Subject: The Gay Caballero From: GUEST,Eugene Date: 31 Mar 00 - 05:37 AM In the notes at the end of the lyrics to THE GAY CABALLERO, the writer of the notes says he has met only one other person in the last 67 years who even recognized this song. Better make it two. I have an original of the sheet music, dated MCMXXIX (1929). The composers' names, Frank Crumit and Lou Klein are shown on the front along with the words "Sung With Sensational Success by the Peerless DUNCAN SISTERS". The publisher was F.B. Haviland. I also have the 78 of the song, from about 1929, as sung by Frank Crumit. Please put me in touch with the person who wrote the notes at the end of your lyrics. I am not a dealer,just someone who is interested in "old time" music. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: GUEST,Pam Date: 31 Mar 00 - 02:00 PM My uncle in Canada sings this song all the time at family parties! He learned it while in the navy during World War 11. He uses a hat to do actions while he's singing! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Metchosin Date: 31 Mar 00 - 03:24 PM We sing this at family gatherings but it's my 80 year old mother who knows all the words, all I can remember is the following: Does it have lines in it something like this?
I am a gay Cabelero
Oh she was a dancer and singer I have some Frank Crumit on 78 RPM, but unfortunately I do not have this one, but I will try to pick my mothers brains for the rest of the lyrics if you want them. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Metchosin Date: 31 Mar 00 - 03:28 PM Sorry, didn't realize you already have the lyrics, just saw the Lyr Req at the beginning of the thread. Can't help you regarding the notes on the sheet music. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Stewie Date: 31 Mar 00 - 08:10 PM Metchosin, I think Eugene is asking to be put in touch with the 'BW' who wrote the note to the lyrics of the song that appear in the DT. Dick or Susan or someone should be able to help him out in that regard. --Stewie. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Frank Maher Date: 31 Mar 00 - 10:22 PM I have the Gay Caballero,also The Return of the Gay Caballero,also Sung by Frank Crumit.... |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GAY CABALLERO From: raredance Date: 01 Apr 00 - 01:07 AM This version is from "The Dirty Song Book" compiled by Jerry Silverman THE GAY CABALLERO
I am a gay caballero
At night as I lie on my pillow Ed Cray in "The Erotic Muse" has a couple more versions of the song. One version is WWI military vintage published in a book called "More Tommy's Tunes" in 1919. The second version Cray includes was dated 1927 and Cray also cites Randolph collection version that the informant said she learned in 1912. Cray concludes that "the song, under one or another title, was known on various college campuses well before Ohio State University student Frank Crumit edited and the recorded it." The edited and adapted version of the song was copyrighted by Lou Klein and Frank Crumit and released as RCA Victor V-21735 in 1929. The record sold nerarly 2 million copies. rich r |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Lanfranc Date: 01 Apr 00 - 07:28 AM The version I heard sung many years ago by that notorious Caledonian thespian Alex Norton was similar to the last posting, except for "trembolitos" instead of "latrabaleros". Ahhh memories!!! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Metchosin Date: 01 Apr 00 - 10:06 PM You can also hear the song here by Mr. Crumit himself. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Eric the Viking Date: 02 Apr 00 - 08:48 AM I sing a slightly different version, but much the same learnt playing rugby many years ago. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GAY CABALLERO (from Ed Cray) From: raredance Date: 02 Apr 00 - 11:42 AM Here is text "A" from the book by Ed Cray
Oh I am a gay caballero, rich r |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GAY CABALLERO (from Ed Cray) From: raredance Date: 02 Apr 00 - 11:59 AM Copmparing the Silverman text with text "A" from Cray, you can easily see the logical error in the Silverman text. That Silverman text describes the surgical excision of both "latraballeros", however at the end he seems to have a dried up one remaining. Bad math or weird biology? Here is the Cray "B" text with is rather different and less surgical although it refers to the woman using a masculine looking word "senorio". I guess rhyme trumps gender.
