Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar

Subject: Ivan skavinski skavar-lyrics
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:37 PM

I have an old aunt in South Africa who has written me asking about a song she used to sing in the YWCA across from the British Museum in the 50's. There is reference to an Abdul Bull Bull Ameer and it seems to be about an epic fight that he had against Ivan Skavinski Skavar. She can remember several verses and one goes " They fought all that night in the pale moonlight, the din was heard from afar, great multitudes came, so great was the fame, of Abdul and Ivan Skavar" If anyone could either supply me with, or point me in the direction to get the complete lyric for this song, I would greatly appreciate it and I thank you in advance for any/all help!!

Subject: RE: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:48 PM

Search DT for 'Abdul'

Subject: RE: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Micca
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:48 PM

There are 2 versions in the Digital Tradition at the top of the page( simply point and click at the blue letter a ) Called
ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR
ABDUL EL BULBUL, EMIR!

Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF IVAN PETROFSKY SKEVAR
From: Lesley N.
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:49 PM

There are two versions in the database of Abdul. This may be a bit different:

BALLAD OF IVAN PETROFSKY SKEVAR

The sons of the Prophet are valiant and bold
And wholly impervious to fear,
But the bravest of all was a man by the name
Of Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

If you wanted a man to encourage the van,
Or harass the foe from the rear,
Or to storm a redoubt, you had only to shout
For Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

This son of the desert in battle aroused
Could spit twenty men on his spear.
A terrible creature, sober or soused,
Was Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer

There are brave men in plenty, and well known to fame,
In the army that's run by the Czar,
But the bravest of all was a man by the name
Of Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

He could imitate Irving, tell fortunes by cards,
And play on the Spanish guitar.
In fact, quite the cream of the Muscovite team
Was Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

The ladies all loved him. His rivals were few.
He could drink them all under the bar.
As gallant or tank there was no one to rank
With Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

One day that bold Russian, he shouldered his gun,
And with his most cynical sneer,
Was going downtown, when he came right upon
Brave Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

"Young man," said Boul Boul, "is existence so dull
That you hanker to end your career?
For, infidel, know you have trod on the toe
Of Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

"So take your last look upon sky, sea, brook,
And send your regrets to the Czar,
For by this I imply, you are going to die,
O you Ivan Petrofsky Skevar."

"But your murderous threats are to me but a joke,
For my pleasure and pastime is war,
And I'll tread on your toes whene'er I may choose,"
Quoth Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

Then that brave Mameluke drew his trusty chabook,
Singing, "Allah! Il Allah! Akbar!"
And with murder intent he ferociously went
At Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

But the Russian gave back not a step at th' attack,
For Ivan had never known fear,
And with quickly aimed gun, put a stop to the fun,
Of Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

Yet the whistling chabook did like lightning descend,
And caught Ivan right over the ear;
But the bayonet of Ivan pressed right through the heart
Of Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

The Russian commander spurred thither in haste,
To seek for his favorite Hussar.
Lo, pierced through the snoot from the fatal chabook,
Lay Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

The sultan rode up the disturbance to quell,
Or to give to the victor a cheer,
But he arrived just in time to take hasty farewell
Of Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer.

Then Gotchikoff, Skabeloff, Menchikoff too,
Drove up in the Emperor's car,
But only in time to bid rapid adieu
To Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.

There lieth a stone where the Danube doth roll,
And on it in characters clear,
Is, "Stranger, remember to pray for the soul
Of Abdullah Boul Boul Ameer."

A Muscovite maiden her sad vigil keeps
In her home by the cold northern star,
And the name that she murmurs so oft in her sleep,
Is Ivan Petrofsky Skevar.


A midi of it is at The Ballad of ISS (http://www.contemplator.com/folk3/ivan.html).

Subject: RE: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:49 PM

It's in the DT lyrics under ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR.

