Songs recorded by Vernon Dalhart

Subject: Songs recorded by Vernon Dalhart
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jan 19 - 11:44 AM

I started this thread thinking I'll add lots of songs to it as time permits.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL MEET HER WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jan 19 - 11:45 AM

You can hear this song at the Internet Archive--my transcription. I have boldfaced the words in the chorus that differ from the first chorus.


I'LL MEET HER WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
Written by Frank Crumit
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart, 1928.

1. In an ivy-covered little cot,
’Bout a mile and a half from town,
Lives a girl I love with all my heart,
And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

  Oh, how I love
  Purty little Mary; she’s the keeper of the dairy.
  She’s, oh, my turtledove,
  And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

2. If you’d ever see those two blue eyes,
When she smiles away my frown,
She’s, oh, so small, ’bout half my size,
And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

  Oh, how I love
  Purty little Mary; she’s the keeper of the dairy.
  She’s, oh, my turtledove,
  And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

3. Ev’ry evenin’ when my work is done
And I wend my way from town,
There’s lots of girls but I love but one,
And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

  Oh, how I love
  Purty little Mary; in the spring we’re gonna marry.
  She’s, oh, my turtledove,
  And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

4. Oh, I took her for a swim one day,
Got scared and thought I’d drowned,
For I seen her pa a-comin’ our way.
I was lucky when the sun went down.

  Oh, how I love
  Purty little Mary with her father quite contrary.
  She’s, oh, my turtledove,
  And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

5. I asked her pa if we might wed,
And you should have seen him frown.
“There is no man good enough,” he said,
But I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

  Oh, how I love—
  Sweeter than the daisy, oh, she nearly drives me crazy.
  She’s, oh, my turtledove,
  And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

6. On the day when she becomes my bride,
On her head I’ll place a crown.
She will be my queen and I’ll be king.
Gonna meet her when the sun goes down.

  Oh, how I love
  Purty little Mary; she will have to leave the dairy.
  She’s, oh, my turtledove,
  And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

Subject: RE: Songs recorded by Vernon Dalhart
From: GUEST,Kenny B( Inactive)
Date: 25 Jan 19 - 02:42 PM

Hi Jim good idea ….caps for chorus changes

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL MEET HER WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jan 19 - 11:23 PM

Frank Crumit (see above) wasn’t totally original, it turns out.
From the sheet music at the Library of Congress:


I’LL MEET HER WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
Words and music by William Welsh, 1883.

1. In an ivy-covered little cot,
About a mile from town,
Dwells a maiden that I dearly love,
And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.
Her cheeks are like the red, red rose,
And her hair is a beautiful brown.
She’s the idol of this darkey’s heart,
And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

CHORUS: And it’s oh! how I love
Pretty little Mary; she’s the keeper of a dairy.
Oh! how I love,
And I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.

2. In the evening, when my work is done,
With my true love I’m sure to be found.
In a quiet little nook by the babbling brook,
I’ll I’ll meet her when the sun goes down.
When Sunday comes, we’ll take a walk.
In the woods we’ll roam around.
Next Sunday at nine I’ll call her mine.
We’ll be married when the sun goes down. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Songs recorded by Vernon Dalhart
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jan 19 - 04:19 PM

Gee, it seems to me like Vernon Dalhart (1883-1948) sang everything, but Wikipedia lists only "Prisoner's Song" and "Wreck of the Old 97" and "Runaway Train."

I found a very nice discography at https://www.discogs.com/artist/938856-Vernon-Dalhart. Yes, he did sing everything.

Subject: Lyr Add: AIN'T YOU COMING OUT, MALINDA? (Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 19 - 09:42 AM

Words below are from the sheet music, found at York University.
You can hear Vernon Dalhart’s recording at the Internet Archive, where it is called AIN'T YOU COMIN' OUT MALINDA.


AIN'T YOU COMING OUT, MALINDA?
Words by Andrew B. Sterling & Edward P. Moran; music by Harry von Tilzer, 1921.

