Origins: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb

Subject: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: InOBU
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 08:16 AM

An old Anarchist friend of mine, Rosemary, an old pal of Dorathy Day, who I used to know from playing the Uilleann pipes in the church choir, used to sing this to annoy priests and nuns, when they were being bad - for example giving a bosses sermon on labor day... There are lots of verses, but the one she sang the most, so the one I remember, more or less is...

Its sister Jennies turn to throw the bomb
poor old brother James is dead and gone
Mothers aim is bad, and the coppers all know dad
so its sister Jennies turn to throw the bomb.

anyone with the rest? Id love to sing it for Rosemary, next time I see her.
All the best
Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: IceWolf
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 08:36 AM

It's available from Random Factors, I think, in California. I know they're on the web, but don't have a URL offhand; they'll come up on a Yahoo! search. The author of the song is Leslie Fish, who is (in)famous in filk circles, at least.

Nice to know that filk isn't entirely dead!

--IceWolf

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 09:15 AM

I think it's older than that. I learned it from the yellow College Song Fest (Best&Best) back in the sixties. It is also in DT, and you can find it by searching "anarchist" in the blue box above, or by clicking here.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 09:18 AM

I think there's more verses than that, tho. I'll look in my library and post them later. Do you want the tune, too?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: InOBU
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 10:46 AM

I dont need the tune, though if youd like to post it for others that would be good. I believe it might be much older than the sixties, Ill ask Rosemary, but I think it may go back to the 1930s, at least. I think she learned it in her anarchist camp days, and she would be the first to say, she is no spring chicken.
Thanks all
Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: lamarca
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 03:50 PM

Yes, Barbara, I remember it from Dick and Beth Best's collection, too. I have it at home - if you haven't posted more, I'll do it tonight. I was always morbidly fascinated with the songs in "Song Fest", which I first encountered in high school; the gory versions of Battle Hymn of the Republic, Sister Jenny and others.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:21 PM

...and they picked him up in a lunchpail after salvaging the rope,
And he ain't gonna climb no more
Gory, gory, what's it to ya?(3X)
He ain't gonna climb no more

Like that?
Me too.
I think the Anarchist's Song (wasn't it called that?) could easily have come from the '30s. I'll go look.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: lamarca
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:50 PM

And another one, partially remembered...

...There was blood upon the bindings
There were brains upon his skis
Intestines were entwined about
The tops of all the trees
Da-DA-da-da da-DA-da-da da-DA-da-da da-DA...
And he ain't gonna ski no more...

What kid could resist a song like that?!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennies Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 11:20 PM

What's in the songbook is the same as what's in the database. In College SongFest, it's called "The Bomb Song" , but that's the only difference I can see other than the spelling of "Kopski".
Do you want the words to the others? The Skier is here and the climbing version is here. Enjoy!!??
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Origins: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 04 - 05:22 PM

This page purports to be an "autobiographical letter" from Leslie Fish. It's unclear from the letter whether Fish claims authorship of the song. The letter doesn't give Fish's birthdate, but I gather from the text that Fish was in college in the 1960's. My 1958 copy of Song Fest has "The Bomb Song," with lyrics that are almost exactly the same as what's in the Digital Tradition. I can't find the song in my 1948 edition of Song Fest. Can anybody find a printing of the song that's earlier than 1958?
-Joe Offer-

---

Here are the Digital Tradition lyrics, which are exactly the same as the 1958 Song Fest (page 31) version.

IT'S SISTER JENNY'S TURN TO THROW THE BOMB (DT) In an anarchist's garret, so lowly and so mean Oh, smell the pungent odor of nitro-glycerine. They're busy making fuses, and filling cans with nails And the little Slavic children set up this mournful wail. Oh, its Sister Jenny's turn to throw the bomb; The last one it was thrown by Brother Thom. Poor Mamma's aim is bad and the Copskys all know Dad, So it's Sister Jenny's turn to throw the bomb. Sister Jenny took the bomb and started off. "Oh, mind you now," said Mamma, "to blow up Templehoff." And so the party waited, while the dawn turned into day, And the little Slavic children set up this mournful lay Oh it's Brother Ivanovitch's turn to throw the bomb. Sister Jenny's gone the way of Brother Thom; Poor Mamma's aim is bad and the Copsky's all know Dad, So it's Brother Ivanovitch's turn to throw the bomb.

