Origins: Today Is Monday

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: GUEST,Kay
Date: 19 Jun 12 - 01:38 AM

My late husband used to sing this. He learned it in kindergarten in Seattle around 1920. I'm pretty sure each day was a plain food - no pizza, spaghetti, or ice cream, and I think they were:
- Monday, string beans (or hasenpfeffer?);
- Tuesday, hasenpfeffer (or string beans?);
- Wednesday, zoo-oop;
- Thursday, roast beef;
- Friday fi-ish;
(I don't remember Saturday or Sunday being included);
But all the verses ended:
- All you German mothers, we wish the same to you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday - Chords
From: GUEST,Kay
Date: 19 Jun 12 - 02:14 AM

In the key of C, the chords are C and G. (Play the C chord all the way through until you get to "I" and then play the G chord on "wish."

Line 1: Verse
Line 2: Chord on 2nd & 4th beat

         Today is | Mon-day - Today is | (continue)
C - C -       | C       C          | (repeat same chords)

All you German | mothers, - I | wish the same to | you.
C   -   C -   | C       C - | G    -   G    - | C

Because of the difference between the font in the text entering form and the font that is displayed on the web page, I can't make the chords line up with the words, so I hope this makes sense. The "|" character indicates the end of each 4 beat phrase. (If you copy it to a plain font, it should be lined up.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 10:20 AM

I found the music in a small old Legion Airs music book. Songs of "Over There and "Over Here" in World Wars 1 and 2. Compiled by Frank E. Peat and edited by Lee Orean Smith. Copyright 1932 and 1949. Leo Feist Inc. 799 Seventh Avenue, New York 19, N.Y.

There are a lot of different texts for the same music. I learned it with each day of the week a different housekeeping chore, and rest on Sunday.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 08:42 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: GUEST,Linda Nolan
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 12:00 PM

Today is Monday, today is Monday
Monday washday-everybody happy? Well I should say!
Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday
Tuesday stringbeans, everybody happy? Well I should say!
Today is Wednesday, today is Wednesday,
Wednesday zooop! Everybody happy? Well I should say!
Today is Thursday, today is Thursday,
Thursday roast beef, everybody happy? Well I should say!
Today is Friday, today is Friday, Friday fish! Everybody happy? Well I should say!
Today is Saturday, today is Saturday, Saturday payday, everybody happy? Well I should say!
Today is Sunday, today is Sunday, Sunday Church everybody happy? Well I should say!

The trick is that after you sing each new day,you go back and sing all the previous ones
So it goes Sunday church, Saturday payday Friday fish! Thursday roast beef, Wednesday zooop! Tuesday stringbeans Monday washday Everybody happy? Well I should say. I came from a family of five and we sang this every night before dinner.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jan 18 - 05:21 AM

Here are a couple recordings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7V__eJHuo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z41K5FBahNA

Is this the usual melody?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: GUEST,Scot Cannon
Date: 10 Jun 19 - 01:49 AM

As I recall at Boy Scout meetings in Webster Groves, MO in the mid sixties we sang:

Today is Monday, Today is Monday
Monday Hassenpfeffer
Is everybody happy
Well I should say

Tuesday Chicken
Wednesday Hamburgers
Thursday Pork Chops
Friday Fish
Saturday Shish Kabob
Sunday Roast Beef

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 02:48 PM

This bit of nonsense was a favorite camp-song with the soldier, during the Great War. It illustrates the
philosophic good humor which is an outstanding characteristic of the United States Army and Navy.

59. Today is Monday

1. Today is Monday, Today is Monday, Monday bread and butter,
All you hungry soldiers, we wish the same to you!

2. Today is Tuesday, Today is Tuesday, Tuesday string beans,
All you hungry soldiers, we wish the same to you!

3. Today is Wednesday, Today is Wednesday, Wednesday sou-oo-oup,
All you hungry soldiers, we wish the same to you!

4. Today is Thursday. Roast beef, etc.
5. Today is Friday. Fish, etc.
6. Today is Saturday. Payday, etc.
7. Today is Sunday. Church (Ding dong.) etc

"I Hear America Singing", No 1. Twice 55 Community Songs. The Brown Book. by C.C. Birchard & Co. Boston, 1917


See lyrics (with music) here: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Twice_55_Community_Songs/44kWAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22today+is+monday%22+song&pg=PA7&printsec=frontcover

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 03:22 PM

25. TODAY IS MONDAY (G 2/4)

Today is Monday;
Today is Monday;
Monday we hoe a row;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Today is Tuesday;
Today is Tuesday;
Monday we hoe a row;
Tuesday we sew a seam;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Today is Wednesday;
Today is Wednesday;
Monday we hoe a row;
Tuesday we sew a seam;
Wednesday we feed the pig;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Today is Thursday;
Today is Thursday;
Monday we hoe a row;
Tuesday we sew a seam;
Wednesday we feed the pig;
Thursday we can a can;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Today is Friday;
Today is Friday;
Monday we hoe a row;
Tuesday we sew a seam;
Wednesday we feed the pig;
Thursday we can a can;
Friday we raise a hen;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Today is Saturday;
Today is Saturday;
Monday we hoe a row;
Tuesday we sew a seam;
Wednesday we feed the pig;
Thursday we can a can;
Friday we raise a hen;
Saturday we bake a bun;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Today is Sunday;
Today is Sunday;
Monday we hoe a row;
Tuesday we sew a seam;
Wednesday we feed the pig;
Thursday we can a can;
Friday we raise a hen;
Saturday we bake a bun;
Sunday we go to church;
All ye good club folks,
We wish the same to you.

Agricultural Extension. State service Bulletin. College of Agriculture, University Of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 1924.

"Boys and Girls Cub Work" Song Suggestions for Community and Club Meetings.

