Lyr Req: Benny's from Heaven

Subject: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 10:31 AM

Although I realize that this is maybe more a jazz than folk question, I wonder if anyone can point me to the parody lyrics for Pennies from Heaven. Thanks. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: rangeroger
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 12:40 PM

Peter Ostroushko does this song on his "Buddies of Swing" CD. Red House Records CD-17.

The album liner doesn't have the lyrics,but shows it written by Burke & Johnson.Peter learned the lyrics from Eddie Jefferson.

rr

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 01:00 PM

all I remember is that it's about a young lady who shows up with a son, but no husband, and people ask her how she came to have the kid. It goes something like:
[If you ask her who, she'll say] "Benny's from Heaven."
[da da da da da da da] "Benny's from Heaven."


I don't recall much about the middle lines, but the last line is:
...Maybe Benny's from Heaven, but he sure ain't from me!

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: Mudlark
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 10:10 PM

Oh! THAT kind of Benny,.,,,

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: John Hardly
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 10:29 PM

It goes...

Every time he asks she just says, "Benny's from heaven"

If someone can't find a shortcut I'll try to transcribe it from my Harmonius Wail cd tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 12:10 AM

Ah, John, it's good to see another fan of Harmonious Wail a band from Madison (Wisconsin, or course) that plays swing music with bluegrass instruments. I knew bandleader Sims (Mark) Pothoff when he was about five years old, living in Racine, Wisconsin - a pesky little friend of my pesky little brother. He studied mandolin under Jethro Burns and married Maggie Delaney, a woman with a gorgeous voice. They make wonderful music.

I'll transcribe the song this evening. I've been meaning to learn it. It's on the Harmonious Wail CD called "Live at the ZMF."

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: rangeroger
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 12:13 AM

After a fairly thorough search on Google,I could only find 2 places where the song was recorded. The aforementioned "Buddies of Swing" and the Harmonious Wail CD "Live at ZMF" that John Hardly mentioned.

I guess one of us will have to transcribe it.

rr

Subject: ADD: Benny's from Heaven
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 12:19 AM

BENNY'S FROM HEAVEN
(Eddie Jefferson?)

It was a long time ago,
A second lieutenant named Spears
Returned to the States
After being overseas three years
His wife said, "Welcome home, dear,
But since you've been gone, you see
We've been blessed with this darling baby,
And a cute little one is he."

She took that baby in her arms
She said, "Benny is his name."
He said, "I've been gone away three years,
Darling can you please explain?
So I won't feel so down,
Tell me, where did little Benny come from?"

Every time he'd ask, she's say, "Benny's from heaven."
You're right, she'd repeatedly say, "Benny's from heaven."
He said, I've asked all the neighbors that come around
No one can seem to remember Benny comin' down.
Now about a little thing thing like this,
I wouldn't bother;
But one thing I know about children,
They've got to have fathers.
And when I look at Benny, I can plainly see,
That Benny must be from heaven,
'Cause he darn sure ain't from me."

[meaningful instrumental break, a pause for reflection]

[original version]
Every time it rains,
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven.
You'll find your fortune
Falling all over town.
Just be sure that your umbrella
Is upside down.

Trade them for a package
Of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love,
You must have showers.
So when you hear it thunder,
Don't run under a tree,
There'll be pennies from heaven,
For you and me.


Parody of "Pennies from Heaven," "Pennies," by Johnny Burke(w) and Arthur Johnston(m), was published in 1936.
"Benny's" was transcribed from a CD by Harmonious Wail, who learned the song from a Eddie Jefferson (1918-1979). Jefferson's is the earliest-known recording of the parody, and he may be the author.

@parody @humor @marriage @sex
filename[ BENNHEAV
JRO

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST,blkplstc
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 12:34 PM

Joe, thanks for the lyrics and background. -Vin

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 03:27 PM

Thanks Joe<

I'm embarrassed to admit I let this thread get away from me---I forgot to transcribe it last night. My excuse? --I got to go see El McMeen in concert.

Harmonius Wail is near the top of my list of all time favorite live bands to go see (I haven't seen them without Doug Brown). And "Airborne" is a near-perfect cd.

JH

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: mack/misophist
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 12:16 AM

I am astounded. Nay, aghast. I was about to post this same inquiry myself, but the site froze up and I forgot. Somebody read my mind!

Subject: RE: Benny's from Heaven
From: banjo1925
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 08:39 AM

Don't know who to thank - but whoever you are - thanks for the lyrics to Benny's from Heaven.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST,DJ Lorelei
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 02:39 PM

The Yale Alley Cats' (all male choir) version of Benny's From Heaven

A long time ago,
a travelling man named Spears
Returned to his home
after being away THREE YEARS.

His wife said "Welcome home, dear!
I'm so happy, can't you see?
I'm raising a brand new family,
a baby for you and me!"

She showed him the baby,
said "Benny is his name!"

And HE said:

"I may be dumb,
but where did Benny come from?"

Every time he asked, she said,
"Benny's from Heaven."
His face grew red, but still she said,
"Buh Buh Buh Buh Benny's from Heaven!"

He said, "I've asked the people
a-a-all over town
and they all say,
they say they can't remember
infants
falling down-own."

But about such things as these,
nobody bothers
(All except for Spears)
"From what I know of kids,
they gotta have fathers!
And when I look in his eyes,
I can easily see...
Benny MUST be from Heaven,
'cause he's not from ME!"

Enjoy!

myspace.com/britpoptarts

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST,Jimmy Burgoff
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 11:22 PM

Eddie Jefferson was the king of "Vocalese". He wrote many serious & funny lyrics over jazz standard. He also wrote lyrics over famous jazz saxophone and trumpet solos. His most famous one is, "Moody's Mood For Love" which was based on the great (recently departed master) James Moody's tenor sax solo over a mid 1940s? recording of "I'm In The Mood For Love". Other great "Vocalese" artists of note are; John Hendricks (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross). Annie Ross wrote the famous lyrics to Wardell Gray's tenor sax solo on his Jazz/Blues tune entitled,"Twisted" ("My analyst told me, that I was right outa my head......"). Let's also remember King Pleasure( Clarence Beeks). Other than that, the above mentioned also were known to "scat sing", which is taking a vocal solo imitating the slurs and nuances of a saxophone, trumpet or trombone. So we have to add to this list," Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn,Babs Gonsalves, Slim Gallard,Slam Stewart, Major Holly,and many others that I can't quite focus on because I am exhausted and should go to sleep. Even though the above lists are incomplete at best, just these few names I have mentioned can keep you involved and learning for the rest of your life ! Bright Moments, Jimmy Burgoff, double bassist & singer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 07 Dec 19 - 08:17 PM

Eddie Jefferson made his living, amongst other things,
as a tap dancer. It's important to know this
before you listen to his recorded voice.
His diction is the diction of speech, accent included,
and this is combined with
flawless instrumental precision of the rhythm and
with the breath control of a singer/wind-instrument player.
So he sounds like a comedian,
it isn't a cultivated classical-music instrument of a voice
but a colloquial, smoking-and-drinking holler of a sound.

I love it, personally.


Here is Eddie Jefferson's late-in-life recording,
with a bunch of jazz musicians young enough to be his sons I think,
of parody: "Benny's From Heaven"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benny's from Heaven
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 07 Dec 19 - 11:44 PM

I was hoping this was a parody regarding extra perks at one's employment "Bennies" as in benefits, extra windfalls... maybe someone will write it
cheers- J