@political @revolution @Russian
filename[ SISTJENN
TUNE FILE: SISTJENN
CLICK TO PLAY
JY

Popup Midi Player

Alas, there is no listing for this song in the Traditional Ballad Index or the Roud Index

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mark Ross
Date: 12 Jun 04 - 05:49 PM

It's also in Dave Van Ronk & Dick Ellington(and I think Roy Berkeley's) ANARCHIST SONGBOOK, published in the late '50's.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 03:46 AM

Same words, Mark?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 10:05 AM

The link to Gory, Gory no longer works, so here's an updated link: Gory, Gory (Climber's version)

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 10:46 AM

I have this on a record somewhere, but for the life of me can't remember who sang it... maybe Tom Lehrer? It was called Anarchistic Ballad, or some such. Words very slightly different from those in the DT (it was UNCLE Ivanovitch) but no additional verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Joe_F
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 11:08 AM

I first heard it in the early '50s. The title was used as that of a tape by Leslie Fish et al., but she did not write the song.

Filk is very much alive. Entire organizations are devoted to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Allan. S
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 06:34 PM

I heard it at U-Conn Back in 1951 Old outing club song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mark Ross
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 11:09 AM

Slightly different Joe. I'll see if I can find my copy.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 11:46 AM

Barb et al-

My mother certainly learned it in the early 1930's, with her friends in Greenwich Village. For my brother and me, it was one of our favorite nursery songs. My father would always smile and chuckle as we would shrilly chorus, "Bomb, bomb, bomb!"

Our words were slightly different than what appears in Best and I think I posted them on another version of this thread.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble
Still in Mystic after a wonderful sea music festival

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 11:25 PM

Blessings on Barbara - thanks to her, we now have a tune.

---

Click to play

---

Charley, is this the tune you're familiar with? It's from Song Fest, the absolute worst book to transcribe a tune from.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: JJ
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:50 AM

A single of this, sung by the Glencoves (not known to me) keeps popping up on eBay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 09:41 AM

Joe-

The tune seems similar to me but maybe I should send you a MP3 file of how we used to sing it. I remember that my brother once dressed up as an anarchist one Halloween, complete with bomb; I settled for being a wounded soldier, lots of bandages and blood stains. I bet kids don't do that any more!

Charley Noble

---

Hey, I'd like an MP3, Charley.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: robomatic
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 09:53 AM

I think two song threads are getting mixed up here. Gory Gory exists in several forms the earliest one is the Jumper's Song from WWII (A bit of it is sung in the recently broadcast 'Band of Brothers'. I don't think it is the same as Sister Jennie's Turn...

Subject: Lyr Add: SISTER JENNY'S TURN TO THROW THE BOMB ^^^
From: GUEST,Ken Sribnick
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:16 AM

Hi All,

I still sing it, just as I got it from Song Fest. I'm 56-years
old now. Glad to pass it on....

SISTER JENNY'S TURN TO THROW THE BOMB

In an anarchist's garret so lowly and so mean
Oh smell the pungent odor of nitroglycerin
They're busy making fuses
And filling cans with nails
While the little Slovic children
Set up this mournful wail....

(Chorus)
It's sister Jenny's turn to throw the bomb
The last one it was thrown by brother Thom
Poor Mama's aim is bad
And the kopskies all know Dad
So it's sister Jenny's turn to throw the bomb

Sister Jenny took the bomb and started off
"Oh, mind you now," said Mama "to blow up Templehoff"
And so the party waited
While morn turned into day
And the little Slovic children
Set up this mournful lay....

(Chorus)
It's brother Ivan's turn to throw the bomb
Sister Jenny's gone the way of brother Thom
Poor Mama's aim is bad
And the kopsikies all know Dad
So it's brother Ivan's turn to throw the bomb

....And a few of us added.....

Three cheers for cousin Jerry
He set fire to the Staten Island Ferry
Yes, it's brother Ivan's turn to throw the bomb

The line might have been
"And the cops they all know Dad"
.... time can change things.^^^

Thanks for this thread
Nice to know I'm not alone
If anybody has an extra copy of Song Fest
I'd love to buy it and work over some of
my old material...

