Lyr Req/ADD: Pennsylvania

Subject: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 Nov 17 - 05:17 PM

A friend of mine is looking for a song, which is not one I've heard of (unusual for me, though it's probably American -- Vaudeville not Music Hall). He writes:--

I'm looking for the words of a Music Hall song "Pennsylvania"
I can only remember a snippet of the song but would like to get hold of the full words. What I can remember is - Some say no & some say yes, some say it's an awful mess, but I can tell you my address is Pennsylvania ........... Farewell Bions-- (goodbye in French) I'm off to Pennsylvania to meet my Ma & Pa. Would love it if somebody has the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 10:56 AM

frefresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 11:31 AM

Posted in the facebook annex (meant for announcements only, not for research) were two links:

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/

https://www.lyrics.com/lyrics/Pennsylvania

They don't seem to reveal the results to this particular search but may be helpful for future reference.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 07:34 PM

There is an Irish "Off to Philadelphia", and the city and the state were often confused (I think it took me a few years to tell them apart when I was a kid, the main difference was cream cheese). Maybe widen your search to include Philadelphia songs too?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Nov 17 - 01:00 AM

I've crosslinked to "Off to Philadelphia" and "Off to California" because those are the songs I know that are closest to what's requested. Is it "Off to Pennsylvania in the morning," or does it diverge from the California/Philadelphia songs at that point?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Anglo
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 09:12 PM

The song you want is 'Pennsylvania'.

It's on an LP by the Garret Singers, featuring Vic Gammon, and is a music hall song learned from group member John Challenger's next-door neighbor.

Not American at all, though I sang it at the Philadelphia Folk Festival very many moons ago.

I've never come across the song anywhere else.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 09:28 PM

So, John, what level of bribe is required to coax you to post lyrics for this song?
Here's the recording, but I can't get it to play:

https://folkcatalogue.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/1970-the-garret-singers-the-garret-singers/

-Joe-

Subject: ADD: Pennsylvania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 17 - 04:29 PM

A kind soul sent me an MP3, so here's my attempt at a transcription. I need help. I'll leave the MP3 up temporarily.

Click to play (joeweb)

PENNSYLVANIA

Off to the finest place there is,
Off to the finest place there is,
Off to the finest place there is,
Why, Penn-syl-van-i-a.

Some say no and some say yes,
Some say it's an awful mess;
You can bet them my address
Is Penn-syl-van-i-a.

That's the place where they have glass windows,
And one and one is two;
That's the place where the chimneys smoke,
Because they cannot chew.
Ta-ta (ta-ta);
Ta-ta (ta-ta);
We're off to Penn-syl-van-i-a;
Ta-ta (ta-ta); Bon soir (bon soir),
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a chicken and he wouldn't lay,
So we cut his legs off one fine night;
Now he can't stand up, so he's gotta lay,
In Penn-syl-van-i-a.

Oh, the girls are full of gin,
Oh, the girls are full of gin,
They're full of gin when they're in
Penn-syl-van-i-a.

You should go there for a spell,
You should go there for a spell;
I should go there to get well,
In Penn-syl-van-i-a.

That's the place where the champagne poodle
Wags it to and fro; [wags his to and from]
That't the place where the cats have kittens
If they are adults. [if they are not dumb]
Ta-ta (ta-ta);
Ta-ta (ta-ta);
We're off to Penn-syl-van-i-a;
Ta-ta (ta-ta); Bon soir (bon soir),
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a chicken and he couldn't lay,
So we cut his legs off one fine night;
Now he can't stand up, so he's gotta lay,
In Penn-syl-van-i-a.

That's the place where the champagne poodle
Wags it to and fro; [wags his to and from]
That't the place where the cats have kittens
If they are adults. [if they are not dumb]
Ta-ta (ta-ta);
Ta-ta (ta-ta);
We're off to Penn-syl-van-i-a;
Ta-ta (ta-ta); Bon soir (bon soir),
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a rabbit as white as snow,
And we says to him, "Buck up and grow,"
But he can't buck up 'cause he's a dog
In Penn-syl-van-i-a.

Some say no and some say yes,
Some say it's an awful mess;
You can bet them my address
Is Penn-syl-van-i-a.

From an LP by the Garret Singers, featuring Vic Gammon.

Subject: Lyr Add: PENNSYLVANIA (via Garret Singers)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Nov 17 - 08:43 AM

Here's how I hear it:


PENNSYLVANIA
As recorded by the Garret Singers on "The Garret Singers" (1970)*

Off to the finest place there is,
Off to the finest place there is,
Off to the finest place there is,
Why, Pennsylvania.