There once was a gay Don d'Ilio
rich r |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: GUEST,Eugene Date: 02 Apr 00 - 09:39 PM Thanks to all for your comments. Yes, Stewie, I was just commenting on the notes at the end of the lyrics, and trying to reach the person who wrote the notes. But, that's redundant now after seeing all the replies. To Metchosin: I played the song(there were 4 verses only) at the site you mentioned. Thanks for the tip. I lived in James Bay and Saanich for 10 yrs. Bought our Corgi on Happy Valley Rd. To rich r: Great info on the song's background. I'm holding one of those 2 million copies of the 78 in my hand. Yes, its Victor no. 21735-A. The B side has "The Ladies or I learned About Women from 'Er". Eugene |
Subject: Gay caballero From: GUEST,Momp94868@aol.com Date: 25 Nov 00 - 01:15 AM I was so surprised and pleased to find the lyrics to this song. My daddy used to sing it at home and play the guitar. I had never heard one verse, I guess he forgot it. I know the tune well, if I just knew how to get it to you.????????? Perhaps you could tell me how to do this so that you might add the tune to the lyrics. |
Subject: RE: Tune Add: Gay caballero From: Louie Roy Date: 25 Nov 00 - 11:34 AM The tune is in the digitals threads.I've sang this song for years Louie Roy |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Ep' Eric Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:41 PM I have sung this song for many years at EP'TH FOLK Club (UK) for many years, but I don't recall where I got it from. When I come to the last verse, Now I am a Gay Caballero,returning to Rio Janeiro. I change from my baritone voice and sing it in a cracked falsetto, manner much to the delight of the ladies in the audience in the audience. Eric. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Ep' Eric Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:56 PM I have just realised that some readers may not have heard my version of the song, so here is my last verse. Now, I am a gay caballero Returning to Rio Janeiro But not as you see With my wee trembolee Nor both of my wee tremboleetos Eric. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: GUEST,Guest_2 Date: 17 Dec 05 - 04:09 PM With the popularity of the recently released movie, Brokeback Mountain, about two gay cowboys, this song--or versions of it-- might well once again be heard at coffee houses and kitchen parties outside the gay community. I remember hearing this on the radio long ago, and once had a 1960's era songbook with the lyrics in it. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: masato sakurai Date: 17 Dec 05 - 07:16 PM "The Gay Caballero" has been known in Japan too since its roughly translated version "Share Otoko" (The Dandy Man) was released in 1930. Japanese & English lyrics with midi are here. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Mr Happy Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:10 AM http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3yEmEMVsbjo |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:58 PM The magnificent Scots Traveller singer Stanley Robertson recently sang a Scots dialect version of this at the Royal Oak folk club in Lewes. Every line had to rhyme with 'wee stumpie'. I've also heard a rugby-style (Bonfire) version in which the Gay Caballero calls his wedding tackle 'Miralto Maree'. I would imagine this is a distortion of the Spanish for 'my old friend'. It has a chorus to the tune of 'Cielito Lindo' and goes, Ay ay ay ay, Si, si, Senora, Belinda, Belinda, she p****d from the window All over my new sombrero. Valmai (Lewes) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Rowan Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:26 PM And Valmai's version (with the Miralto Maree and chorus) appears very similar to the version being sung around Melbourne Uni in the 60s. Cheers, Rowan |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:36 PM An old friend, who once played center for University of California's football team on their last Rose Bowl trip(1959, I think), shared this with me after his freshman year of college in 1958. It was a favority at his fraternity house, as I suppose various versions were at other campuses across the land. Unless I miss my guess, P.C. has caused many of these ditties to either go undergound or disappear entirely. Another from the same source, to the tune of "High Above Cayuga's Waters," the Cornell Alma Mater: High above a Pi Phi's garter, High above her knees, Lies a Pi Phi's only virtue, Her vir-gin-i-ty. It was only rude and insensitive then. You'd likely go to the slammer for singing it in public today. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: Amos Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:46 PM High above Cayuga's waters Comes an awfully wicked smell; Some say it's Cayuga's waters Others swear it is Cornell. (Sung, IIRC, by the Princeton Glee Club) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: SINSULL Date: 25 Oct 08 - 10:44 AM And from Soupy Sales: Show me a cowboy who rides sidesaddle and I'll show you a Gay Cabellero. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero From: GUEST,Ken Brock Date: 25 Oct 08 - 11:02 AM FWIW there's also the song "Land of the Gay Caballero" by the Gershwin brothers in GIRL CRAZY (1930). A fragment made it into the "new" 1990's Gershwin show CRAZY FOR YOU. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST,USAF Ret. Date: 01 Sep 09 - 06:49 AM Have another version from the Air Force… Oh I was a young caballero A very, very young caballero With an excellent tip on my bombomderee And two very fine bombomderairos I met me a fine señorita A very, very fine señorita Who latched on to the tip of my bombomderee And to each of my bombomderairos Well I caught me a bad case of syphiliotos A very, bad case of syphiliotos Right on the tip of my bombomderee And on each of my bombomderairos So I went to a good physicato A very ,very good physicato He cut off the tip of my bombomderee And each of my bombomderairos *Now I am a gay caballero A very, very gay caballero I have no tip on my bombomderee And neither of my fine bombomderairos *Sung in falsetto |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: Tug the Cox Date: 02 Sep 09 - 05:43 AM I knew a particularly lewd version about the gay caballero and his penis which was christianed marotta marotta maria, which provided the chorus, can only remember 3 verses though. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:33 PM Iam 86 years old. For no reason at all, I started to sing The Gay Caballero. Couldn't get past the first two lines, couldn't get the darned song out of my head, and in frustration, asked Google for the lyrics. Hooray for Google. Thanks. |
Subject: Lyr Add: A GAY CABALLERO (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: Jim Dixon Date: 19 Feb 10 - 01:24 PM Transcribed from the video at YouTube—See Mr. Happy's link above. This has 2 verses that are not in the version in the DT, as well as several small differences in other verses. A GAY CABALLERO As sung by Frank Crumit I am a gay caballero, Coming from Rio Janiero. With nice oily hair, And full of hot air, I'm an expert at shooting the bull-o. I'm seeking a fair senorita, Not thin and yet not too much meat-a. I'll woo her awhile In my Argentine style. I'll carry her off of her feet-a. I'll tell her I'm of the nobilio, And live in a great big castillio. I must have a miss Who will long for a kiss And not say, "Oh, don't be so silly-o!" It was at a swell cabaretta While wining and dining I met her. We drank one or two, As other folks do. The night was wet but she got wetter. She told me her name was Estrella. She said, "Stick around me, young fella. Mosquitoes they bite And they're awful tonight, And you smell just like citronella." I can't forget that senora. While telling her how I adore her, Asleep she did fall. Didn't mind that at all, But she was a terrible snorer. She was a dancer and singer. At me she kept pointing her finger And saying to me "Si, si" or "Thee, thee(?)," But I couldn't see a durn thing-a. She told me that she was so lonely, So I climbed upon her balcony. While under her spell, I heard someone yell, "Get away from here, you big baloney." I swore I'd win this senorita. I wooed her upon the sofita, Then her husband walked in. What he did was a sin. I can still hear the birds sing "Tweet tweet-a." Now I am a sad caballero Returning to Rio Janiero. Minus my hair, A bruise here and there, For her husband he chewed off my ear-o. [I think some of the Spanish-sounding words in this song are either made up or distorted: nobilio, castillio, cabaretta, sofita. The actual Spanish word for castle is castillo, but castillio is how he pronounces it.] |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST,Connal McIlwraith Date: 05 Aug 10 - 09:31 AM This is great! I've been listening to my father sing this song for decades but these are all completely different to the version I know. For your delectation... 1. I am a gay Cabaliero, Returning from Rio d'Janeiro, And I brought with me, my Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. 2. I went to a gay casino, An exceedingly gay casino, And I took with me, my Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. 3. I met a gay seniorita, An exceedingly gay seniorita, Who up'd me to stand my Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. 