Ken Sribnick - [e-mail]
(now in) Dallas Texas (214 654-9269)
(used to be at) 2 Horatio Street
Music & Art '66 - Queens College '70

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 08:46 PM

No, Ken, you're not alone!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, temporarily in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Joybell
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 08:01 PM

No indeed! Ken we just got a copy of Song Fest, sent to us in Australia, from a secondhand book site. Quite cheap except for the postage! You should be able to get one there easily enough. Most, if not all, of the songs are here at Mudcat actually. You could work your way through those while you wait. Cheers Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Ken Lanious III
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 03:46 PM

If you suscribe (for free) to http://www.thedoctordementoshow.com/ you can find an MP3 of a show this song was on. It's a version by THE GLENCOVE'S from 1963 and has different lyrics than what I've been finding anywhere else.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 10:36 AM

My mother (BA [Hons] McGill, class of '51) used to sing this when my brothers and I were little children, much to our delight. (At that age, we also loved "An Irish Ballad" by Tom Lehrer.) She sang more verses after the ones quoted here, but all I can remember of them is the deathless line "and when they scooped up Olga, she looked more like raspberry jam", which ended a verse in which the bomb was placed in a grocery cart beside a can of Spam.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: NH Dave
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 03:27 PM

Early editions of Song Fest date from the 30's. I'd give the Best's book more veracity about dating the song before the 60's than anyone's claim to have written it later than that. Unfortunately Song Fest seem to be out of print, and early copies on Amazon.com run well over $100, so I'm not going to try to buy an older version of this great book.

    Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: GUEST,Guest_2
Date: 17 Dec 05 - 04:51 PM

I have--or had--2 '45's of this song, the 1960's version of it, probably by the Glencoves.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Dec 05 - 11:18 AM

Good grief! Even the 1950's edition of Song Fest is listed at more than $100. Clearly it's time to republish this songbook.

Is there a thread here at Mudcat that discusses the origin of Dick and Beth Best's fine collection of songs? I suppose I could look for my own copy and see what they had to say in the introduction, if I could find it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Songstress
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:19 PM

I know a version that is a little different. It glorifies the kids bombing more. It goes,

In a bombed out garret, so lowly and so mean,
Oh smell the pungent odor of nitroglycerin.
Three busy little children are filling cans with nails,
They're busy making fuses as they sing this mournful wail -

Oh, freedom, freedom, we'll live to see the day,
Freedom, freedom, a child shall lead the way.

"Let's draw straws to see whose turn it is to throw the bomb-"
Johnny's hand is trembling, he's trying to be calm -
Polly's face is ghostly white, she's gripping Johnny's arm,
The last to take for freedom's sake is little brother Tom

There are a few more verses. The kids in this one don't seem to be Slavic, from the names. Does anyone know this version? I'd love to know what book it might be in!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: Midchuck
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 01:57 PM

Charlie said: Good grief! Even the 1950's edition of Song Fest is listed at more than $100. Clearly it's time to republish this songbook.

Fat chance! The screams of outraged political correctness would echo to the heavens, and any publisher would run for cover. Just the use of "darkie" dialect would make it unpublishable today.

It's a shame. But I have mine. Purchased as a freshman in college, just starting to learn guitar. Three-hole punched the pages when it fell apart and put them in a binder.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 08:11 AM

Guest,Songstress said: I know a version that is a little different. It glorifies the kids bombing more.

This sounds like the version I knew. It was on a record my folks had back in the 60s by a singer named Paul Evans. Near as I can recall, every song on the album was depressing.

Let's draw lots to see whose turn It is to throw the bomb

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 08:20 AM

Sorry. Hit the wrong button. The lyrics I remember:

(First verse same as songstress, then)

Let's draw lots to see whose turn It is to throw the bomb
Let's hope our aim is better than unlucky brother Tom
Polly's face is ghostly white, she's gripping Johnny's arm
The (third to take?) for freedom's sake is little brother John

Freedom, freedom, we'll live to see the day, oh
Freedom, freedom, a child shall lead the way

Johnny smiled, so proud was he that he had won the right
His little hands could dump the bomb and (stole? so?) into the night
John and Polly waited while the dawn turned into day,
Then the two brave little children sang out this mournful lay

(Chorus)

If there was another verse, I don't remember it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 10:35 AM

We were very innocent when we used to sing this ditty at our house fifty years ago, and later at college in the 1960's. Such gallows humor must resonate differently, along with much of Tom Leher's work, to present day singers. But contemporary singers probably have their own "outrageous" songs.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: GUEST,Evan Jones
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 12:05 PM

The version I remember from 1963 goes:

In an old chemist's attic, so dreary and so mean.
You'll smell the pungent odor of Nitroglycerin.
They're busy winding fuses, and filling cans with nails.
Then little starving kiddies send up this mournful wail...

