Lyr Req: King Karactacus / Caractacus

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:19 AM

Since Wednesday this week, the Junior Gang (Cubs, Brownies, younger Scouts and younger Guides) of the Grimsby Gang Show have been performing this song on stage. We have two more performances to do today, a matinee and an evening show.

In our sketch, Caractacus is given full recognition, as in the line Hail Great Caractacus; son of Cunobelinus; king of the Catuvellauni; Chief among Chiefs of the tribes of Britannia

We are also singing "Old MacDonlad" in Latin, following a suggestion by Frank Maher in an earlier Mudcat lyric request thread, and the Gladiator song which I learnt from Dave Bryant at the 2004 Euro-gather.

DC

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 06:58 AM

What quay was his fifedom in?

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:00 PM

AD

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 05:17 PM

Mudcat's own Seamus Kennedy has a very nice version on one of his CD's that you can get through CD Baby. When he sings it "live" he uses even more lyrics than on the recording. A real fun song.

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: GUEST,Anysia
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 06:44 PM

http://artists.letssingit.com/rolf-harris-lyrics-court-of-king-caratacus-lfftwr1

This site will let you download it to your i-pod if you have one so maybe you can play it on your computer. It is a fun song.

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Celtaddict
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 09:30 AM

I am sure there are at least as many versions of motions as there are variations in lyrics (or spelling) but here is one, as performed by Danny O'Flaherty; called 'The Ladies of the Harem' it was a big favorite in O'Flaherty's in New Orleans, and usually involved a row of folks up front to 'lead' the group in motions; it was fun to 'draft' someone who had not heard the song before (i.e. a 'Harem virgin') to come up to try. As the song got faster, the attempts at maintaining the motions got funnier. The verses were sometimes compressed, sometimes drawn out.

Oh, the ladies (hands to bosom, cupping movement) of the harem (hands to face, simulating veil) of the court (hands to head, who knows why) of King Caractacus (fingers up like antlers; headdress? crown?) are just passing by (both hands chest level, across front to side in wave-like motion).
The noses (point to nose) on the faces (hands to cheeks) of the ladies...
The powder (motion of getting powder from compact, left hand, onto puff, right hand) on the noses (instead of pointing, act as if powdering nose) on the faces...
The men (two variants: if kids around, arms out flexing muscles; later in evening, both hands, palms in, to crotch area) who put the powder...
The britches (hold out sides of 'trousers'; this looks particularly silly in a skirt) on the men...
The tantalizing stitches (motions of sewing) in the britches...
The fascinating witches (hands over head making pointed hat shape) [who] put the tantalizing stitches...
(the 'who' is usually omitted in the interest of rhythm, and speed by now)
If you want to see (hand over eyes to peer around)
If you want to see (a third higher)(same)
DO YOU WANT TO SEE (another third higher)(same, and 'egging on' motions to crowd to urge them to indicate they want to see,
then racing through the whole bit at breakneck speed to)
You're too late! (hands thrown out in 'what can I do?' gesture)
They just passed by....(waving off to side)

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Celtaddict
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 09:35 AM

Somewhere too there is an old poem (I read it in a 1920s Book of Knowledge encyclopedia from my Dad, but the set is now at my brother's in Tulsa) about the capture of Caractacus. It included one of those quotes that, while he might not have said it (and it would not have sounded so grand in another language anyway) he, or someone, should have. It was something to the effect that while they could capture his body they could not take his real freedom away. Does this ring a bell for anyone?

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:03 PM

Regarding spelling, here's what Wikipedia says:

"Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos, Greek Καράτακος; variants Latin Caractacus, Greek Καρτάκης) was a historical British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest. He may correspond with the legendary Welsh character Caradoc and the legendary British king Arvirargus....

"Caratacus' name appears as both Caratacus and Caractacus in manuscripts of Tacitus, and as Καράτακος and Καρτάκης in manuscripts of Dio. Older reference works tend to favour the spelling "Caractacus", but modern scholars agree, based on historical linguistics and source criticism, that the original Brythonic form was *Caratācos, pronounced /ka.ra.taː'kos/, which gives the attested names Caradog in Welsh and Carthach in Irish."

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:41 PM

The above is the scholarly, historic view. However, when it comes to music publishing, all bets are off. The song title has been variously given as--

COURT OF KING CARACTACUS sung by Rolf Harris on his album "Court of King Caractacus," 1964 (and several subsequent collections); and by The Irish Descendants on "Across the Water," 2004. At least one collection featuring Harris' recording has it as COURT OF KING CARACTICUS.

