Lyr Req: I Love to Catch Brass Rings on a Merry-Go

Subject: Lyr Add: I LIKE TO CATCH BRASS RINGS ON THE...
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 09:52 PM

Actually, I have all the words. I want to know the origin, era, story behind it:

I like to catch brass rings on the merry-go-round,
The merry-go-round, that's me.
Some like to play croquet, embroider or crochet,
But I like participating my own way!
I like the hobby-horses on the merry-go-round-
The ones that go up and down.
And my sweetie in the rear
Says I ride like Paul Rever
On the merry, merry-go-round
(This is the last time)
The merry, merry-go-round
(Ha ha, I fooled you!)
The merry, merry-go-round
(I really mean it)
The merry, merry-go-round!

I learned this at Girl Scout camp in 1970; it came back to me today when I received the great honor of an invitation to a Girl Scout Costume Tea Party on Juliette Lowe's birthday(March 13!), with the request to teach a song, game or dance that would have been played in 1912. Anyone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the m
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 10:04 PM

My dad, (b. 1925) said there used to be brass rings in the center pole of the merry go round. If you were tuff enuf, you could stand on the horse (whatever), lean out and "catch the brass ring". If you did you won a prize. More stuff to impress the girls........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the m
From: GUEST,Lynn
Date: 19 Sep 12 - 02:31 PM

I think you got an extra ride on the merry-go-round if you caught the brass ring.

I remember this song from Camp Fire Girl camp in the 1960s. I found a book of songs from that camped dated (I think) in the late 1930s. This song was in there, as was a number of songs we still sang in the 60s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the m
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Sep 12 - 04:25 PM

Maybe I've got a dirty mind...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the m
From: GUEST,anne
Date: 25 Sep 12 - 10:00 AM

It's
"I like to dissipate in my own way"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,Beth
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 05:56 AM

Finally, I have been looking for some info on this song forever!!! My grandmother taught this song to my whole family and we love it. I am 28 and going to start a family soon so I am happy to hear others remember the song...I am not sure if she learned from scouts or not but I will ask her... Also, I agree it is dissipate not participate!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,Beth
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 05:56 AM

Finally, I have been looking for some info on this song forever!!! My grandmother taught this song to my whole family and we love it. I am 28 and going to start a family soon so I am happy to hear others remember the song...I am not sure if she learned from scouts or not but I will ask her... Also, I agree it is dissipate not participate!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 07:58 AM

I don't know that this is the original recording of the song, but if not it is at least a very early one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x5gD7yN9No

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 08:03 AM

"Columbia Viva-Tonal record 1245-D
Recorded 12-22-1927
Played on Victor orthophonic 4-40"

The above is info from the YouTube page noted in the last post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 09:47 AM

COV 1245-D 145383        

I Love To Catch Brass Rings, On a Merry-Go-Round (Silver, Dubin, and Conrad) Billy Jones and Ernest Hare (The Happiness Boys) Vocal Duet - Organ and Piano accomp. [12/22/1927]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 09:53 AM

http://www.dbopm.com/link/index/4001/61156

That link will take you to a page about the song's writers. There are links on that page to other people who have recorded their material. It's quite interesting.

Also, please note the song title. It is slightly different from the thread title, although I doubt that has caused any particular hardship.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 02:28 PM

This is why I love this place!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 03:27 PM

LOL Allison. Only 12 years. Thing is however that most of the stuff so easy to find now wasn't on the www years back. Trust you're doing well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I like to catch brass rings on the merry-
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 05:00 PM

Doing just fine, 999! Yes, it's so easy to do a Google search these days; the thing is, so often the Mudcat comes up as one of the top links!

Subject: Lyr Add: I LOVE TO CATCH BRASS RINGS ON A MERRY-GO
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 07:23 PM

Here's my transcription from the recording at YouTube (see link above):


I LOVE TO CATCH BRASS RINGS ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND
Words and music by C Conrad; Al Dubin; A Silver.
As recorded by Billy Jones & Ernest Hare, a.k.a. The Happiness Boys.

