Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House

Subject: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Fel
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 03:49 AM

Hello

I heard the Irish Rovers sing this, but am struggling to find the lyrics or anything at all about this song.

Go raibh maith agat Fel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Lanfranc
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 06:03 AM

This wouldn't be it, would it?

To the tune of "Silver Threads Among the Gold"

In the boarding house I lived in, everything was growing old
Silver threads upon the butter, and the cheese was green with mould
When the dog died we had sausages; when the cat died, catmint tea
When the landlord died, I left there; spare ribs were too much for me.

As notably sung by Diz Disley, among others.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Fel
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 08:47 PM

That's it! :)

Thank you!

Subject: Lyr Add: AT THE BOARDING HOUSE
From: Lanfranc
Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:27 PM

It's amazing what you can find in DT. A search on Boarding House revealed this:

AT THE BOARDING HOUSE

At the boarding house where I lived, Things were getting green with mold
The landlord's hair was in the butter, Silver threads among the gold.
When the dog died, we had hotdogs; When the cat died, catnip tea,
When the landlord died, I left there, Spare ribs were too much for me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
As sung by Judy Cook, who learned it from her father.
Tune: Silver Threads Among The Gold

Also:
While the organ pealed potatoes, lard was rendered by the choir
And the sexton wrang the dishrag, someone set the church on fire.
"Holy smoke!" the preacher shouted, as he wildly tore his hair;
Now his head resembles Heaven, 'cause there is no parting there.

Girls can never change their nature, 'Tis a thing beyond their reach;
If a girl is born a lemon, She can never be a peach.
But the law of compensation Does this lesson to us teach:
You can always squeeze a lemon; Ever tried to squeeze a peach?

The train was standing at the station, When a young man full of care
Running madly to get on it, Tripped--fell headlong down the stair.
An old lady rushed up to him, Said, "Did you miss a step, my son?"
He looked up and said, "No, lady, I hit every bloody one!"

[Tune, Silver Threads among the Gold.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 09:50 PM

and the chours goes like this:

Oh my dear Mrs. Crandall I think I like you a lot
I lived in your house quiet as a mouse; someday you'll be __________

I can't recall what the last word of the chorus was but yes, this a variation of 'Silver threads among the gold'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 08:12 PM

"someday you'll be gone", if i remember well..
wish i could contribute something more helpful, but i can't remember much, either... my parents used to listen to this, on an old irish rovers CD, on the way to toronto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 03:31 AM

I've heard HergaKitty sing the following half verse. Although, it may have come from elsewhere.

"Always eat when you are hungry
Always drink when you are dry
Always sleep when you are tired
Don't stop breathing or you'll die."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 07:47 AM

The Irish Rovers sing MRS. CRANDALL'S BOARDING HOUSE on "Irish Rovers' Greatest Hits," 1981; "Best of Irish Rovers," MCA CD 11958, 1999; "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Irish Rovers," 2004. Rose & Thistle also sing it on "Catch the Irish Spirit," 2007.

MRS. CRANDALL'S BOARDING HOUSE is credited to Wilcil McDowell, George Millar, and Will Millar, who are members of the Irish Rovers. Some of its verses are clearly assembled from older traditional songs that are usually sung to the tune of SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD, but the Irish Rovers sing it to a different tune which might be original.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 08:27 AM

The tune I usually hear it sung to is probably closer to What a Friend We Have in Jesus, which is not THAT different to Silver Threads Among the Gold.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST,Raghnall
Date: 17 Oct 08 - 02:53 PM

This is the version I know from English folk sing-arounds:

=================================
AT THE BOARDING HOUSE

In the boarding house I lived in, Everything was growing old,
Silver strings among the lettuce, And the cheese was green with mold,
When the dog died we had sausages, When the cat died, catnip tea,
When the landlord died I left there, Spare ribs were too much for me.

As a Train sat in the station, Came a young man in despair,
As he ran to try and catch it, Slipped and fell right down the stairs,
An old lady at the bottom said, Did you miss a step my son,
He just smiled at her and said, lady, I hit every bloody one.