1. Linda, Linda, it’s such a lovely night.
The moon is shining bright.
I really think you might
Come out, Malinda, Linda, I always thought you knew.
Like a cooing dove
Wants his lady love,
I just want just you.

CHORUS: Ain’t you coming out, Malinda?
Moon is peeping through your window.
Want to see the stars begin to
Wink their eyes and start to shine,
Honey mine, honey mine.
Next your heart I want to linger,
Place a ring upon your finger.
I want you near, my dear; don’t fear; I’m here.
Ain’t you coming out Malinda, by the honeysuckle vine?

2. Linda, Linda, remember long ago,
The lights were burning low,
Your eyes were all aglow,
You know, Malinda, Linda, the kiss I gave you then,
Came around tonight.
Really thought you might
Give it back again.

Subject: RE: Songs recorded by Vernon Dalhart
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 29 Jan 19 - 05:37 PM

If you want to see Dalhart's complete discography take a look at Tony Russell's Country Music Records 1921 - 1942. Dahart's listing takes up FIFTY pages. Tony worked on this amazing/essential book for years and I believe he left Dalhart to the very end of his research work as it was was going to be a real chore.
Personally I wouldn't have wanted to include his work. Does anybody really listen to his attempts when there is so much of the real thing out there?

Subject: Lyr Add: ALOMA (from Vernon Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 19 - 06:11 PM

From the sheet music at Baylor University:


ALOMA
Words by Francis De Witt, music by Robert Hood Bowers, ©1925.

VERSE: Wild rose as a fair forest child grows,
And she’ll give, while a wild rose, aroma so rare.
Tame rose, she is never the same rose.
That’s the way that the game goes, Aloma will swear!

CHORUS: Aloma, Aloma, wild flower she grew.
You take her and make her a flower just for you.
Love’s waking, love’s aching, she learns it all one day.
Aloma, Aloma, her petals fall away.

- - -
The Internet Archive has 3 recordings:
Regal 8215-A (1926) – the instrumentalists Ferera and Paaluhi get top billing on this record, but Vernon Dalhart sings the chorus.
Victor 21110-B (1927) – this performance by the Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra is strictly instrumental, but you can hear the tune of the verse as well as the chorus.
Decca 3264-B (1939) – Ray Kinney and His Hawaiians – Kinney sings the chorus.

Subject: Lyr Add: AN OLD FASHIONED PICTURE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jan 19 - 10:09 PM

You can hear this at the Internet Archive.


AN OLD FASHIONED PICTURE
Written by Carson Robison
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart on Victor 20193-B, 1926.

’Most ev’ry picture that hangs on the wall
Brings back some sweet memory,
And as the years all grow longer, a vision haunts me stronger,
A picture I’m longing to see.

There is a picture, an old-fashioned picture,
That hangs on the wall of my heart.
I’m not forgetting the way I’m regretting
The day when I said we must part.
Take me back once again to the scenes of my childhood—
I know someone waits with a true love to impart—
Back to that picture, that old-fashioned picture,
That hangs on the wall of my heart.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEBE (from Vernon Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jan 19 - 12:01 PM

The lyrics below are from the sheet music at Baylor University. You can hear Vernon Dalhart sing this song at the Internet Archive.

BEBE
Words, Sam Coslow; music, Abner Silver. ©1923.

1. I know a certain love-sick fellow,
He's just a raving Romeo,
Walks in his sleep,
Talks in his sleep,
About a girl that he loves so.
He calls her—

CHORUS: Bebe, Bebe, Bebe, be mine!
Bebe, Bebe, angel divine,
Let me hold you, fold you close to my heart.
You’re a wonder.
Gee, you struck me just like thunder.
Bebe, Bebe, girlies galore
Know I’ve lots of kisses in store,
But you’re the one I’m saving them for.
Bebe, Bebe, be mine!

