Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)

Subject: Lyrics
From: Hilary
Date: 23 Jan 98 - 05:11 AM

Anyone knows the complete lyrics & any other info about this song? I think it's from a cartoon movie. It's not Disney..already checked. Here's what I know: "I'm busy doing nothing, working the whole day through, Trying to find lots of things not to do. I'm busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime, I'd like to be unhappy, but I never do get the time. I'm looking for the songbird, I'm teaching him how to sing, And polish up the dewdrops, they're looking rather dim, ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Hurry, scurry, there's never a moment free."

Any help will sure be appreciated. Thanks.

Subject: RE:
From: Phideaux
Date: 23 Jan 98 - 07:36 AM

Try Bing Crosby

Bob S.

Subject: RE:
From: Murray
Date: 27 Jan 98 - 02:47 AM

It's a song from the film "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1948), where it's sung by an unlikely trio, i.e. Bing Crosby, William Bendix, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Other verses: I've got to wake the sun up, he's li'ble to sleep all day; And then to ... the roses [?] so they'll be bright and gay; You must rehearse the songbirds, to see that they sing in key; Hustle bustle, and never a moment free. ... I told my friend the robin I'd buy him a brand new vest;Hustle, bustle, and never a moment's rest.

I'd like complete words of this myself; I've remembered it fondly [it has a very catchy tune] for nearly fifty years.

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 27 Jan 98 - 09:49 AM

Thanks Phideaux & Murray, gives me a basis to do more search. will let you know what I find. Hilary

Subject: RE:
From: Phideaux
Date: 27 Jan 98 - 11:54 AM

I was pretty sure it was from Connecticut Yankee, but not so sure that I would send someone on a false trail.

Now I have to look around and see if I have an old 78 with that on it. Used to have a lot of Crosby records, but they mostly disappeared through moving and house cleaning.

If I find it I'll get bak to you.

Bob S.

Subject: RE: Busy doing nothing
From: jim
Date: 31 Jul 98 - 05:23 AM

The song comes from a mosical movie A Yankee in King Arthurs Court (adapted from the Mark Twain novel)... I just found this in a trivia quiz pursuit!

Subject: RE: I'm Busy Doing Nothing
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Aug 98 - 04:13 PM

Hilary,

I's great to have you on board! It must be a real stain (I mean strain) living in Washinton these days. But Mudcat can be a real oasis for you--a great place to avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Us Mudcats do know what it's like hanging with those bottom-feeders in D.C.!! And this song, "Busy Doing Nothing", must certainly hit you where you live. Thanks for trying to build National Health Insurance for ALL!

Art

Subject: RE:
From: GUEST,lol
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 01:46 PM

hi these are all the lyrics:

We're busy doing nothing, working all day through,
we're trying to find lots of things not to do.
We're busy going nowhere, isn't it such a crime ?
we'd like to be unhappy but we never do have the time.

I have to watch the river to see that it doesn't stop,
and stick around the rosebuds so they'll know when to pop.
Better keep those crickets cheerful,they're really a solemn bunch,
farso, farso. I never have the time for lunch.

I'd like to meet a turtle, and teach him how to swim,
then I have to shine the dew-drops, they're looking rather dim.
Meet my friend the robin and buy him a brand new vest.
Farso, farso, I never have time to rest.

Subject: RE: "I'm Busy Doing Nothing"..Lyrics?
From: Tig
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 05:39 PM

I know it as Hustle Bustle, hustle bustle instead of Farso, farso.

Subject: RE: 'I'm Busy Doing Nothing'..Lyrics?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:18 PM

Farso farso?

Subject: Lyr Add: BUSY DOING NOTHING (Van Heusen, Burke)
From: Peace
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:26 PM

BUSY DOING NOTHING
(Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke)

CHORUS: We're busy doing nothing, working the whole day through,
Trying to find lots of things not to do.
We're busy going nowhere. Isn't it just a crime?
We'd like to be unhappy but we never do have the time.

I have to watch the river, to see that it doesn't stop,
Then stick around the rosebuds, so they'll know when to pop.
Better keep the crickets cheerful. They're really a solemn bunch.
Hustle, bustle, and only an hour for lunch. CHORUS

I have to wake the sun up—he's liable to sleep all day—
And then inspect the rainbows, so they'll be bright and gay.
You must rehearse the songbirds, to see that they sing in key.
Hustle, bustle, and never a moment free. CHORUS

I have to meet a turtle. I'm teaching him how to swim.
Then I have to shine the dewdrops. You know, they're looking rather dim.
I told my friend the robin I'd buy him a brand new vest.
Hustle, bustle, I wish I could take a rest.

