Lyr Req: There's a Song They Sing at a Sing-Song..

Subject: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Fergie
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 07:05 PM

Many years ago a friend of mine sang a song at a sing-song, he claimed that the song title was "The songs that we sang at the sing-song in Sing Sing" I think that Sing-Sing is a prison somewhere in the U.S. anybody know of this song?

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Margaret V
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 09:26 PM

I don't know the song, but am able to verify that Sing-Sing is indeed a prison in the US, precisely it is in Ossining, New York, about 25 miles "up the river" (that's the Hudson) from Manhattan. Its name derives from the native people who inhabited the area a few hundred years ago, the Sint-Sink. I used to live two blocks away, they were very quiet neighbors. I hope someone has the words, I'd be interested! Margaret

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Fergie
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 08:30 PM

Still no info can anybody help?

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: GUEST,Mickey191
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 02:22 AM

Sorry I don't know the Song, but a childhood memory is a picnic area outside of Sing Sing prison where Dad would park the 1929 Ford. Mom would take out the Dutch Oven Pot filled with Chicken, gravy & biscuits. Wash it down with Thermos filled ice tea. We never went thru the fence-but Mom used to impress on us the fate that awaits bad boys & girls. This was around the mid 40's.We still call it Sing Sing Chicken. Those were the days. Thank you for indulging me.

Slainte Maithe.

Subject: ADD: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing^^
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 06:37 AM

The one I learnt went, to the tune of "She'll be coming round the mountains",

There's a song that they sing at the singsong in Sing Sing
There's a song that they sing at the singsong in Sing Sing
There's a song that they sing at the singsong
Song that they sing at the singsong
Song that they sing at the singsong in Sing Sing

2nd verse (do you REALLY want this?)

There's a sing that they song at the songsing in Song Song
There's a sing that they song at the songsing in Song Song
There's a sing that they song at the songsing
Sing that they song at the songsing
Sing that they song at the songsing in Song Song

^^

Keep repeating until it's time to go back to the asylum

Glad I could help. Are you?*BG* Enjoy

Mike

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 12:51 PM

Now do you feel better?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: kimmers
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 09:51 PM

Those lyrics made beer come out of my nose. 'Course, I'm easily entertained.

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 10:25 PM

Dave, are you going to sing this at your HearMe concert this week?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 02:24 AM

There really is a song entitled," There's a song they sing at a sing song in Sing Sing", and that aint it. I heard a record of it once, I think it was by Cliff Edwards. (Ukelele Ike)
But that's O.K., Joe, I got the verses to "G'wan Home Yer Mudder's Callin"
Dick sent me a "click here" with the entire, "Curse of an Aching Heart", but, I don't know how to access what he sent me. I don't know what those rectangular boxes with the little, red "X" in the upper left hand corner, are, or how to use them. Maybe you could enlighten me.

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 02:39 AM

Hmmm. Boxes with an X in the LEFT hand corner, Jody? You using a Mac?
Click on the "x" and see what happens.
Maybe I'll have to make a house call when I'm east this fall...

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 02:54 PM

When I was a lad we had an old record of this song. Far too long ago for me to remember the artist, but I do remember the chorus ....

There's a song they sing at a sing song in Sing Sing There's a song they sing at a sing song in Sing Sing I wish I was a sparrow, so I could fly away That's the song they sing at a sing song in Sing Sing.

There were some bits of hokum at various parts. One had the Governor asking the inmates what kind of recreation would they like? To which the answer came, 'If it's all the same to you Sir, we'd like to take a hike'.

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jun 05 - 11:07 PM

Information from Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

Title: THERE'S A SONG THEY SING AT A SING SONG IN SING SING
Words and music by Eddie Lisbona and Tommie Connor, 1936.
Publisher: DIX Ltd.
Place of publication: London, England, UK
First Line: Now once a week the convicts in the jail house have some fun
Chorus First Line: There's a song they sing at a sing song in Sing Sing,

The song is mentioned in this biography of British bandleader Henry Hall. It says the singer was Dan Donovan, c1936.

This page advertises a CD of Leslie Sarony singing it. (But the title is given as THERE'S A SONG THAT THEY SING AT A SING SONG IN SING SING.)

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: GUEST,Egometto
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 07:15 AM

I remember my cousin had a record of this when we were boys. There was one verse which went:
Oh, Winky-Wang the Chinaman is Convict 92.
He held a smoking-party down Eleventh Avenue.
The cops were not invited, but they turned up just the same,
and found the gusto party in the land of happy dreams.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
Oh, we wish that we were sparrows, so we could fly away.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 08:52 AM

Its uncelievale that there isn't a collection of Leslie Sarony's songs.

I loved singing hisongs when I was a child. He must have had a marvellous imagination.

Subject: RE: Song we sang at the singsong in SingSing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 09:10 PM

Egopmetto-

You certainly get points for coming up with one complete and convincing verse.