4. We lay on a comfy sofita, An exceedingly comfy sofita, And there I put in my Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. 5. I got a bad dose of Poxito, An exceedingly bad dose of Poxito, And it blackened the tip of Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. 6. I went to a cunning physico, An exceedingly cunning physico, And he cut of the tip of Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. 7. Now I'm left with a stumpy stumpedo, An exceedingly stumpy stumpedo, But it does just as well as Moroto Mari, Moroto Mari, My Moroto, Moroto Mari. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST,Wilz, Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:17 AM The version I used to sing: I am a gay caballero, Going to Rio d'Janiero. I'm taking with me my Bombom-bodee And both of my Bombom-bodero. Then I went to a gay fiesta, And I met a lovely Senorita. She wanted to see my Bombom-bodee And both of my Bombom-bodero. So I took her to my hacienda And I laid her on my soft sofalita, I gave her five shots of my Bombom-bodee And both of my Bombom-bodero. But this lovely senorita Had a very 'rosita', It rotten the tip of my Bombom-bodee And one of my Bombom-bodero. So I went to a medico. O, he took out a sharp scalpalito! He cut off the tip of my Bombom-bodee And one of my Bombom-bodero. Now I'm a sad caballero, Going out of Rio d'Janiero, I'm taking with me no Bombom-bodee And only one Bombom-bodero. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST,Wilz, Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:33 AM Erratum: It should read: Had a very wild 'rosita', |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: tritoneman Date: 27 Jan 11 - 09:25 AM Malcolm Price used to sing 'The Gay Caballero' in the UK folk clubs and I remember Diz Disley used to sing the 'Prune Song' at around the same time. I wonder if it's time for a Frank Crumit revival. Maybe I'll have a go at 'There's No-one With Endurance Like the Man Who Sells Insurance' or perhaps 'The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away' Possibilities?? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST Date: 02 Jun 11 - 12:14 PM This version was taught to me by a friend years ago. Sung to the same tune as "Gay Caballero" but with different adapted dirty song lyrics. When referring to it, we have always called it "The Ballad of Pepito Consejero"... Enjoy! My name is Pepito Consejero, I hail from Rio de Janero And all that I have is my bombom ba dee And two of my bombom baderos One day I met a fine senorita, She was a very very fine senorita, She wanted to play with my bombom ba dee And one of my bombom baderos I caught a rare disease called clapita, It was a very rare disease called clapita, It affected the tip of my bombom ba dee And one of my bombom baderos I went in the search of America, I needed a very good la medica, They had to cut off my bombom ba dee and one of my bombom baderos At night as I lay on my pillow, I reach down to play with my willow, But all that is there is a big clump of hair And one of my bombom baderos... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: Jon Bartlett Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:43 PM Yet another version, learnt c. 1965 with Crawley RFC: There once was a gay caballero An exceedingly gay caballero Who christened his prick Maria Marie - Maria Marea Marino. He went to a low-down casino An exceedingly low-down casino And with him he took Maria Marie Maria Marea Marino. He there met a fair senorino An exceedingly fair senorino And to her he showed Maria Marie Maria Marea Marino. He showed him her dark crevacino An exceedingly dark crevacino And in it he put Maria Marie Maria Marea Marino. He there caught the dreaded poxino The exceedingly dreaded poxino That withered the tip of Maria Marie Maria Marea Marino. He went to an old medecino An exceedingly old medecino Who cut of the tip of Maria Marie Maria Marea Marino. There now sits an old caballero An exceedingly old caballero Who sits on his rump, nursing the stump of Maria Marea Marino. The tune we rugby players used for this was the verse tune of "Sing Us Another One" (for limericks). Jon Bartlett |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE RETURN OF THE GAY CABALLERO (Crumit) From: Jim Dixon Date: 17 Jan 19 - 05:35 PM You can hear this, and see an image of the record label, at the Internet Archive. THE RETURN OF THE GAY CABALLERO Written by Frank Crumit. As recorded by Frank Crumit, Victor 22154-A, 1929. Oh, I am a gay caballero. I’m back again from Janeiro, And you bet your life I’ll be dodging the wife And the husband who chewed off my ear-o. While coming here on the steamer, I met