LAST CHORUS: ... Trying to find lots of things not to do.
... Isn't it just a crime?
We'd better make it snappy. There's another hill to climb.
We'd like to be unhappy but we never do have, we never do have,
We never do, never do, never do, never do,
Never do have the time,
Never do have the time.

(Please note that the chorus, and each repetition of it, is preceded by a long string of la, la, las.)

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:kCBFbZepGZAJ:www.bloomfield.me.uk/entries/001145.htm+I%27d+like+to+meet+a+turtle,+and+teach+

Some other commentary on that site also.

Subject: RE: 'I'm Busy Doing Nothing'..Lyrics?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:33 PM

Trivia:
The song is by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. The movie is not to be confused with the earlier stage musical of the same name by Rodgers and Hart, which gave us "My Heart Stood Still" and "Thou Swell," much better songs IMHO.

Subject: RE: 'I'm Busy Doing Nothing'..Lyrics?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 01:11 AM

I thought the chorus was:

La, la, lalalala,
Lalalalalala lalalalalala,
La, la, lalalala,
Lalalalalala lalalala

We loved the movie and the crazy footwork as they sang the lala part.
We managed to record it when it was on telly about 20 years back.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Celtic Guest
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 01:13 PM

The Lyrics Peace posted are the correct ones from Conneticut Yankee.

The one posted by guest, ending in "Farso Farso" is from a version of the song done by punk band "Peter and the test tube babies".

I'm certain that its the film version you are looking for, and it did indeed precede each repetition of verse one with lala lala la la

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,english granny
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 12:25 PM

Well thank you everyone. Isn't the internet great that's just the information I was looking for. Someone said to me yesterday that that they were busy doin nothing and the tune popped into my head. I wanted to find out the other words of the song and now I have.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 03:57 PM

If you want to hear an AMAZING version, Listen to Dave Stewart & ----I can"t remember her name!! Possibly Annie Lennox,but maybe not !! But check it out,it"s musically wonderful !!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen
From: GUEST,Jembright
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 02:48 AM

looking at Peace's version of the lyrics doesn't it rhyme better with the last quatrain as:

Hustle, bustle, we never have time,
we never have time, we never have, never have, never have, never have,
We never have time to rest,
We never have time to rest.

AN interesting lyric using a seven syllable line, mostly, for the three verse; I wonder if the eight syllable lines are wrong or don't quite represent the slurring of words to make the scan?

Subject: Lyr Add: BUSY DOING NOTHING (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Lou
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 04:20 PM

From the sheet music (The ending was sung a little differently in the movie):

Busy Doing Nothing
(Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke)

We're busy doing nothing
Working the whole day through
Trying to find lots of things not to do
We're busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime
We'd (*last time) like to be unhappy, but we never do have the time.

*Coda: better make it snappy, there's another hill to climb
We'd like to be unhappy, but we never do have the time

Verses
I have to watch the river to see that it doesn't stop
and stick around the rose buds, so they'll know when to pop
And keep the crickets cheerful, they're really a solemn bunch
Hustle, bustle, and only an hour for lunch

I have to wake the sun up, he's liable to sleep all day
And then inspect the rainbows, so they'll be bright and gay
I must rehearse the songbirds to see that they sing on key
Hustle, bustle, and never a moment free

I have to meet a turtle, I'm teaching him how to swim,
I have to shine the dew drops, they're looking rather dim
I told my friend the robin, I'd buy him a brand new vest
Hustle, bustle, I wish I could get a rest!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 02:19 PM

FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!! thank you!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Toto
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 05:43 PM

Isn't it from the movie The Wizard of Oz 1939 and it was sung by the scarecrow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,GUEST, Orpington, Kent
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 11:54 AM

Hi Hilary

Try this for your search for the lyrics:

Busy Doin Nothing Lyrics - Vaughn Monroe

I think that's where I got a copy of them before.

The song is actually sung in the movie about Hans Christian Anderson and his stories. The song 'Inch Worm' is in the film as well.

Hope this helps.