[Spoken:]
ERNIE: Hello, Bill!
BILL: Hello, Ernie!
ERNIE: Say, Bill, you know, I've often wanted to ask you a question.
BILL: What is the question, Ernie?
ERNIE: Eh, what is your aim in life? That is, what is your ambition?
BILL: Oh, my ambition! Well, my ambition is to be one of those dramatic actors, you know, like that fellow in Faust with the long red nightshirt and the turned-up shoes?
ERNIE: Oh, you mean Mephisto!
BILL: The devil you say! The devil you say!
ERNIE: Ah, no, Bill, you don't want to be like him; you want to be like the fellow that says, "Friends, rummies, and commuters, ha-ha-ha-ha! I came to shout for Caesar—"
BILL: Half a moment! Half a moment! You have not heard anything yet. Play, slave!

[Piano music begins. Verse, recited:]
BILL: I have crossed the great Atlantic; I have sailed the seven seas.
ERNIE: Have you climbed to heights gigantic in a plane?
BILL: Yes! And I've shot at jungle lions from beneath the tropic trees.
ERNIE: Well, do you feel your life has been in vain?
BILL: Yes! And now I'm just as blasé as can be.
There's only one thing left in life for me.
ERNIE: What's that, Willie?

[Chorus, sung:]
BILL: I love to catch brass rings on a merry-go-round,
ERNIE: On a merry-go-round, BILL: That's me.
ERNIE: I'd sooner play croquet, embroider, and crochet.
BILL: Well, I want to dissipate in my own way.
I love to catch brass rings. ERNIE: What a merry old clown!
BILL: At catching them I'm a hound.
ERNIE: Oh, you catch a ring, oh, gee!
BILL: Then I get the next ride free
BOTH: On the merry merry-go-round.

[Spoken:]
ERNIE: Get a go, Bill!
BILL: Hold fast!
ERNIE: Now, do you feel dizzy?
BILL: Not yet; not yet.

[Verse, recited:]
ERNIE: I have heard your tragic story and you sure deserve a cup,
BILL: But there's something that I'd love to ascertain.
ERNIE: And what's that?
BILL: Do you think it will affect me if I keep this wild life up?
ERNIE: No, sir; and how I know I will explain.
BILL: Explain!
ERNIE: I too am quite a devil, don't you see?
BILL: You mean to say you're just as wild as me?
ERNIE: Yes-siree!

[Chorus, sung:]
ERNIE: I love to catch brass rings on a merry-go-round,
A merry-go-round. BILL: Me, too! ERNIE: Goody-goody-goody-goody-goody!
ERNIE: No other boys excel in ringing front-door bells.
BILL: My passion is to ride on carousels.
ERNIE: I love each hobby-horse on a merry-go-round,
BILL: The kind that goes up and down.
ERNIE: When we hear that tally-hup(?)
BILL: We just love to ally-up(?)
BOTH: On the merry, merry-go-round.

[Chorus, sung:]
BOTH: I love to catch brass rings on a merry-go-round,
The merry-go-round, that's me.
While others play croquet, embroider, and crochet,
I love to dissipate in my own way.
I love to catch brass rings on a merry-go-round.
At catching them I'm a hound.
ERNIE: When I catch one, gosh, oh gee!
BILL: Then I get the next ride free,
BOTH: On the merry merry-go-round.


[I have transcribed lots more songs recorded by Jones & Hare; most of them are posted in this thread: Lyr Add: Songs of The Happiness Boys/Jones & Hare]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Love to Catch Brass Rings on a Merry-Go
From: GUEST,Guest, Melissa G.
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 08:33 PM

I was taught that it was "I like to 'ticipate in my own way." This is how I was taught at GS camp in the 1970s and also how it is written in my aunt's song book (she was a GS camp counselor in Germany for American military kids in the late 60's or early 70s). To me, the word "dissipate" makes no sense within the context of the song. However, "'ticipate" as slang for "participate" does make sense and easily could have been misheard through our oral tradition and thought to be "dissipate." As a kid, I never understood what "'ticipate" meant. Looking at my aunt's song book, it's pretty clear though that it was a shortened "participate".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Love to Catch Brass Rings on a Merry-Go
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 09:36 AM

Melissa: Your explanation of "'ticipate" makes sense and is probably correct. Thanks for that!