KING CARACTACUS, sung by Seamus Kennedy on "By Popular Demand."

KING CORACTACUS sung by the Paul O'Brien All Stars Band on "Ultimate Children's Party," 2000. Some collections featuring this band call it KING CORACTICUS.

However, much older than all of them is KING OF KARACTACUS sung by Rich and Rich on "Cockney Kings of Music Hall," Saydisc, 1995.

The British Library Sound Archive confirms this spelling and gives the further information of crediting "Layton" as the author, but I have been unable to find a date for that recording.

Subject: RE: King Karactacus (?)
From: Cattail
Date: 07 Jan 08 - 08:12 PM

If anyone would like the chords and a sample of the song and movements
in a U-Tube sample, they will find them here. (Click on "MY UPDATES")

http://bettylou.zzruss.com/

Find it under "Court of King Caractacus"

Best wishes

Cattail !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King Karactacus / Caractacus
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Sep 15 - 05:26 PM

I'm having trouble finding a date for the Rich & Rich recording of "King of Karactacus" by Rich & Rich. I did find a 1907 Variety Magazine that makes mention of Rich and Rich, so that gives an idea when they were performing.

Jack Campin sent me a 1944 edition of the Hackney Scout Song Book that makes mention of a single line from the song: "The King of Caractacus is just passing by," but it doesn't give any more.

Here's the Rich and Rich recording of "The King of Karactacus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_o-yNBuzQ

-Joe-

Subject: ADD Version: The King of Karactacus
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Sep 15 - 06:42 PM

THE KING OF KARACTACUS
(as recorded by Rich and Rich, early 20th century)

The King of Karactacus was just passing on. (4 x)

The Girls [spoken]: The girls in the harem of the King of Karactacus was just passing on. (4 x)

The Powder: The powder on the faces of the girls in the harem of the King of Karactacus was just passing on. (4 x)

The Maids: The maids who use the puffs to put the powder on the faces of the girls in the harem of the King of Karactacus was just passing on. (4 x)

The Men: The men who chase the maids that use the puffs to put the powder on the faces of the girls in the harem of the King of Karactacus was just passing on. (4 x)

The Bunions: The bunions on the toeses (?) of the men who chase the maids that use the puffs to put the powder on the faces of the girls in the harem of the King of Karactacus was just passing on. (4 x)

[The song ends in confusion, and has no real ending.]


Transcribed from the CD, Cockney Kings of Music Hall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_o-yNBuzQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King Karactacus / Caractacus
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 08 Sep 15 - 09:53 PM

There's a parody, called The Judge That Liked To Gamble, at http://www.miguelheatwole.com/lyrics.html#217

Words by Dave Kennedy, sung by John Ross on the double CD, The People Have Songs. It ends with,

If you're from the National Times
And you'd really like to find
All the cops and tape-recorders
Who were following the orders
Of the crooked politician
Seen on national television
With the well known racing figure
Taking compromising pictures
Of the judge that liked to gamble
With the payoffs that he handled
At the court of petty sessions...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King Karactacus / Caractacus
From: GUEST,threelegsoman
Date: 09 Sep 15 - 03:22 AM

There are plenty of helpful versions of the lyrics in the above thread, so here is a link to my YouTube version: The Ladies of the Court of King Caractacus

As with most of my videos, this includes the lyrics and chords on-screen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: King Karactacus / Caractacus
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Sep 15 - 04:51 AM

Nicely done, threelegsoman.
Cheers!
-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE COURT OF KING CARACTACUS (Rolf Harris
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Sep 15 - 08:08 AM

Rolf Harris is credited as the writer of this version, although it is obviously derived from an earlier song, of which Rich and Rich's is an example.


THE COURT OF KING CARACTACUS
As recorded by Rolf Harris on "The Court of King Caractacus" (1964)

1. Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus were just passing by. (4x)

2. Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus were just passing by. (4x)

3. Now the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus were just passing by. (4x)

4. Now the fascinating witches who put the scintillating stitches in the britches of the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus were just passing by. (4x)

5. Now if you want to take some pictures of the fascinating witches who put the scintillating stitches in the britches of the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus YOU'RE TOO LATE!
Because they just passed by.


[Note: after the first line of verses 1 and 2, he interjects: "All together!" He seems to be performing before a live audience, and they are making a valiant effort to sing along.]