Love from fellow 'Busy Doin Nothing' Person
Nadia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen
From: NormanD
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 12:06 PM

A post in this thread above - 10 years and three days ago - tells us:

"It's a song from the film "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1948), where it's sung by an unlikely trio, i.e. Bing Crosby, William Bendix, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke."

Shall we stick with this version?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041259/soundtrack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 12:23 PM

Definitely A Connecticut Yankee. The Hans Christian Anderson file (with Danny Kaye as HCA) did contain Inchworm, but not Busy Doing Nothing. (Though Vaughn Monroe did record the song and would get you to the lyrics, but then so would the title alone!).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen
From: NormanD
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 04:51 PM

Here's the YouTube clip of Bing, Bendix & Hardwick. No Danny Kaye, no Wizard of Oz, just A Connecticut Yankee.

All together now: "La la lala la..."

Busy Doing Nothing

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 09:49 AM

Please can anyone help? I know the song and all the previous comments I know are correct, but its driving me mad because I know the song from something else much more recent and I just cant place it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Ann
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 09:21 AM

How funny is this. Just yesterday my husband and I were trying to remember where the song came from and when I go on line there is a thread from this year discussing it! What sad lives we all lead!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,mark
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 01:50 PM

It used to be the theme song of Workers Playtime on BBC radio Helen -that was about thirty years ago . I can't get any more recent than that I'm afraid.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Heather Stephens
Date: 10 May 08 - 03:58 PM

I sing this song to my son and he loves it but i only knew a few of the words, but now I have all this info and intend to sing him the whole song now ( God help him) !!! Is it really that sad that I want my son to know some of the wonderful music and musical stars that made my young life such fun? Yes I am an old Mum but my son likes me to sing him all the old songs, don't you think they are so much better than the songs of today. Yes I am a boring old F--t !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,lorraine aberdeen
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 10:12 AM

thank you all sooo much have been trying to find out about this song which popped into my head some weeks ago and have driven friends nuts asking about it and here you are giving me all the answers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen
From: GUEST,FatSadMan
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 10:00 PM

I have been thinking about this song for weeks since my 4 year-old niece asked me what I was doing and I sang down the phone "I'm busy doing nothing, working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do".

Today I thought I'd see if I can find the lyrics and here they are!

Thank you everyone.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen
From: GUEST,GumBea
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:55 AM

Dear Hilary: The song "Busy Doing Nothing" was sung in harmony on a children's puppet show named "Here's Geraldine" featuring Geraldine the Giraffe. On WBKB, now WLS-TV ABC Chicago in the early 1960's. Charming and memorable after all these years. They signed off with the song "Be Kind to Your Parents."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 02:36 PM

Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin --- from their work "Up From The Dark" ; it's a very imaginative version !!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen
From: GUEST,mrsdparis, wilts
Date: 25 Jun 09 - 12:49 PM

Hello

I know I'm a bit late to intervene in this charming little exchange of info, but wasn't that Gerard Depardieu in the brown jerkin in the Youtube clip?!

Best wishes

DP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 01:01 PM

Gerard Depardieu? No, that film was "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" from 1949. Depardieu was born in 1948.

The singers were Bing Crosby, William Bendix, and Cedric Hardwicke. Bendix is the one who resembles Depardieu.

Bendix (1906-64) is known primarily for supporting roles in movies (notably Hitchcock's "Lifeboat", 1944) and in the starring role in an early TV sitcom "The Life of Riley" 1953-58.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,rob
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 10:59 PM

So has anyone come up with the complete lyrics yet ??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: MW (music)
Date: 05 May 11 - 07:17 AM

Hi Guest, Rob

HTH! re a 'definitive' version (at least of the vinyl version!) of this super song.

Lyrics from the record are as follows:

N.B. These lyrics are from the Brunswick label recording [uploaded at YouTube as at May 2011; will hopefully still be there at a later date] at URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSmeFuXT06M

I don't know if this is the version of the song that has been taken straight from the film soundtrack recording (rather than another/later rendition made in a studio), but presume so!

From film "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1948): Bing Crosby, William Bendix, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke.


--------


La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la-la!
La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!

{CHORUS:}
We're busy doing nothing, working the whole day through,
Trying to find lots of things not to do.
We're busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime?!
We'd like to be unhappy but we never do have the time.