A girl can't change her nature, It is far beyond her reach,
If a girl is born a lemon, She will never be a peach,
But the law of compensation, Is the one I always preach,
You can always squeeze a lemon, Just you try and squeeze a peach!

Standing on the bridge at midnight, Throwing snowballs at the moon,
She said Jack I've never had it, But she spoke too bloody soon
....
===========================

I can't remember the rest... there are quite a few more verses and I am still looking for them online. This song is not sung much anymore since it is not very politically correct!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST,mountain girl
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:24 AM

When I was a little girl of nine, my aunt taught the song to me this way on a long ride to the Outer Banks.

While the organ peeled potatoes, lard was rendered by the choir.
While the sexton rang the dishrag, someone set the church on fire.
"Holy Smoke!" the preacher shouted. In the rush he lost his hair.
Now his head resembles heaven, for there is no parting there. (No parting there.)

In the boarding house where I lived, everything was growing old.
Long gray hairs were in the butter and the bread was full of mold.
When the dog died, we had sausage; when the cat died, catnip tea.
When the landlord died, I left there. Spare ribs were too much for me! (Too much for me!)

If you're born to be a lemon, you can never be a peach.
It is quite against your nature and it's far beyond your reach.
There's a law of compensation which to you I'll gladly teach.
You can always squeeze a lemon, but you cannot squeeze a peach. (So be a lemon!)

Subject: Lyr Add: MRS CRANDALL'S BOARDING HOUSE
From: GUEST,Alex
Date: 02 May 09 - 01:29 PM

MRS CRANDALL'S BOARDING HOUSE
Written by George Millar, Wilcil McDowell & Will Millar (members of the Irish Rovers)
As sung by the Irish Rovers on "The Best of the Irish Rovers" (1999)

1. In the boarding house I lived in, ev'rything was growing old:
Silver threads among the butter and the cheese was green with mould.
When the dog died we had sausages; when the cat died, catnip tea.
When the landlord died I left there; spareribs were too much for me!

CHORUS: Oh, my dear Mrs Crandall, I think I like you a lot.
I lived in your house quiet as a mouse; someday you'll be caught.

2. Well, girls can never change their nature; it is quite beyond their reach.
Mrs Crandall is a lemon; she can never be a peach.
But the law of compensation is the one I always preach:
You can always squeeze a lemon; have you tried to squeeze a peach? CHORUS

3. The train was standing at the station; I was rushing full of care
When I tripped on her cat and I stumbled and fell headlong down the stairs.
Mrs Crandall came up to me; "Did you miss a step, me son?"
"No," I says, "Me dear landlady, I hit every bloomin' one!" CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST,vphillips
Date: 03 Dec 10 - 09:38 AM

I've been hunting for those lyrics since I was a little boy around seven and overheard an older cousin singing this strange tune. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 01:05 PM

Iain

There is another verse, specifically UK as the "tram" referred to is what you guys knowe as a streetcar, although British trams were usually double-deckers.

"Tell me Mister Tram Conductor" said the lady old and frail
"Will the electric current kill me If I stand upon the rail?"
"No Ma'am" said the cheeky tram conductor and to her these words he said
"Not unless you put the other foot on the wire overhead"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 09:30 PM

These are the lyrics my mother sang to us when we were children. I suspect she didn't remember the lyrics about the cheese or bread growing mold. Mother, sister and I sang it in 3 part harmony.

In the boarding house, where I lived, things were getting very old.
Long gray hairs were in the butter, silver threads among the gold.
When the dog died, we had sausage. When the cat died, catnip tea.
When the landlord died I left there, spareribs were too much for me.
Too much for meeeee.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Reinhard
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 12:34 AM

The Decca album "Hootenanny in London" is a recording of a midnight folk concert recorded in London in May 1963. On it, Martin Carthy sings this song as "Girls"; it is credited to G. & T. Linch. As far as I know, this is the earliest published recording of Martin Carthy.

In the boarding house I lived in Everything was growing old:
Silver threads among the butter And the cheese was green with mould.
When the dog died we had sausages, When the cat died, catnip tea.
When the landlord died I left there, Spare ribs were too much for me.