Subject: RE: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Gary T
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:52 PM

Well, Ian, you came to the right place. I remember this song from my grade school days. The title I remember, and the one in my "Folksinger's Wordbook", is "Abdul, the Bulbul Amir". It's in the database here as "ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR". Just look at the top left of the "Lyrics, Forum, & Chat" page here on Mudcat, in the blue rectangle that says "DigiTrad Lyrics Search" there's a little alphabet along the bottom, click on "A" and you'll see it.

For what it's worth: I'm sure "Bulbul" refers to an Arab tribe, similar to (and maybe a corrupted pronunciation of) the Berber tribe. "Amir" is also spelled "emir", "ameer", etc. As you may know, it's a prince of sorts. "Folksinger's Wordbook" has 18 (!) verses to this song. I hope you and your aunt enjoy it.

Subject: RE: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:53 PM

I'm just doing this again to see if I can get the blue clicky thing to appear. Click here

Subject: RE: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Amos
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:57 PM

Funny - I learned it as Ivan Skavinsky Skavar...same tale, though. Funny song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,colin williams uk
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 01:27 PM

I'm a little behind this stream by several years...I too remember this as Ivan Skavinski Skavar. My father used to sing it to me in the early sixties when I was a little boy, under the gas light in my bedroom in Manchester, as I drifted into slumber. This was before the opening up of information on tv and the www and always evoked a colourful and atmospheric picture in my head of happenings in the far/middle east. The song always sent a tingle down my spine as one verse grew into another. I now marvel, myself performing an amateur singing career, at the abilities of my father. I believe that this song was part of an early thirties musical but not absolutely certain on this. Its amazing after all these years (45) how I can remember the words and melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 01:51 PM

Percy Frenc, rather than '30's mudical

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 01:53 PM

Written by Percy French. Recorded by Frank Crumit in the 30's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 02:02 PM

Jeez - look at that typing! Apologies.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: cptsnapper
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 02:06 PM

Diz Disley used to do it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 03:01 PM

The Pride of Petrovar and Moutains of Mourne are Percy's other great ones - are there others that folks are still singing??
Chris in Portland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 03:03 PM

Aren't there two sequels to 'Abdul' --- 'The Son of Abdul the Bulbul Amir' and 'The Grandson of Abthe Bulbul Amir'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 04:51 PM

Hello Chris in Portland!

Yes, I still sing it...but not in public! (However that doesn't mean I won't in the future!

Great song!

Frank Crumit is excellent...could he be an honorary folksinger?

Best wishes,

Pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 05:00 PM

That is a song with many, many variations. It is hard to 'remember' all the details and have any idea how to spell & pronounce even fake Russian/Arab names, but easy to remember the basic story and add lines and 'tweak' the ending. I first heard it as Abdullah Bulbul Amir..then Abdul THE BulBul Emir...etc...and Ivan Petrovsky turned to Ivan Skavinski...etc...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 05:02 PM

The Grandson of Abdul Abulbul Amir was written and recorded by the afformentioned Frank Crumit in 1932 while, according to the estimable Michael Kilgarriff's Sing Us One Of The Old Songs, the original was written by Percy French for a smoking concert for his fellow Trinity Collge students in 1877. I don't know about the "son of" version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Ernest
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 08:32 AM

Chris in Portland: "Blarney Roses" and "Little Bridget Flynn" are also good songs by Percy French. Mudcatter martybye sings the latter - it is on an older cassette, but I don`t know if that is still available.

And the Trad Lads do Abdul (mp3 here):

http://www.tradlads.dk/listen.htm

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 01:13 PM

Percy French also wrote the classic "Phil the Fluter's Ball"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: mg
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 09:10 PM

A beautiful one of his, but only a couple of verses are worth singing (subjective judgement of course) is Come home Paddy Reilly from Bally James Duff come home Paddy Reilly to me...mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 11:45 AM

The warrior's name is Abdul the Bulbul Emir. The unabridged dictionary tells us that the bulbul is "a Persian songbird frequently mentioned in poetry. It is probably Luscinia golzii, a kind of nightingale."