Some say no and some say yes.
Some say it's an awful mess.
You can bet them my address
Is Pennsylvania.

That's the place where they have glass windows,
And once one is two.
That's the place where the chimneys smoke
Because they cannot chew.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Ta-ta (ta-ta)!
We're off to Pennsylvania.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Bon soir (bon soir)!
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a chicken and it wouldn't lay,
So we cut his legs off one fine day.
Now he can't stand up, so he's gotta lay,
In Pennsylvania.

Oh, the girls are full of gin.
Oh, the girls are full of gin.
They're full of ginger when they're in
Pennsylvania.

You should go there for a spell.
You should go there for a spell.
I should go there to get well,
In Pennsylvania.

That's the place where the champagne poodle
Wags it to and from.
That's the place where the cats have kittens
If they are not dogs.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Ta-ta (ta-ta)!
We're off to Pennsylvania;
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Bon soir (bon soir)!
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a chicken and it wouldn't lay,
So we cut his legs off one fine day.
Now he can't stand up, so he's gotta lay,
In Pennsylvania.

That's the place where the champagne poodle
Wags his to and from.
That's the place where the cats have kittens
If they are not dogs.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Ta-ta (ta-ta)!
We're off to Pennsylvania;
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Bon soir (bon soir)!
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a rabbit as white as snow,
And we says to him, "Buck up and grow,"
But he can't buck up 'cause he's a doe,
In Pennsylvania.

Some say no and some say yes.
Some say it's an awful mess.
You can bet them my address
Is Pennsylvania.

[From the liner notes: "A music hall song learnt from John Challenger's next door neighbour, Vic Everitt, who before the loss of a lung on the Somme used to work some of the London Halls."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Anglo
Date: 12 Nov 17 - 05:36 PM

I believe the opening line is:

What is the finest place there is?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Nov 17 - 05:50 PM

Anglo: I believe you're right!

Subject: ADD: Pennsylvania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Nov 17 - 08:58 PM

One more correction:

I should go there to get well,
To Pennsylvania.

Catchy little song, isn't it?
-Joe-

---

Combining contributions from Jim Dixon, Anglo, and Joe Offer, here's what we have:



PENNSYLVANIA
As recorded by the Garret Singers on "The Garret Singers" (1970)*

What is the finest place there is,
What is the finest place there is,
What is the finest place there is,
Why, Pennsylvania.

Some say no and some say yes.
Some say it's an awful mess.
You can bet them my address
Is Pennsylvania.

That's the place where they have glass windows,
And once one is two.
That's the place where the chimneys smoke
Because they cannot chew.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Ta-ta (ta-ta)!
We're off to Pennsylvania.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Bon soir (bon soir)!
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a chicken and it wouldn't lay,
So we cut his legs off one fine day.
Now he can't stand up, so he's gotta lay,
In Pennsylvania.

Oh, the girls are full of gin.
Oh, the girls are full of gin.
They're full of ginger when they're in
Pennsylvania.

You should go there for a spell.
You should go there for a spell.
I should go there to get well,
To Pennsylvania.

That's the place where the champagne poodle
Wags it to and from.
That's the place where the cats have kittens
If they are not dogs.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Ta-ta (ta-ta)!
We're off to Pennsylvania;
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Bon soir (bon soir)!
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a chicken and it wouldn't lay,
So we cut his legs off one fine day.
Now he can't stand up, so he's gotta lay,
In Pennsylvania.

That's the place where the champagne poodle
Wags his to and from.
That's the place where the cats have kittens
If they are not dogs.
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Ta-ta (ta-ta)!
We're off to Pennsylvania;
Ta-ta (ta-ta)! Bon soir (bon soir)!
To meet my ma and pa.

Now, we had a rabbit as white as snow,
And we says to him, "Buck up and grow,"
But he can't buck up 'cause he's a doe,
In Pennsylvania.

Some say no and some say yes.
Some say it's an awful mess.
You can bet them my address
Is Pennsylvania.

[From the liner notes: "A music hall song learnt from John Challenger's next door neighbour, Vic Everitt, who before the loss of a lung on the Somme used to work some of the London Halls."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: GUEST,Brian Reeves
Date: 15 Nov 17 - 12:22 PM

Thanks so much for this. I once owned a copy of the Garret Singers LP many years ago and recently often sang a snatch of the song, as much as I could remember. So Again thanks for your efforts.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Off to Pennsylvania
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Nov 17 - 04:23 PM

Another satisfied customer! You guys really are the best -- especially Joe. Thanks from me as well.