Now girls never can change their nature, It is quite beyond their reach.
If a girl is born a lemon, She can never be a peach.
But the law of compensation Is the one I always preach:
You can always squeeze a lemon - You ever tried to squeeze a peach?

Now the train was standing in the station When a young man full of cares,
Rushing on to get a-boarded, Tripped, fell headlong down the stairs.
An old lady rushed up to him, said, "Did you miss a step, my son?"
He turned to her and said, "No, lady, I hit every bloody one."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 12:14 PM

I like this verse!

"Tell me, mister tram conductor," the old grey haired lady said,
"If I stand upon the tram line, will the current strike me dead?"
"There's no need to worry, madam," the cheeky tram conductor said,
"Unless you lift your other foot up to the power line overhead."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 10:49 PM

The Irish Rovers - Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House

In the boarding house I left them
Everything was growing old
Silver threads among the butter
And the cheese was green with mold
When the dog died we had sausages
When the cat died catnip tea
When the landlord died I left there
Spare ribs were too much for me
Oh my dear Mrs Crandall, I think I like you a lot
I lived in your house, quiet as a mouse
Some day you'll be caught
Well girls can never change their nature
It is quite beyond their reach
Mrs Crandall is a lemon, she can never be a peach
But the law of compensation,
Is the one I always preach
You can always squeeze a lemon,
Have you tried to squeeze a peach
Oh my dear Mrs Crandall,
I think I like you a lot
I lived in your house, quiet as a mouse
Some day you'll be caught
The train was standing at the station
I was rushing through the crowd
When I tripped on her cat and I stumbled
And I fell head first on down the stairs
Mrs Crandall stepped up to me
Did you miss a step me son
No I say's me dear landlady
I hit every blooming one
Oh my dear Mrs Crandall,
I think I like you a lot
I lived in your house, quiet as a mouse
Some day you'll be caught

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 17 - 05:38 PM

My mother sang a different version she learned in rural Idaho during the 1940's- it is a boarding SCHOOL instead of a boarding house and when the teacher dies, they had spareribs. Interesting variation. . .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 17 - 03:28 PM

My mother sang, at the boarding house where I live things are getting pretty old, long grey hairs are in the butter, silver threads among the gol. When the dog died we had sausage, when the cat died, catnip tea. The landlady died last Thursday, please boys pass the hash to me. Penny from oklahoma.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST,threelegsoman
Date: 08 Aug 17 - 02:39 AM

I uploaded a version of this song about five years ago:

12-string Gutiar: Missis Crandall's Boarding House (Including lyrics and chords)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: and e
Date: 24 Aug 23 - 10:39 AM

There's a fine boarding house on the shores of Torch Lake
Where four fucking larrups would sit on your plate,
And more fucking larrups was sure to be there,
And the rank butter you'd always hair,
Derry-di-oh-day. Whack for the di-oh-diddle-oh-day.

Oh our cook, she's the daughter of Honest John Clark.
One taste of her biscuits would make an ox fart.
Her puddings are tough and as green as the grass
And if you would taste'm, you'd hock off your ass,
Derry-di-oh-day. Whack for the di-oh-diddle-oh-day.

Oh there's Peter, Joe, William, there's Franfort and Knott.
And there's sweet little Mary with a wart on her twat.
There's Jumper our push, he's a good one too.
But the long-legged bastard, he shit in our shoes,
Derry-di-oh-day. Whack for the di-oh-diddle-oh-day.

Oh here's to Tad Mitten the son-of-a-bitch
May his bollox rot off with the seven year itch
His pecker will turn on the point of a screw
His asshole would whistle the red, white and blue
Derry-di-oh-day, Whack for the di-oh-diddle-oh-day.

An untitled song by an anonymous man. Recorded August 1938, St. James, Beaver Island, Michigan.


Listen here: https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/PP5AXQKAMYY2M8N


Any help identifying the tune is appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. Crandall's Boarding House
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Aug 23 - 07:29 PM

The tune is similar to:

Sweet Betsy From Pike"

What a great recording.
Thank You!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Now an "ear worm" of is spinning:
bacon... was fried ... dog wagged his tail and looked wonderfuly sad.