Calling the fierce fighter "The Bulbul" is Percy French's sense of humor at work. It also works for the meter, which is like a jig. YA ta ta I've forgotten the name for that meter. Dactylic?

I believe that in "A Passage to India," the doctor, Aziz, ridiculed classical Persian poetry with its constant references to bulbuls. This shows that at that time people were a lot more bulbul conscious than they are today.

At one time I knew all the words to this song. It seems to me I found it in "The American Songbag" by Carl Sandburg. I remember clearly

For infidel, know,
you have trod on the toe
of Abdul the Bulbul Emir.

It's obvious that this ditty has gone through a lot of folk processing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: The Walrus
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 06:39 AM

I did have a 'Rugby' version of this song, unfortunately, I can't find the book it was in at present.

W

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: pavane
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 12:46 PM

You will probably find it at Sarah Hartwell (Llewtrah)'s bawdy song site

here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 03:12 PM

The afore-mentioned "bulbul" also turns up in some versions of the song "Path Across the Ocean" which started life as a Scottish poem called "My ain countrie", I memory serves.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: pavane
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 02:10 AM

I remember that when I lived in Saudi Arabia, one of the common birds there was the 'White-cheeked bulbul'. Don't think I have a picture though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: DaveA
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 07:46 AM

As The Walrus said, there is a famous bawdy version of this (which I happened to hear before I heard the original - come to think of it, I've never heard the original only read it)

The content of the bawdy version may be deduced from the following stanza:
    For Adbul did brag
    That he could out shag
    Count Ivan Skavinski Skavah

Suffice to say that Abdul lost in circumstances that left the Czar laughing for many years

Thanks for recalling an amusing ditty

Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Cluin
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 08:26 AM

The bawdy version, from my copy of The Dirty Songbook (Jerry Silverman).

Abdul the Bulbul Emir

In the harems of Egypyt no infidels see
The women yet fairer than fair
But the fairest, a Greek, was owned by a shiek
Called Abdul the Bulbul Emir

A traveling brothel came into the town
Run by a pimp from afar
So great was its fame that well-known was the name
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar

Abdul the Bulbul arrived with his bride
A prize whose eyes shone like star
He claimed he could prong more cunts with his dong
Than Ivan Skavinsky Skavar

A great fucking contest was set for the day
A visit was planned by the Czar
And the curbs were all lined with harlots reclined
In the honour of Ivan Skavar

They met on the track with tools hanging slack
Dressed only in shoes and a leer
Both were fast on the rise but they gasped at the size
Of Abdul the Bulbul Emir

They fucked through the night till the dawn's early light
The clamour was heard from afar
The multitudes came to applaud the ball game
Of Abdul and Ivan Skavar

The cunts were all shorn and no rubbers adorned
The prongs of the pimp and the peer
But the pimp's steady stroke all the chances soon broke
Of Abdul the Bulbul Emir

When Ivan had finished, he turned to the Greek
And laughed when she shook with great fear
She swallowed his pride; he buggered the bride
Of Abdul the Bulbul Emir

When Ivan was done and was wiping his gun
He bent down to polish his gear
He felt, up his ass, a hard pecker pass
`Twas Abdul the Bulbul Emir

Now the crowds looking on proclaimed who had won
They were ordered to part by the Czar
But fast they were jammed; the pecker was crammed
In Ivan Skavinsky Skavar

Now the cream of the joke, when apart they were broke
Was laughed at for years by the Czar
For Abdul the Bulbul left most of his tool
In Ivan Skavinsky Skavar

The fair Grecian maiden a sad vigil keeps
With a husband whose tastes have turned queer
She longs for the dong that once did belong
To Abdul the Bulbul Emir

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,John
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 12:53 PM

Thanks, guys! I remember singing it around the campfire in the Boy Scouts in the 1930's (not the bawdy version!!). It was in the Boy Scout Songbook. I could only remember the first couple of verses however.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,C Richardson
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:15 PM