2. Each night you’ll find them at the movies.
He’ll take his little Bebe out.
He loves her so,
That they don’t know
What the picture’s all about.
He whispers—CHORUS

[Dalhart sings the following additional choruses, which are not in the sheet music:]

CHORUS 2: Bebe, Bebe, Bebe, be mine!
Bebe, Bebe, angel divine,
When I hold your hand, gee, ain’t nature grand?
Your sweet lips-y
Make me feel so ipsy-tipsy.
Bebe, I’ve been married before.
My wife left me children galore,
And you’re the one I’m saving them for.
Bebe, Bebe, be mine!

CHORUS 3: Bebe, Bebe, Bebe, be mine!
Bebe, Bebe, angel divine,
Ev’ry Sunday we will go for a ride
To the seaside.
We’ll meet people from the East Side.
In my flivver, won’t it be grand?
We’ll hit sixty; you’ll understand.
Oh, my horn has a Pierce-Arrow brand.
Bebe, Bebe, be mine!

Subject: Lyr Add: BEHIND THESE GRAY WALLS (from Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jan 19 - 09:13 PM

The lyrics below are from the sheet music at York University.

The Internet Archive has 2 recordings of Vernon Dalhart singing this song: Victor 19999-B (1925) and Edison 51669-R (1925).


BEHIND THESE GRAY WALLS
Words by Ed. Lovey, music by Carson Robison, ©1926.

1. Behind these gray walls with my mem’ries
Behind these gray walls with my dreams,
Around me the bars cast their shadows
To hide all the sun’s golden beams.
There’s no one to love and to cheer me
Behind these gray walls with their gloom,
Around me the guards of the prison
And silence as deep as the tomb.

2. The cross roads of life came upon me
And I never thought of the way.
Too late I found out I’m mistaken
And now all my life I must pay.
Though sometimes there’s sunshine and flowers
In dreams that my mem’ry recalls,
And then I awake broken hearted
To find I’m behind these gray walls.

3. Alone in a crowd, just a number,
My name no one ever recalls,*
With no thought of gladness tomorrow,
For I’m still behind these gray walls.
I try to forget and be patient
And wait till the Great Master calls.
I wonder if I’ll be forgiven
While I’m still behind these gray walls.


* Dalhart sings: “...no one here ever calls.”

Subject: Lyr Add: CAN'T YO' HEAH ME CALLIN' CAROLINE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Feb 19 - 10:07 AM

Lyrics below are from the sheet music at Connecticut College.


CAN’T YO’ HEAH ME CALLIN’ CAROLINE
Words by William H. Gardner, music by Caro Roma, ©1914.

1. I miss yo’ in de mornin’, when ole Bob-White gives his call, Caroline, Caroline.
I miss yo’ at de sunset, when de evenin’ shadows fall, Caroline, Caroline.
I miss yo’ when de moonbeams out on de ribber shine.
Oh, can’t yo’ heah me callin’ for yo’, Caroline?

CHORUS: Can’t yo’ heah me callin’, Caroline?
It’s mah heart a-callin’ dine.
Lordy, how I miss yo’, gal o’ mine!
Wish dat I could kiss yo’ Caroline!
Ain’t no use now fo’ de sun to shine, Caroline, Caroline.
Can’t yo’ heah mah lips a-sayin’?
Can’t yo’ heah mah soul a-prayin’?
Can’t yo’ heah me callin’, Caroline?

2. I miss yo’ when de Robin is a-whistlin’ out his tune, Caroline, Caroline.
I miss yo’ when de roses are a-bloomin’ all of June, Caroline, Caroline.
I miss yer hand a-stealin’ so trustin’-like in mine.
Oh, can’t yo’ heah me callin’ for yo’, Caroline?

* * *
The Internet Archive has recordings by:
Vernon Dalhart (1917)
Oscar Seagle and Columbia Stellar Quartette (1919)
Greek Evans (1920)
Reinald Werrenrath (1923)

Spotify has recordings by:
Hal Kemp and His Orchestra (1930)
Joan Morris and William Bolcom (1999)

YouTube has many more.

