ADD:If you’ve only got a moustache(Collins/Foster)

Subject: Lyr Add: If you’ve only got a moustache (Collins)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jul 21 - 06:44 PM

Needs some refinement



Oh! all of you poor single men
Don’t ever give up in despair,
For there’s always a chance while there’s life
To capture the hearts of the fair,
No matter what may be your age,
You always may cut a fine dash,
You will suit all the girls to a hair
If you’ve only got a moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
If you’ve only got a moustache.
A moustache, a moustache,
If you’ve only got a moustache.
.
No matter for manners or style,
No matter for birth or for fame,
All these used to have something to do
With young ladies changing their name,
There’s no reason now to despond,
Or go and do any thing rash,
For you’ll do though you can’t raise a cent,
If you’ll only raise a moustache!
A moustache, a moustache,
If you’ll only raise a moustache.
A moustache, a moustache,
If you’ll only raise a moustache.

Your head may be thick as a block,
And empty as any foot-ball,
Oh! your eyes may be green as the grass
Your heart just as hard as a wall.
Yet take the advice that I give,
You’ll soon gain affection and cash,
And will be all the rage with the girls,
If you’ll only get a moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
If you’ll only get a moustache.
A moustache, a moustache,
If you’ll only get a moustache.

I once was in sorrow and tears
Because I was jilted you know,
So right down to the river I ran
To quickly dispose of my woe,
A good friend he gave me advice
And timely prevented the splash,
Now at home I’ve a wife and ten heirs,
And all through a handsome moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
And all through a handsome moustache.

VIDEO AND PERFORMANCE COPYRIGHT (c) 2017
by CHARLES ELMER SZABO, BMI

music by Stephen Collins Foster to words by George Cooper.

Charles Szabo is an American singer songwriter and educator who covers old songs to give them new life and performs his originals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNWkotCkFX8

Subject: Fear a bhios fada gun phosadh
From: Felipa
Date: 12 Jul 21 - 07:28 PM

A contrasting view

Scottish Gaelic "mouth music" - this ditty says that if a man stays a bachelor for long; grass and heather and moorland will grow on him and he will grow a big beard.

FEAR A BHIOS FADA GUN PHOSADH

Fear a bhios fada gun phòsadh         
Fàsaidh feur is fraoch is fireach air         
Fear a bhios fada gun phòsadh         
Fàsaidh feusag mhòr air         
Fear a bhios fada gun phòsadh         
Fàsaidh feur is fraoch is fireach air         
Fear a bhios fada gun phòsadh         
Fàsaidh feusag mhòr air         
        
Fàsaidh feur air, fàsaidh fraoch air         
Fàsaidh feur is fraoch is fireach air         
Fàsaidh feur air, fàsaidh fraoch air         
Fàsaidh feusag mhór air

Fàsaidh feur air, fàsaidh fraoch air         
Fàsaidh feur is fraoch is fireach air         
Fear a bhios fada gun phòsadh         
Fàsaidh feusag mhór air         

included in this set sung by Robyn MacIntosh Carrigan, accompanied by Daibhidh MacChailium and Corrina Keeling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWL2DemxE1E (after 1 min 25 sec)

X:624
T:Fear a Bhios Fada Gun Phosadh
D:Tannas, Suilean Dubh (1999)
Z:Nigel Gatherer
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Bm
BBB dde | f3 a3 | A2A c2d | e2f ecA |
BBB dde | f3 a3 | b2f fec | B3 B3 :|
d2d c2B | d2d c2B | A2A c2d | e2f ecA |
d2d c2B | d2d c2B | f2f fec | B3 B3 |
d2d c2B | d2d c2B | A2A c2d | e2f ecA |
BBB dde | f3 a3 | b2f fec | B3 B3 |]

http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/abc/abc1.html

Subject: RE: ADD:If you’ve only got a moustache(Collins/Foster)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 Jul 21 - 07:34 PM

Joe, I don't know if this will be at all useful, but it's the sheet music for the song in the LOC.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/ihas.200197675.0/?sp=3

Subject: RE: ADD:If you’ve only got a moustache(Collins/Foster)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 13 Jul 21 - 09:00 AM

identice to the sheet music, down to the last comma.

Subject: RE: ADD:If you’ve only got a moustache(Collins/Foster)
From: leeneia
Date: 15 Jul 21 - 03:50 PM

Thanks for the clever song, Joe. And Guest #, the sheet music is helpful. At first I didn't believe that Stephen Foster would be involved in something so flippant, but there's his name on the original.

For my middle-of-the-night reading, I am reading a story where Bertie Wooster grows a David-Niven type of moustache, to the shock and derision of Jeeves and various Drones. Unfortunately, Florence Craye adores it.

Felipa, thanks for the link to the enjoyable Scottish music.