Now let's have the rest of it!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A SONG THEY SING AT A SING-SONG..
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 11 - 07:10 PM

Quickbrick.
Here's an answer at last. There might be more verses but that's all I can remember from my father singing it in the 50s.

Now once a week the convicts in the jailhouse have some fun,
They hold a little sing-song when the toil of day is done.
They all forget their troubles as they sing in harmony,
The warden says be happy boys, it's quite OK by me.

There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
Oh, we wish that we were sparrows, so we could fly away.
That's the song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.

Oh, Winky-Wang the Chinaman is Convict 92.
He held a smoking-party down Eleventh Avenue.
The cops were not invited, but they turned up so it seems
and found the God-damned party in the land of happy dreams.

Now Beefsteak Bill the butcher is as lonely as can be,
He's locked up in the jailhouse and he's filled with misery.
They called him Bill the Butcher cos he slaughtered twenty cops,
and then he told the judge "I'd like to trim your mutton chops.

There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
Oh, we wish that we were sparrows, so we could fly away.
That's the song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.

A guy called Jim the Penman was a clever lad at school,
but now he's in the jailhouse cos he acted like a fool.
He started making money with a guy called "Lazy Pete",
but every God-damned penny that they made was counterfeit.

There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
Oh, we wish that we were sparrows, so we could fly away.
That's the song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.

Now Marmaduke Fitzherbert had a name beyond compare,
And everyone thought Marmaduke a multi-millionaire.
But now he's in the jailhouse cos he got it in the neck,
He's in the jail for autographing someone elses cheque.

There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
There's a song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.
Oh, we wish that we were sparrows, so we could fly away.
That's the song they sing at a sing-song in Sing Sing.

Subject: RE: ADD: Song We Sang at the Singsong in SingSing
From: Fergie
Date: 02 Jul 11 - 09:01 PM

Quickbrick you are a brick

Almost eleven years I've waited, well done.

Now all we need is the tune/air

Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Song They Sing at a Sing Song..
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 07:01 AM

From QUICKBRICK

I'm glad I brought you a little pleasure after all these years Fergus. I searched the internet since 1996 trying to find a version of someone singing this but in vain. I stumbled across this thread so at least the words are now available but as you say, still no way of knowing how it goes. As a TOTAL tone deaf non-singer I decided that me singing it would at least show the rythym and allow anyone to sing it approximtely how it should be sung. I don't know how to put the link on here but anyone can email me and I'll send a link to my own version and they can use it freely and perhaps put a link on here or on youtube. I warn in advance it ain't great. Email [e-mail] and I'll send it as an attachment in an email. Cheers, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Song They Sing at a Sing-Song..
From: GUEST,Egometto
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 01:08 PM

Great to see all the words.

I don't know any way of attaching a file to send the tune; but if anyone can understand my musical shorthand, here is the tune as I remember it. (Musicians, this shorthand assumes that everything is in C major or A minor--for other keys you transpose! A '1' after a letter means the note is below middle C. Capitals are crotchets--or quarter-notes; lower-case letters are quavers--or eighth-notes; dashes extend the note by one beat each; and full-stops are dots! Get it?)

Refrain:
G.e/CCCcc/CCB1C/D - -
g1g1/DDDdd/DDCD/E -
C.c/FFFF/AA-A/AGGE/G - -
ef/GGGf#g/BAFD/C - -

Verse:
E1/A1A1A1B1/CBCD/ED#EF/E - -
E/FDAF/ECA1.b1/CCB1A1/B1 - -
E1/A1A1A1B1/CB1CD/ED#EF/E - -
E/FDAF/ECA1.b1/CCB1B1/A1 -

It's over sixty years since I heard this tune, so my recollection may be less than perfect!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Song They Sing at a Sing-Song..
From: GUEST,Richard R. D.
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 01:44 PM

Thanks a Lot Guest Ergometto, I too have been trying to find the wordsof this song which I heard for the 1st time 60 yrs ago which I used to sing at parties. From your verses only the 1st verse & Marmaduke I know. Here are two additional verses I remember.

Now Convict number 40 was Master Sweeny Todd
But very soon poor Sweeny will be laid beneath the clod
He used to be a barber and was good at shaving hair
But one day someone lost his head while sitting in the chair.

Now Senor Macoroni was a handsome dashing Sheik
But when it came to ladies he was very very weak
And now he's in the jail house where he's never been before
They counted up his wives and found that he had twentyfour.

p.s. In your first verse "Now once a week.." In the 3rd line instead of the word 'troubles' I learnt it as 'sorrows'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Song They Sing at a Sing-Song..
From: GUEST,Richard R. D.
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 02:09 PM

As I said I used to sing this. So I know the tune. How do I pass it on to anybody?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Song They Sing at a Sing-Song..
From: GUEST,yuppers
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 07:21 PM

I had the record i inherited from my father and sang this as a child.
i mourned its loss from a house fire in 2005 but i do remember the tune.

its so great to see teh lyrics again. I thought I twas gone forever.

it was sung with many different guys on the record

cheers

ed
carter