Subject: RE: Songs recorded by Vernon Dalhart
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Feb 19 - 01:54 PM

Probably my favorite is "Tuck Me to Sleep (in My Old 'Tucky Home)" / B-side by Charles Hart & Elliott Shaw (Victor 18807), September 1, 1921. I confess I don't actually listen to Dalhart's version however. My favorite version and the reason I've even heard of the time is this one by Merle Travis: https://youtu.be/PHkw-qnCqd0

Subject: Lyr Add: HAWAIIAN RAINBOW (Gravelle/Haring)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Feb 19 - 07:34 PM

From the sheet music at Indiana University:

HAWAIIAN RAINBOW
Words and music by Jeanne Gravelle and Bob Haring, ©1922.

1. Grey clouds gathering,
Raindrops pattering,
Blue skies hidden from my view,
How I miss them too, today.
Grey clouds pass from view.
Sun comes peeping through,
Rainbow, in the western sky,
Can you wonder why I say:

CHORUS: Hawaiian Rainbow mine,
I see the love light shine
Across a sapphire sea.
It seems you’re calling me.
Come back where sunbeams play.
Come back where palm trees sway,
And where the moonlight’s bright as day.
It seems I hear again
Aloha’s sweet refrain
You sang to me the day
I sailed so far away.
My pearl of rarest hue,
My promise true,
Hawaiian Rainbow, I am coming back to you.

2. Honolulu bay,
You’re so far away.
West wind whispering to me,
Someone waits at Waikiki,
Waiting day by day,
Till you sail away.
East wind, blow across the sea.
Tell her tenderly for me: CHORUS

- - -
The Internet Archive has recordings by:
Vernon Dalhart, 1922
Warren Mitchell, 1922
Clifford Ford, 1922
--but it sure sounds like the same voice on all 3 recordings. I know some of Dalhart’s recordings were issued under pseudonyms, but I don’t know how to confirm this.

Subject: Lyr Add: DOIN' THE BEST I CAN (Vernon Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 04:38 PM

You can hear this at the Internet Archive. The label has no songwriter credit.

DOIN’ THE BEST I CAN
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart, 1925.

I thank my friends for their advice and always getting dutch(?)
So if they’d just leave me alone, I’d thank them twice as much.
Someone said: “Why don’t you wed and quit this payin’ rent?”
I told ’im: “I’m half married now ’cause I got my own consent.”

CHORUS: Well, I’m doin’ the best I can, doin’ the best I can.
I couldn’t do more and I couldn’t do less, ’cause I’m doin’ just the best I can.

I saw a sign: “I’m deaf and dumb” and my eyes filled up with tears.
I asked how long he’d been that way and he said: “Seven years.”
Someone said that that they always thought that indoor sports was great,
And my gal said she liked ’em too if they didn’t stay too late. CHORUS

I fell in love with a pretty girl but she didn’t seem to care.
I gave her an electric fan but she gave me the air.
I know a man his name is Long; his wife is Long an’ lean.
They didn’t get a Long for years but now they got fifteen.

CHORUS: Well, they’re doin’ the best they can, doin’ the best they can.
They couldn’t do more and they couldn’t do less, ’cause they’re doin’ just the best they can.

Subject: Lyr Add: DRIFTING DOWN THE TRAIL OF DREAMS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 04:57 PM

You can hear this song at the Internet Archive.


DRIFTING DOWN THE TRAIL OF DREAMS
Written by Carson Robison
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart and Carson Robison, 1928.

1. Each weary day holds but sorrow for me.
Each hour is filled with regret,
For my thoughts keep drifting to one that I love,
Someone I’ll never forget—

CHORUS: Drifting along in memory down the trail of dreams,
Where we wandered long ago under the bright moonbeams.
No matter where I ever roam, I’m always lonely,
Drifting with my memory down the trail of dreams.

2. My dreams were ended when we said goodbye,
And now the sky’s never blue.
The whole world is wrong and I’m still drifting on,
Wond’ring if you’re lonely too. CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: FAR AWAY IN HAWAII (Vernon Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 05:12 PM

You can hear this song at the Internet Archive:


FAR AWAY IN HAWAII
Written by Carson Robison
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart and Carson Robison, 1926.

Nighttime brings the mystic shadows falling.
Breezes croon a lullaby, it seems.
Songbirds in the twilight softly calling
Take me to my land of dreams.

