, like a child,
But his wifey grew very wild
"Where have you been all night long?" she cried,
And this is what Danny replied:

CHORUS 1: I've been floating down the old Green River
On the good ship Rock and Rye.
But I floated too far, I got stuck on a bar,
I was out there alone, wishing that I was home.
The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew,
And there was only one thing left to do,
So I had to drink the whole Green River dry
To get back home to you.

2. Danny's frau raised a row,
Said, "I'll go home to mother now."
Danny said, "That's some idea;
Better than bringing mother here."
At the door there she saw
Her pa and ma and sev'ral more.
Dad was explaining when he came in,
Telling ma where he had been:

CHORUS 2: I've been floating down the old Green River
On the good ship Rock and Rye.
But I floated too far. I got stuck on a bar.
I was tied to the mast while the schooners went past.
The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew,
And there was only one thing left to do,
So I had to drink the whole Green River dry
To get back home to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 01:14 AM

My favorite song of Kris Kristofferson's is called "Green River"---about the Green River in Kentucky also. He sang it in a terrible film about 1965 or 66. I've never been able to find a record of it.

When I was young and visiting my aunt and uncle in Evansville, Indiana, we'd go out on the Ohio River and find where the Green River and the Ohio conjoin. We'd head into Kentucky and fish the day away with skipjack chunks as bait and floating sealed coffee cans floating along near us with baited hooks dangling below 'em. When a catfish'd hit the bait the can would sink and rise a few times until we could get over there and net it into our boat.---- At least, that is how it was supposed to work! But it rarely did. This thread brought all of those fine summer days back to me.

Thanks!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 02:03 PM

What does Green River have to do with drinking and Prohibition?

This is what I think. I put myself in the shoes of a person trying to write a drinking song with a river in it. The meter requires a one-syllable name for a river. Black River is too depressing, Red River sounds like a cowboy song, White River sounds like it has chalk in it, Orange River sounds impossible, Yellow River has too many syllables. Green River it is.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 05:53 PM

Green River was a popular fountain drink at the drugstore back home, lime flavored and REALLY green. I left home for college in 1955 and never saw Green River again.

This site http://www.dggpro.com/TheSodaDepot/browse.asp?page=415
says the original company went broke in 1950, so obviously I didn't have any

The Green Rivers are flowing again at restaurants and other retail locations in the Midwest. Green River soda hit it's stride about the same time as Prohibition, when the bright green lime flavored soft drink was produced by a Chicago Brewery and sold at soda fountains throughout the Country.


Green River soda was introduced to Midwestern drinkers in 1919, just as Congress was passing the 18th Amendment establishing Prohibition. When Prohibition officially went into affect on January 16, 1920, some breweries turned to making a nonalcoholic drink call Near Beer, while others were churning out ice cream. The Schoenhofen Edelweiss Brewing Company of Chicago turned to Green River. The soda was poured into old beer bottles and sold in the market. It was an immediate hit. The soft drink was so popular that Al Jolson recorded a song written about Green River.


By the end of Prohibition on December 5, 1933, Green River trailed only Coke in fountain sales throughout the Midwest. However, after Prohibition the brewery made Green River a second priority and sales dropped. In 1950 the brewery went broke.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 05:57 PM

That wasn't SUPPOSED to go when it did. I hadn't finished saying that apparently I didn't have any after 1950. It wasn't my favorite by a long shot, that would be Squirt. Click the link to read the rest of the story and see a picture of a current bottle of the resurrected Green River.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 08:54 PM

According to The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names, there are rivers called Green River in Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. There is also a Green River in Canada, but it doesn't say which province.

I remember the local movie theater that I went to as a kid served a soft drink they called Green River. This had to be sometime in the 1950s or maybe even early 1960s, since I would have been only 3 years old in 1950. It was strictly a fountain drink, as far as I knew. I never saw any bottles, and I can't recall seeing any advertising signs, either, or anything that looked "official," and I never saw it anywhere but at that theater. (Of course, I didn't get out much.) I have a hunch it was a homemade concoction. I know the theater also made "cherry cokes" by adding cherry syrup to Coca-Cola, something that probably was not officially sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Company. Maybe they made "Green River" by adding some green syrup to 7-Up. Who knows? I didn't pay close attention in those days.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 10:38 PM

If ya got 'em, please, could someone post the lyric to Waylon's "Green River" song?

It'd be appreciated!!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 12:13 AM

Here ya go, Art! http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/jennings-waylon/green-river-5156.html

Looks like it is available on Bear Family, though I didn't look too carefully.

As for the Green River advertising, there WAS some at the drugstore at home, but I can't remember the least thing about it. Here is a bit of advertising you can purchase if you like, and only $35,000 ~~ a steal! http://grapefruitmoongallery.com/originaladvertisingart/26.shtml

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floating Down the Old Green River
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 12:51 AM

The movie was Nashville Rebel, 1966. It's available on DVD now.
Complete music list from the DVD:

Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Waylon Jennings: Nashville Rebel
Waylon Jennings: Green River
Faron Young: Sweet Dreams
Tex Ritter: Hillbilly Heaven
Waylon Jennings: Nashville Bum
Porter Wagoner: Howdy Neighbour Howdy
Porter Wagoner: Country Music's Gone To Town
The Wilburn Brothers & Loretta Lynn: Christmas
Sonny James: Do What You Do Do Well
Waylon Jennings: Silver Ribbons
Waylon Jennings: Nashville Rebel
Waylon Jennings: Tennessee
Sonny James: Take Good Care Of Her
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough



The album IS a 6 CD Bear Family, so the price is on the high side, but probably worth it for Waylon fans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating Down the Old Green Riv
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 12:50 AM

Here's some information about Green River, the soft drink.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating Down the Old Green Riv
From: 12-stringer
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 03:57 AM

For a free download of the song by Billy Murray, see here:

http://www.archive.org/details/BillyMurray_part2

Titles are in alphabetical order; "Green River" is near the bottom of the list.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating Down the Old Green Riv
From: GUEST,John Zerblis
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 01:36 PM

The song was written back about 1914. It has nothing to do with Prohibition.
Also there is a Green River in the bluegrass song "Muhlenburg County" (By John Prine?) Mr Peabody's coal train has hauled it away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating down the Old Green Riv
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 12:42 AM

In Portland OR circa late 40s, early 50s there was a Dixieland Band called Monte (Monty?) Ballou (or similar spelling) and his Castle Jazz Band. They did this song. I was a lad and the lyrics stuck with me, as did the lyrics of many other songs from the radio in that era. I can't remember what my wife said to get at the market but I know the lyrics of about 100 songs from 60 years ago. I guess your brain knows how to remember what's important. Anyway, Monty, started the song with a prop phone that rang. He answered with, "Hello, honey. I know honey. I'm sorry honey, but I couldn't help it. Well, if you'll just listen, I'll tell you what happened." And into the song, accompanying himself on the banjo (probably 4 string), backed up by the typical Dixieland ensemble: tuba, clarinet, trumpet, etc. "I was floatin' down that old Green River..." etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating down the Old Green Riv
From: GUEST,garyp1936
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 12:24 PM

Searching for the chord lead sheet in the original key of g. Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating down the Old Green Riv
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 04:20 PM

Green River sour mash bourbon is legendary; it first appeared in 1885. One can put together a large collection of memorabilia, if one has the time and a small fortune to spend. Beware fakes and reproductions.

Its slogan- "The Whiskey Without a Headache."

I don't know is there is a current brand of that name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Been Floating down the Old Green Riv
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 04:35 PM

Indeed.

Google search for images of 'Green River Whiskey'