a beautiful dreamer. Each kiss that I got Her lipstick left a spot And the captain thought I had eczema. Last night I strolled on the plaza, The music was playing some jazz-a; Then I heard a noise. ‘Twas made by some boys. My gosh! I was getting the razz-a. Then I met a sweet bambelina. I told her I owned a casina. Would she leave home that night? She said that she might, For poker but not for casina. She said for a job she was wishin’, For she lost hers at some exhibition. I said: “I’m a nice chap. Just sit on my lap. You can’t find a better position.” I told her that she was so simple, And she had a cute little dimple. Then she said to me: “That dimple you see, When turned inside out, it’s a pimple.” I said: “Take a trip to my manor, Then a trip to old Santy Anna.” Then somebody cried: “Hey, you outside! I hope you trip on a banana.” She took me to her home to nestle. Her room was as big as a castle. I said: “Why so much space?” Then she said: “In case You get fresh, I need room to wrestle.” She asked me to stay to meet Mother. When I saw her, my face I did cover. When her dad did appear, I held my one ear, For ‘'twas him who had chewed off the other. Now I’m back in Rio Janeiro. I’ve been married for many a year-o, But for me there’s no joys. I’ve got seven boys, And each one was born with one ear-o. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST,PB Date: 18 Jan 19 - 08:37 AM Dad's version, no doubt well cleaned up for juvenile consumption: I am a gay caballero, An exceedingly gay caballero, But for me there's no joys For I've got sxeven boys. And each one was born with one ear'ole. Chorus: You, me, and us, We are my favourite people, We all go together like peaches and cream, Like the weathercock and the church steeple. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: GUEST Date: 19 Jan 19 - 05:32 AM strange how some songs lend themselves to parody much more than others? hardly anyone quoted the ACTUAL words, which are a little more subtle & gently humorous than the rugby club type words which seem to be now the norm for this song! |
Subject: Lyr Add: The Gay Caballero (T.W. Quirk version) From: Felipa Date: 27 Jun 21 - 12:52 PM It's easy to find recordings on line of FranK Crumit singing The Gay Caballero. As you can see from this discussion, there have been lots of parodies of the song. I'm also not sure if the Crumit/Klein version is the original or if it was based on a song that was already circulating informally ("in the folk tradition"). Efim Chorny taught a Yiddish version by L. Markowitz in his song workshop today. So far I haven't been able to find out anything more about it. I will type out the transliterated lyrics and the translation as soon as I have more time. In the meantime, here is a version from a Manx poet named William Thomas Quirk (1908-77). https://wtquirk.com/poetry/unpublishedpoems/driftwood-seawrack/the-gay-caballero/ THE GAY CABALLERO (version by W.T. Quirk) There once was a gay caballero Whose fortunes descended to zero; He went to the bank To replenish his tank But the manager glowered like Nero And curtly refused our young hero. He met a fair young Senorita, He’d never met anything sweeter. He started to woo To see what she could do To make his finances completer, And save him from ruin and Peter. He called her his darling, his honey, When he found she had plenty of money. But her father, the swine, Quickly smelt his design, Which didn’t to him seem so funny, And made him reach out for his gunny. And so our gay young caballero, Who much the revolver did fear-o, Whispered, “Darling, elope; “For we haven’t a hope Of getting Pappa to agree-o, For he’s a hard nut ‘neath his sombrero”. And so they arranged clandestinely To escape where they could live divinely; But Pappa was a man Who could spoil any plan; So smiling a grimace malignly He picked off the pair very finely. The man in the moon seemed to sneer-o As he gazed on the youth and his dear, oh! For it was by his light That her father had sight To let off his long carbinero At his lass and the gay caballero. Then Pappa raised his pistol much higher And in anguish he oped rapid fire At the face of the moon On this sad night of June, And then he did gently expire After leaving his wealth to the squire. --- I wonder whether "1.4.26" is the correct date for this composition? Frank Crumit's first recording was released in 1928, I read. |
Subject: RE: A Gay Caballero From: Felipa Date: 27 Jun 21 - 12:59 PM I see "raredance" wrote early on in this discussion that "Ed Cray in 'The Erotic Muse' has a couple more versions of the song. One version is WWI military vintage published in a book called 'More Tommy's Tunes' in 1919." I suppose that makes the 1926 date for a composition by a young William Quirk plausible, and also implies that the Crumit/Klein composition and recording was not the original and was not the only version responsible for popularizing the song. |