Far away, far away, where the moon is shining on the bay,
There I know someone waits to meet me, greet me.
In her eyes, dreamy eyes, there’s a light above that never dies,
And I know it is shining just for me.

And in the ev’ning breeze, I hear a sweet guitar so soft and low
Calling me back where those oriental stars so brightly glow.
Take me where skies are fair; let me live and love and linger there,
Far away in Hawaii land.

Subject: Lyr Add: GUY MASSEY'S FAREWELL (Vernon Dalhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Feb 19 - 09:55 AM

You can hear this song at the Internet Archive:


GUY MASSEY'S FAREWELL
Written by Rob Massey
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart, 1926.

“Oh, I know on my deathbed I am lying.”
These words from his lips came soft and low.
As I sat there beside him softly cryin’,
Oh, I knew that the pain was soon to go.

Oh, it seemed I could hear the angels singin’
As I watched o’er his kind and loving face.
With a sad feeble smile, he tried to cheer me.
Oh, that mem’ry the years cannot erase.

Then he whispered: “Goodbye, my darling brother,”
And the teardrops came streamin’ down my face;
And there in a grave beside his mother,
He sleeps in his final resting place.

Now he’s gone but he’ll never be forgotten,
For the song that he sang will never die;
And the gladness he scattered all around him
Will live like a sunbeam in the sky.

And now with the bright wings of an angel,
To the arms of his darling he has flown;
And his grand ship is anchored up in heaven
Where there’s someone to call him their own.

[Guy Massey was frequently credited with writing The Prisoner's Song, whose tune this resembles.]

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OH DEAR
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Feb 19 - 02:03 PM

You can hear this song at the Internet Archive.


DEAR, OH DEAR
Words and music by Carlos B. McAfee [=Carson Robison]
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart and Company, 1925.

1. I've got the sweetest sweetie in this town.
When she walks down the street, the folks turn 'round.
I'd like to know just what she thinks of me.
That's why I'm sayin' to her constantly:

CHORUS: Dear, oh, dear, you've got me dizzy, goin' crazy
All for you; you know it's true.
Dear, oh, dear, those shivers climb right up my spine
When I'm with you.
Why don't you hurry up and tell me what I'm longin' to hear?
Go on and name the day
And drive my blues away.
Dear, oh, dear, you've got me guessin'; I'm confessin'
I love you.

2. I've got the cutest little weddin' ring.
I'll buy a bungalow and ev'rything,
But I won't know a bit of happiness
Till I can get ...[woman's name?] to tell me "yes."

REPEAT CHORUS

LAST CHORUS: Dear, oh, dear, you've got me dizzy, goin' crazy
All for you; you know it's true.
Dear, oh, dear, those shivers climb right up my spine
When I'm with you.
We'll have a lot of rambler roses runnin' all round the door,
And maybe something more
To run around the floor.
Dear, oh, dear, you've got me guessin'; I'm confessin'
I love you.

Subject: Lyr Add: I LOST A WONDERFUL PAL (WHEN I LOST YOU)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Feb 19 - 09:38 PM

You can hear this at the Internet Archive.


I LOST A WONDERFUL PAL (WHEN I LOST YOU)
Words by Al Dubin & Joseph Mittenhal, music by Irwin Dash.
As recorded by Vernon Dalhart, 1926.

1. I lost a something I cannot explain
When you left with the angels one day.
I lost that something that soothes ev'ry pain
And drives ev'ry sorrow away.
Mem'ries of sweethearts are often erased,
But pals just like you never can be replaced.

CHORUS: I lost a pal, a wonderful pal, when I lost you.
I lost a friend that stuck to the end, like real pals do.
God must have known when he took you through space
That you would make heaven a still better place,
But I lost a pal, a wonderful pal, when I lost you.

2. Seconds and minutes, the hours and the days
All seem longer since you went away.
The sun, once so brilliant, now shines through the haze.
The laughter no longer seems gay.
Days are so dreary and nights are so blue.
I just keep on longing and longing for you. CHORUS