{VERSE 1:}
I have to watch the river to see that it doesn't stop,
And stick around the rosebuds so they'll know when to pop.
Better keep the crickets cheerful, they're really a solemn bunch.
Farso! Farso! I've only an hour for lunch.

La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la-la!
La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!

{CHORUS}

{VERSE 2:}
I have to wait the sun up he's liable to sleep all day
And then inspect the rainfalls so they'll be bright & gay
You must rehearse the songbirds to see that they sing in key
[VOICE] If you insist! [VOICE] I do!
Farso! Farso! I've never a moment free.

{CHORUS}

{VERSE 3:}
I have to meet a turtle, I'm teaching him how to swim,
Then I have to shine the dew-drops, do you know, they're looking rather dim.
[VOICE:] No!
I told my friend the robin I'd buy him a brand new vest.
Farso! Farso!

We never do have, we never do have, we never do, never do, never do, never do, never do have the time
Never do have the time!

--------

Hey ho! At least I have finally posted an Answer at MudCat to s'o else's query, rather than posting yet another Question! ,-)

HTH!

M.W.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 05 May 11 - 03:25 PM

I'm with the Dave Stewart/Barbara Gaskin version....available to hear at any local "YouTube" near you.....Apart from the astonishing arrangement, it also has a school choir near the end...What Larks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: MW (music)
Date: 05 May 11 - 06:47 PM

Oh yes! That Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin is fun too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nT1fBCcf4o&feature=BFp&list=WL7229BC893E04A5A8&index=12

Quite lyrical in tone. Delightful!

M.W.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: MW (music)
Date: 06 May 11 - 05:22 AM

HaHa! Thanks to those of you who spotted/knew that the apparent phrase 'Farso! Farso' is in fact 'Hustle! Bustle!'

I realised this after listening to the film version - lip-reading?! - at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuxSl_4yLz4

. . . However, I am convinced that at one point Crosby does say the strange word "Charoo!" - whatever that means! ,-)

I noted that the film-version of the song is longer & has slightly varied lyrics to the Brunswick recording. Which of course means that the Brunswick recording *is* a different version! to that in the film, unlike my assumption in my previous posting here at MudCat. So there is not really a definitive version of the lyrics to this super song at all!

Hey-ho! It's still 1 of the best singalong songs ever. I liken it to Monty Python's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' in positivity!

P.S. I have now modified my transcript of the lyrics in the Brunswick recording: as follows:

========================================

[ALL:]
La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la-la!
La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!


{CHORUS: } [ALL:]
We're busy doing nothing, working the whole day through,
Trying to find lots of things not to do.
We're busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime?!
We'd like to be unhappy but we never do have the time.


{VERSE 1:}
[CEDRIC HARDWICKE:]
I have to watch the river to see that it doesn't stop,
And stick around the rosebuds so they'll know when to pop.
[BING CROSBY:]
Better keep the crickets cheerful, they're really a solemn bunch.
[ALL:]
Hustle! Bustle!
[WILLIAM BENDIX:]
I've only an hour for lunch.


[ALL:]
La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la-la!
La, la, la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!


{!CHORUS!}


{VERSE 2:}
[BENDIX:]
I have to wait the sun up he's liable to sleep all day
[CROSBY:]
Charoo!
[HARDWICKE:]
And then inspect the rainfalls so they'll be bright & gay
[CROSBY & HARDWICKE:]
You must rehearse the songbirds to see that they sing in key
[BENDIX] If you insist! [CROSBY] I do! By all means!
[ALL:]
Hustle! Bustle! I've never a moment free.


{!CHORUS!}


{VERSE 3:}
[CROSBY:]
I have to meet a turtle, I'm teaching him how to swim,
Then I have to shine the dew-drops, do you know, they're looking rather dim.
[BENDIX:]
No!
[CROSBY:]
I told my friend the robin I'd buy him a brand new vest.
[ALL:]
Hustle! Bustle!


[CROSBY:]
We never do have
[HARDWICKE:]
We never do have
[BENDIX:]
We never do, never do
[ALL:]
Never do, never do, never do have the time
Never do have the time!


[transcribed from the Brunswick label recording by M. Wood @ 6 May 2011]

========================================

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 06 May 11 - 05:31 AM

In the early fifties, it was definitely "Farso, farso" because my naughty mother used to sing "Arseholes, arseholes" just to irritate my straitlaced father!