Subject: Lyr Add: Der Galitsianer Kaballero (L. Markowitz) From: Felipa Date: 27 Jun 21 - 02:52 PM DER GALITSIANER KABALLERO (Lyrics: (L. Markowitz) TRANSLITERATION OF YIDDISH TEXT 1.Aleyn bin ikh a Galitsianer, gevolt vern Amerikaner. Nor vi dortn iz "slek" - nokh Meksik avek. Un yetst bin ikh a Meksikaner. 2. In Meksike iz git-o, yes - sir. Me git dort a trink un a fres - sir. Mit gur vaynik gelt ken men brenen dort a velt. Leybn vi got in Odes -o. 3. Nor di payes getun a sherl, gekoyft mir a "het" a sombrero. A royt zaydn hemd, un di hor sheyn farkemt. Ikh zug aykh kh'bin a " kabalerl". 4. Ikh hob shoyn getun dortn ales. Kh'ob oysgezikht far mir a sheyne kale. Di pekh shvartse hur, di shlanke figur. Z'hot gebrent vi a heyse "tamale". 5. Zi hot getantst mit ire fis un ire hento, un geshoklt mit ir sakrament-o. Nokh a por glezlekh vayn, gefilt hot zi fayn. Bavizn ir gantsn "talento" 6. Oy, di bist bay mir a "chikita", mir gebisn azoy vi a "meskita". Z'hot geshvorn on a shir, tray blaybt zi mir. Farblaybt zi mayn seniorita. 7. Ir libe iz gevorn beshayter. Geholdzt, un gekisht un azoy vayter. Nokh a kish gibn ir, zugt zi glakh tsu mir, az zi hot du a man a "bullfighter" . 8. Hert vi pasirt ot di sibe, ayn mol erklert zikh in libe. Halt shoyn nuvnt mit ir, plitsling efnt zikh di tir, un ir man kimt arayn in der shtibe. 9. Ir man iz a riz an "atlet-o". In hant halt er gor a "stillet-o". Er hot mir ongekhapt, mayne beyner tseklapt. Kh'bin gelign tsvey vokhn in Bet-o. 10. Ikh shver, az ikh mayn nisht reyn vits-e. Ikh fil ven ikh shtay, ven ikh zits-e. Tsu vern Meksikaner, oder Amerikaner Fur ikh krik nokh Galitsie. TRANSLATION 1. Myself, I am from Galicia, wanted to be an American. But since there was no work, I went off to Mexico and now I am an Mexican. 2. In Mexico it’s good – Oh yes-sir. One drinks and eats well. With little money you can still live it up and live like God in Odessa. 3. I just cut-off my side locks and bought a hat, a sombrero. A red silk shirt and nicely combed hair. I tell you I am a real caballero [gentleman] 4. I have already done everything there. I have sought out for me a pretty bride. With pitch black hair and a slender figure – She burned like a hot tamale. 5. She danced with her hands and her hands-o and shook her Sacrament-o. After a few glasses of wine, she felt fine. and showed her best talent-o. 6. O you are my “chiquita” She bit me like a mosquito. She swore with no end, that she would stay faithful to me. And remain my seniorita. 7. Her love became more wanton. We necked and we kissed and so forth. After I kissed her, she says to me, that she has a husband, a bullfighter. 8. Listen to how this incident played out. I declared my love for her Was getting closer to her, when suddenly the door opens. And her husband enters the room 9. Her husband was a giant, an athlete-o In his hand he holds a stillet-o. He caught me and beat my bones. I lay in bed for two weeks-o. 10. I swear that I am not joking. I can feel it when I stand, when I sit. Should I become a Mexican or American? I am going back to Galicia ---- source - Efim Chorny, Moldova. I was able to copy from pdfs provided by Mr Chorny for his song workshop; I didn't need to type the lyrics(see previous message, 12.52 pm today, Mudcat time). I have come across a couple of other Yiddish songs which propose a return to Eastern Europe, a theme that later became unpopular and unmentioned (unsung) due to the holocaust. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Gay Caballero (Frank Crumit, L Klein) From: Steve Shaw Date: 27 Jun 21 - 06:42 PM The Imperial College Union Bar version from 1969: There once was a gay caballero An exceedingly gay caballero Who played with the end of his six-footed friend An exceedingly gay caballero He met a low-down signorita An exceeding low-down signorita Who played with the end of his six-footed friend An exceeding low-down signorita He contracted a low-down diseaso An exceedingly low-down diseaso That infected the end of his six-footed friend An exceedingly low-down diseaso He went to a low-down doctrino An exceedingly low-down doctrino Who cut off the end of his six-footed friend An exceedingly low-down doctrino There still lives a gay caballero An exceedingly gay caballero Who plays with the end of his four-footed friend An exceedingly gay caballero (There was a verse about a casino but I can't remember it. It's been fifty years, you know!) |
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