Oh it's...

Sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb.
The last one it was thrown by brother John (BROTHER JOHN!)
Momma's aim is bad and the Coppers all know Dad.
So it's sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb!

In the dark and dreary attic all filled with nitro fumes,
They spend each waking hour plotting other's dooms.
They build bombs every morning so not a day goes by
That from some burning building goes up this mournful cry..Oh it's

(Chorus)

They're taught to build bombs from the day they're born
And this is something they all do with scorn
For they can hardly wait to feel the blast and hear the noise
And watch the heads go flying....off little girls and boys..Oh it's

(Chorus)

She was naming little children one fine day
When her older brother swore she'd have to pay.
Grit his teeth and pull the pin..the whole darn house caved in.
And I bet she's building bombs below this day ...Oh it's...

Sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb!
The last one it was thrown by brother John (BROTHER JOHN!)
Momma's aim is bad, and the Coppers all know dad
So it's sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb!

It's-sister-Ginny's-turn-to-throw-the-bomb!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 04:30 PM

Thanks for your contribution, Evan!

Charley Noble, who still owes Joe an MP3 I see.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 02:11 AM

She was MAIMING little children one fine day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: The Walrus
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 04:13 AM

And, if the various stories of 'net observation are true, with all the references to bombs and nitro-glycerine in this thread, this site should now be under close observation by a vast numbers of humourless young men in dark suits and with a veritable alphabet soup of agencies behind them.

Ah well! it keeps them in work.

W

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 10:30 AM

Walrus-

Indeed, it is curious to review these lyrics through contemporary eyes. Clearly my mother and her co-conspirators should have been locked up!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: The Walrus
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 07:02 PM

I do know that a Re-enactor site I frequent has asked it's membership to refrain from using the terms 'bombs', 'bombing' and 'grenade' when referring to 'explosive pyrotechnics', they now prefer 'simulators' (as if the site wouldn't have been flagged up already).

W

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bom
From: GUEST,ray
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 12:16 AM

i first heard this in the 50s on a recording made by some guys at stanford. among the other songs were some very clever spoofs about psychiatry (oh, dr. freud ...) and the HUAC.
anyone remember?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 06:08 AM

Dr Freud here:@displaysong.cfm?SongID=1702

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Daloki
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 07:35 PM

The lyrics I learned were:

In a bombed-out garret, so lowly and so mean,
Oh, smell the pungent odor of nitroglycerine.
Three busy little children are filling cans with nails.
They're busy building fuses as they sing this mournful wail.

Freedom, freedom, we'll live to see the day,
Freedom, freedom, a child shall lead the way.

Let's draw lots to see whose turn it is to throw the bomb.
Johnny's hand is trembling, he's trying to be calm.
Polly's face is ghostly white, she's gripping Johnny's arm.
The third to wait for freedom's sake is little brother Tom.

(Chorus)

Johnny smiles, so proud is he, for he has won the right.
His little hands picked up the bomb and stole into the night.
Tom and Polly waited till the dawn had turned to day,
And the two brave little children sang out this mournful way (lay?)

(Chorus)

Let's do the job together, it's our turn to throw the bomb,
Let's hope our aim is better than unlucky brother John.
They followed in his footsteps, now forever they are gone,
But in some bombed-out garret, freedom's children carry on.

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 09:48 PM

Again I should mention that this song originated long before Bests Song Fest:

"My mother certainly learned it in the early 1930's, with her friends in Greenwich Village."

And what she sings (at the age of 94) runs like this:

The Bomb Song

In the anarchist's attic, so lowly and so mean,
All amidst the fumes of nitro-glycerine;
They're busy making fuses, and filling cans with nails,
And the little Slavic children set up this mournful wail.
Oh, its Sister Sasha's turn to throw the bomb (bomb, bomb);
Last night it was thrown by Brother Thom (Thom, Thom).
Mamma's aim is bad and the Cossacks all know Dad,
So it's Sister Sasha's turn to throw the bomb (bomb, bomb).

