Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner

Subject: German Piano Tuner
From: Gloredhel
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:24 PM

I heard a fellow sing a very funny bawdy song about a German piano tuner at a session recently, and I was wondering if anyone had the text of the lyric? As I recall the song ended with an advisory note to husbands to tune their pianos themsel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 01:33 PM

German musicianer

would this be it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:34 PM

The german clockwinder is very similar, and also in the DT.

Thanks though for reminding me of an evening spent listening to Harry Cox, in a snug bar that would have been full with 20 people,at least that's what the other 99 people thought.

cheers bill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 09:27 PM

The German Musicianer is on my Folk-Legacy recording of Harry Cox, available as a cassette now, with the booklet of words and background information about the songs. The Clockwinder is on my Folk-Legacy recording of Cliff Haslam, also available as a cassette with booklet. Both songs are delightfully bawdy and eminently singable.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 09:43 PM

"German Clockwinder" is here.

From "German Musicianer" linked above by MMario:

"all women want is to handle your pelf"

Any clues as to the etymology of "pelf"?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 09:52 PM

Riches (in a bad sense); money. Probably from Old French pelfre: booty. "Pilfer" is from the same root. (Chambers 20th.Century Dictionary).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 10:09 PM

PelZ German = Fur

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Jeanie
Date: 24 Aug 02 - 03:30 AM

The final verse you mention having heard, Gloredhel, with an "advisory note to husbands" isn't in the DT. The version I know (where it is a German Clockmender, who came to England, name of Benjamin Snooker, and met a young lady in Finsbury Square - otherwise more or less identical to the DT version) ends with:

Now come all you young fellows, take a warning by me,

If the German clockmender you chance for to see,

Take hold of your lassie as firm as a rock,

If you leave her behind, he'll be winding her clock

With his toorely-ay, toorely-ay (etc. etc.)

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Gloredhel
Date: 25 Aug 02 - 03:35 PM

Thanks a lot MMario--that is exactly what I was looking for. Guess I just didn't look hard enough!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 10:38 PM

pelf, n. money or riches thought of as bad or degrading. Probably about 1375, stolen goods, property, riches; borrowed through Anglo-French pelf, old French pelfre booty, spoils,of unknown origin (compare Medieval Latin pelfa, pelfra stolen or forfeited goods, possibly a latinization of old French); related to pilfer. The meaning of money or riches, thought of as bad, is first recorded in Dunbar's Poems (1500-20)

Chambers etymology

Pelf - pelt - fur ? perhaps

or illgotten gains????
dieter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:55 AM

My first thought: pelvis (considering the circumstances), but:

pelf:
Wealth or riches, especially when dishonestly acquired.
[Middle English, from Medieval Latin pelfra, pelfa, probably from Old French pelfre.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Interesting, these German artisans (German, as a quality mark?). In Germany there also is sung a bawdy song about a wandering coppersmith repairing women's pans with his little hammer.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Lanfranc
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:42 AM

Lewis Conquer, who often appears at sessions in Essex and is an old friend of mine, does a fine version of the German Piano Tuner.

A bit of doggerel that also employs that little-used word 'pelf'

"There is nothing the world more can offer
To a lover of fortune and pelf
Than to buy this person for what he is worth
And sell at the value he puts on himself!"

How true! (Source unremembered!)

Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: German Piano Tuner
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 03:49 PM

Anyone got any other info on this song? It appears to be unique to Harry Cox. Probably mid to late 19thc on style. Any other trad versions? Printed sources? Harry did get some of his songs from broadsides but I've not seen a broadside of this one.