Lyr Add: My Guitar is My Sweetheart

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Gee-tar is My Sweetheart
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:12 PM

The Online 78-rpm Discography Project (which is now indexed at Honking Duck) gives this information:

Chet Atkins, MY GUITAR IS MY SWEETHEART, RCA Victor 20-2692
Written/Composed by: David Rhodes - Alfio Bargnesi
Recorded November 11, 1947.

Dick Thomas, MY GUITAR IS MY SWEETHEART, Decca 46118
Recorded December 15, 1947.


Atkins' recording is on a few CDs. I transcribed this from samples:

...for only me.
She doesn't drink.
She doesn't smoke.
She doesn't flirt.
She doesn't crack a corny joke.
Oh, my guitar is my sweetheart. She's as faithful as can be.
I put her on my knee and sing a lovely melody.
When lights are low,
She won't say no.
Oh, my guitar is my sweetheart. She's as faithful as can be.

[The rhythm requires you to put the emphasis on the first syllable: GUIT-ar.]

Subject: Lyr Add: MY FIDDLE IS MY SWEETHEART
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 07:46 PM

MY FIDDLE IS MY SWEETHEART
(Harry Hunter, words; G. H. Chirgwin, Music)

1. My fiddle is my sweetheart and I'm her faithful beau.
I take her to my bosom, because I love her so.
I clasp her gently round her neck. Her vocal chords [sic] I press.
I ask her if she loves me, and she answers, "Yes, yes, yes!"
She'll sing at ev'ry season, December or in June,
But must have rosin (reason) or will not sing in tune.
It's not until I coax her well that she'll reveal her charms,
But she will sing her sweetest song when once she's in my arms.

CHORUS 1: My fiddle is my sweetheart and I'm her faithful beau.
I take her to my bosom, because I love her so.

2. She always is harmonic. She never flirts or winks,
And though she takes a tonic, she never eats or drinks.
Her stomjack's always empty but she never seems to care.
While she can get some scrapings, she will live upon the air.
She'll answer ev'ry question, she'll instantly reply,
And at the least suggestion, she'll laugh or she will cry.
She'll grunt or groan, and sigh or moan, as I wish her to do,
And best of all, won't speak at all, unless she's spoken to.

CHORUS 2: So, ladies, there's a wonder, wonderful but true—
A damsel who won't speak at all, unless she's spoken to.


Words, Harry Hunter. Music, G. H. Chirgwin.
London: Francis, Day & Hunter, 1896.
From Songs of the British Music Hall by Peter Davison (New York: Oak Publications, 1971), pages 118-119:

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Gee-tar is My Sweetheart
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 05:31 PM

Dunno who wrote the C & W parody, but the original was "My Fiddle is My Sweetheart" sung and composed by G H Chirgwin, written by Charles Osborne.

The chorus goes:

My fiddle is my sweetheart,
And I'm her faithful bow;
I take her to my bosom,
Because I love her so.

His follow up song was "My Fiddle Was My Sweetheart".

A music hall song, of course. The books I have don't give a date but around the turn of the century would seem about right.

LFF

Subject: My Gee-tar is My Sweetheart
From: Ferrara
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 02:46 PM

This is a C&W song from the 1940's. We probably had it on a 78rpm record. Any idea who wrote/sang it? Here is all I can remember:

Oh, my geetar is my sweetheart,
She's the only girl for me,
She isn't like the other girls
Who're loose and fancy free;
If I am late
I know she'll wait
Oh, my geetar is my sweetheart
She's the only one for me.

Oh, my geetar is my sweetheart,
She's as faithful as can be,
I put her in a corner
There she waits for only me;
When lights are low
She won't say no
Oh, my geetar is my sweetheart
She's the only one for me.