Sister Sasha took the bomb and started off;
"Oh, mind you now," said Mamma, "to blow up Templehoff."
And so the anarchist family waited, till dusk turned into dawn,
The anarchist family waited and sang this mournful song:
Oh, it's Brother Petros' turn to throw the bomb (bomb, bomb);
Sister Sasha's gone the way of Brother Thom (Thom, Thom);
Mamma's aim is bad and the Cossacks all know Dad,
So it's Brother Petros' turn to throw the bomb (bomb, bomb).

Brother Petros went out, a bright faced Slavic lad;
He wore his Sunday suit, the only suit he had…

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: toadfrog
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 11:45 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,manseau
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 04:13 AM

Re: Mike Russo. Saw him and Ron Brentano billed (Brentano and Russo) playing bluegrass in a coffee shop across from the library on 10th back in 65 or 66 when I was in high school. Mike is gone as you may or may not know, I think Ron is still kicking but not in the mainstream of music any more. More if you interested. email me [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 11:55 AM

Another old song to refresh in my repertoire. Thank you, all contributors!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 12:34 PM

Enjoy!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 05:29 PM

This thread fascinates me because I bought that Paul Evans lp....where he did the song using the lyrics that songshare, guest, and Daloki quote. I always wondered about it....had never heard it before or since.

And Paul Evans wasn't really known as a 'folkie'. He was the guy who made hits of songs (written by pop writers) like 7 Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat, After the Hurricane, Happy Go Lucky Me, Show Folk, etc.

But he recorded an lp called "Folk Songs of Many Lands" (I still have a copy) that introduced me, as a youth, to many great folksongs like Passing Through (the one Leonard Cohen did many years later), Wee Cooper O'Fife, Sam Hall, and many others.

So to hear that The Bomb is an adaptation of an old anarchist song is interesting. I'm curious how that version ever got to Paul Evans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,Bruce G. Rollin
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 09:09 PM

As a faculty brat trying to grow up on a college campus I learned these lyrics sometime in the 60s... Tom Lehrer rings a certain bell, perhaps, mebbe...? Only the two verses & chorus though,

"In an anarchist's garret so lowly and so mean
Oh smell the pungent odor of nitroglycereen,
They're busy making fuses,
And filling cans with nails
While the little Slavic children
Set up this mournful wail....

(Chorus)
It's sister Jenny's turn to throw the bomb
The last one was thrown by brother Tom
Poor Mama's aim is bad
And the kopskis all know Dad
So it's sister Jenny's turn to throw the bomb"

    For the life of me I cannot now remember the exact words of the second verse. For that I must blame my sophomore (& senior) year room-mate, Jan Tyler Andrus. Jan, who sadly left us far too early, was an extraordinarily versatile musician, an incredibly talented artist & a gentleman of the highest order. He heard me croaking this song one day, & forced me to teach it to him, an addition to his coffee shop repertoire.   I recall I next heard him strumming it, in a smoke filled basement of a freshman girl's dorm, and Jan had "corrupted" the song, amending that second verse to:

Sister Jenny took the bomb, she feared the worst,
said Mama "Don't get caught like Patty Hearst"
And as the party waited
While the dawn turned into day
The little Slavic children
Set up this mournful lay....

(Chorus)
It's brother Ivanovitch's turn to throw the bomb
Sister Jenny's gone the way of brother Tom
Poor Mama's aim is bad
And the kopskis all know Dad
So it's brother Ivanovitch's turn to throw the bomb

(Again)

Poor Mama's aim is bad
And the kopskis all know Dad (last 3 words spoken)
So it's brother Ivanovitch's t u r n t o t h r o w t h e bommmmmmb!

(The ending draws out & goes up in a Tom Lehrer fashion, which leads me to suspect that origin)

    Needless to say Jan's updating the song, making it "relevant" in language of our youth, is the ONLY version my brain can hold to this very day. It's possible we did this together spring '74, but more likely it was that fall. Either way Jan's genius brought brought new life, and meaning, to an old, favourite classic. I still croak it from time to time, & NOBODY has ever heard it before...

Thanks for the moment in time,

Rivo!!!

Bruce

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 09:37 PM

Here's a link to a rendition on Youtube:

Sister Jenny's.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 13 - 09:56 PM

Larry Saidman's correct about Paul Evans other hits like "Seven Little Girls." My sister and I had an album of his called "The Greatest Folk Songs Ever Sung" back in the early 60s during the Hootenanny TV show era. Most of the greatest songs were ones that my sis and I, both folkies, had never heard of. And I have no memory of what the other greatest songs were. But this one (and I don't even remember the title on the album) has alway stuck with both of us, fifty years later. And for some godforsaken reason I found myself humming it today and thought, what the heck, I wonder if it's on Mudcat...