I have been looking for info on this song(not the bawdy version!)as I have fond memories of my dad singing it when I was young.It was one of many he sang when we went on long car journeys in the late 60s.I would love to have a recording ,so it has been great to read other people's memories and maybe I can track down a copy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: oldhippie
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:43 PM

Charlie King has a recording of this song as "Abdul..." on the CD "Potpourri".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:47 PM

I Think i have a copy by Frank Crummit. I could send it as an attachment if reqd.
George Melly did an upbeat version of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:09 PM

My dad used to sing it to us. We knew it as Abdull the Bullbull Amir. I think he liked it because it was vaguely rude. The words were printed in one of the newspapers a few years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:11 PM

The (near) original lyrics of "Abdul Abulbul Amir" (original title) by Percy French (1877) are at Contemplator with an excellent midi:

Abdul Abulbul Amir

According to Contemplator, the original title was Abdulla BulBul Ameer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:18 PM

The Frank Crumit version has been released on CD. Available from CAMSCO, of course.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:24 PM

The version copyrighted by the French estate is in thread 47949, DT Study:
Abdul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 04:18 AM

The name Frank Crummit rings a bell. Where did he live and what did he do - he obviously had a successful musical career I guess

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 04:54 AM

Les

Wikipaedia has a brief biography HERE

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 05:01 AM

Thanks Martin, I have to go and make porridge, so to speak, but I will have a look later

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 06:20 AM

Thanks, what an amazing character. I seem to remember Aurthur Askey singing "What noise annoys an oyster"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Flash Company
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 10:59 AM

Frank Crumit also sang 'The Song of the Prune' 'I Am a Gay Cabellero',(O tempore, O mores!), and several songs about golf.

Brian Q

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 11:04 AM

I must have heard this while still in my crib. My dad was fond of remembering every single verse as a Boy Scout leader for many years. My spelling recollection is of Ivan Skavinsky Skivar and Abdullah Bulbul Amir. I also remember the second line after "The Sons of the Prophet" was "And quite unaccustomed to fear." Who has time to parse the rest of it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: clueless don
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 11:21 AM

There is an episode of Star Trek, the Next Generation where Data's evil twin, Lore, is given the emotions chip that was intended for Data (no, really, I'll be getting around to the topic of this thread soon!) Upon receiving the chip, Lore breaks into the opening lines of Abdul aBulbul Amir (sp?), and then says something like "I always liked that song, but I could never get the cadences right before."

I first heard the song from the singing of Bill Steele.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 01:57 PM

Percy French must rank with George Root as one of the most successful 'folk song' creators - if one measures that by the number of extant parodies and reworkings of the originals. Root of course made Marching Through Georgia, Grandfather's Clock, Ring the Bell, Watchmen and others which formed the basis for other songs in the folk genre. Percy French also wrote "Are you right there, Michael, are you right?" There are dozens of songs, certainly in this part of the world, that use the Ivan tune, and/or the structure.

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 05:55 PM

That's Henry Clay Work for Grandfather's Clock and Ring the Bell, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 09:28 PM

Whoops! Yes indeed.

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: clueless don
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 08:42 AM

I think it is also Henry Clay Work for "Marching through Georgia". Root wrote "The Battle Cry of Freedom", I believe.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 02:49 PM

Yes, you're right, for ROOT read WORK throughout my post. Late night!

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: GUEST,Dave Rudloff
Date: 31 May 10 - 12:40 PM

Dwight Isenhower as a plebe was reputed to know and recite on a moment's notice all fifty or so of the stanzas of Abdul the Bulbul Amir, some bawdy. That's according to a biographer whom I have forgotten.
Finally, I've found most of them, but now sarah hartwell's site seems to have escaped google.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ivan skavinski skavar
From: Deckman
Date: 31 May 10 - 01:39 PM

My music mentor was the late Bill Higley, and he was a radio partner of Harry K. McClintock AKA "Haywire Mac." Hawire was famous for his parodies, and he wrote a complete parody of this song. Soon, when I have more time, I'll post the lyrics to his parody ... it's a hoot! Bob(deckman)Nelson