The Paul Evans felt, perhaps, that it was more attuned to the Hungarian Revolution but maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,The Sis in Question, Above
Date: 07 May 13 - 11:58 PM

Other songs on the Evans album, titles noted in my round, middle-school handwriting. Gawd, that was fifty years ago:

Buckeye Jim
The Bomb
Crucified My Lord
Golden Vanity
Mister Hangman
Passing Through
The Pig and the Inebriate
Poor Boy
Tzena, Tzena

Can't remember lyrics for most of these, except for that great Pig, mostly because I later learned better versions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 May 13 - 08:55 PM

"The Anarchist's Song" as we knew it certainly goes back long before the era of Tom Lehrer, back to the 1930s. It's a whole lot funnier when people are not planting or throwing bombs. My college friends in the 1960s certainly thought it was a hysterically funny song.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add:IT'S SISTER GINNY'S TURN TO THROW THE BOMB
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 07:24 PM

You can hear this song, and see an image of the record label, at YouTube. There is more discographical information here. I have boldfaced the words that are different from Evan Jones’ post above.


IT’S SISTER GINNY’S TURN TO THROW THE BOMB
Words and music by Peg Horther*
As recorded by The Glencoves on Select Records 45K-724, 1963.

In an old chemist's attic, so dreary and so mean,
Oh, smell the fearful odors of nitroglycerin.**
They're busy building bombs and filling cans with nails,
And little starving kiddies set up this mournful wail:

CHORUS: Oh, it's Sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb.
The last one it was thrown by Brother John. (Brother John!)
Mama's aim is bad and the coppers all know Dad,
So it's Sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb!

In her dark and dreary attic all filled with nitro fumes,
They spend each waking hour planning others’ dooms.
They build bombs every morning, so not a day goes by
That*** from some smoking building goes up this mournful cry: CHORUS

They're taught bomb building from the day they're born
And peace is something they all learn to scorn.
They can hardly wait to see the blast and hear the noise
And watch the heads go flying off little girls and boys. CHORUS

She was maiming little children one fine day
When her older brother swore she'd have to pay.
Grit his teeth and pull the pin; the whole darn house caved in,
And I bet she's building bombs below this day. CHORUS

It's sister Ginny's turn to throw the bomb!

- - -
* Songwriting credit from the Catalog of Copyright Entries.
** They pronounce “nitroglycerin” so the last syllable rhymes with “mean.”
*** Grammatically, this word should be “but.”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 10:00 AM

Amazing how this song keeps turning up.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 11:34 AM

We had this on a record. Oscar Brand maybe?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 12:02 PM

Amazon UK has a 45 of the song for sale: It's Sister Ginny's Turn To Throw The Bomb, recorded by The Glencoves, 1963, "Recorded live in the Student Lounge at Fink University"!, says the label. (According to a post on the page by George O'Leary, it was the b-side of Hootenany, which charted at 38 in May/June 1963!).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 12:08 PM

Not Oscar Brand. Hmmm. It was a full-size record with lots of songs...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 01:12 PM

Mrrzy - Oscar Brand didn't turn up on my Amazon search, nor on any other searches I've done. You can find the Glencove's version on youtube, and also Leslie Fish and the Dehorn Crew, and a punk-ish version by a band called The Dead Rabbits.

A google group had a reference to it being on a compilation album called "The Crazy Album, with the artist listed as Baltimore Local".

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Dec 18 - 07:01 PM

There's nothing funny about bombs. Bombers are vicious, cowardly people.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Ged Fox
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 07:01 AM

Bombers are all sorts, but mostly desperate.

Subject: RE: Origins: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GUEST,smackthecreepr2
Date: 26 Jul 23 - 10:28 PM

Hello from 2023, 24 years later!

Subject: RE: Origins: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 04:03 AM

The Glencoves - It's Sister Ginny's Turn To Throw The Bomb on YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx4bNOcxHtg

Subject: RE: Origins: Sister Jennie's Turn to Throw the Bomb
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 11:05 AM

Thanks, Geoff, for the link.

The verse melody is certainly similar to what we used to sing but we didn't speed up the chorus; that's a more contemporary twist. Our chorus was more of a dirge.