See here: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bulletin/GeJHAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22today+is+monday%22+%22today+is+tuesday%22&pg=RA32-PA12&printsec=frontcover

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 03:56 PM

TODAY IS MONDAY

Call: Is every everybody happy?
Response: Well I do say.

Today is Monday
Today is Monday
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.

Today is Tuesday
Today is Tuesday
Tuesday string beans
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.

Today is Wednesday
Today is Wednesday
Wednesday soo-oup
Tuesday string beans
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.

Today is Thursday
Today is Thursday
Thursday roast beef
Wednesday soo-oup
Tuesday string beans
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.

Today is Friday
Today is Friday
Friday fish
Thursday roast beef
Wednesday soo-oup
Tuesday string beans
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.

Today is Saturday
Today is Saturday
Saturday payday
Friday fish
Thursday roast beef
Wednesday soo-oup
Tuesday string beans
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.


[slowly] Today is Sunday
Today is Sunday
Sunday church day [/slowly]
[quickly] Saturday payday
Friday fish
Thursday roast beef
Wednesday soo-oup
Tuesday string beans
Monday wash day
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.
Is everybody happy?
Well I do say.

Transcribed from the LP Old Mother Hippletoe: Rural and Urban Children's Songs (1978).

Listen online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zacq6hU-ZM&t=2649s

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 06:56 PM

Soup Song Parody

Today is Monday--Today is Monday
Monday is Hassenpheffer
All you German monthers--
We wish the same to you.

Today is Tuesday--Today is Tuesday
Tuesday is string beans.
Monday is Hassenpheffer.
All you German monthers--
We wish the same to you.
Etc.

Monday--Hassenpheffer.
Tuesday--string beans.
Wednesday--soup.
Thursday--roast beef.
Friday--fish.
Saturday--pay day.
Sunday--church.

The Wolverine, July 4, 1918. pg 4.


See here: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071756899&seq=18

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 07:01 PM

Soup Song, All You Little Rookies We Wish the Same to You;
adapted and arr. by John B Archer [of U.S.]
[21200
(c) Nov. 26, 1918; 2 c. Nov 27, 1918; E 437591;
Leo. Feist, inc., New York.

Catalogue of Copyright Entries, 1918. Note that this is an adaptation and arrangement.


https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalogue_of_Title_entries_of_Books_and/Q9UiAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22soup+song%22&pg=PA1309&printsec=frontcover

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 07:38 PM

GENERAL "PEP" SONGS

To-day Is Monday

1. To-day is Monday, to-day is Monday;
Monday's bread and butter.
O, you litte Leaguers [rookies], we wish the same for you.

2. To-day is Tuesday, to-day is Tuesday;
Tuesday's rost beef,
Monday's bread and butter
O, you little Leaguers [rookies], we wish the same for you.

3. To-day is Wednesday, to-day is Wednesday;
Wednesday's soo-ooo-oop [draw out in high falsetto],
Tuesday's roast beef,
Monday's bread and butter.
O, you litte Leaguers [rookies], we wish the same for you.

4. To-day is Thursday, to-day is Thursday;
Thursday's string beans,
Etc. [each time repeat back to MOnday].

5. To-day is Friday, to-day is Friday;
Friday's fish, etc.

6. To-day is Saturday, to-day is Saturday;
Saturday's pay day, etc.

7. To-day is Sunday, to-day is Sunday;
Sunday's Church, etc.

Pg 427, Phunology, 1923. Parenthetical comments and descriptions are in the original.



See online here: https://www.google.com/books/edition/PHUNOLOGY/ZwoXy8j__CwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22to-day+is+monday+to-day+is+monday%22&pg=RA1-PA427&printsec=frontcover

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 08:29 PM

The Old Mother Hippletoe LP recording of "Today is Monday" was collected by John A. Lomax from an unidentified group of children in Brandon, Mississippi, in 1937. Library of Congress AFS 886 B1.

Audio, PDF of the tune, and transcription of the words.


Listen & see here: https://kodaly.hnu.edu/song.cfm?id=1287

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 28 Jul 23 - 05:39 PM

Today is Monday

Today is Monday
Today is Monday
Monday bread and butter
Tuesday string beans
All you hungry singers
We wish the same to you.

Today is Wednesday
Today is Wednesday
Wednesday Soo-oo-oup
Thursday Roast beef
All you hungry singers
We wish the same to you.

Today is Friday
Today is Friday
Friday fish
Saturday payday
All you hungry singers
We wish the same to you.

Today is Sunday
Today is Sunday
Sunday church
All you hungry singers
We wish -- the same -- to you.

Transcribed from 101 Gang Songs [double LP] by Bing Crosby (1961).



Listen online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veAwEK81dks&t=856s

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 28 Jul 23 - 05:53 PM

TODAY IS MONDAY

Today is Monday, Today is Monday
Monday Roast beef
And all you little rookies
I wish the same to you.

Today is Tuesday, Today is Tuesday
Monday roast beef
Tuesday string beans
And all you little rookies
I wish the same to you.

Wednesday    So-o-u-u-p
Thursday    Bread and Butter
Friday       F-i-i-i-sh
Saturday    Pay day
Sunday      Chur-urch.

Pg 92, IOCA Song-Fest (1938).

See online here: https://archive.org/details/1938iocasongfest/page/92/mode/1up

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 28 Jul 23 - 06:20 PM

TODAY IS MONDAY

Today is Monday, Today is Monday.
Monday is slumgullion,
Oh, you hungry sisters,
We wish the same to you.

2
Tuesday, String beans

3
Wednesday, s-o-u-p.

4
Thursday, roast beef.

5
Friday, f-i-s-h.

6
Saturday, pay day.

7
Sunday, church.

(Add and repeat in successive verses.)

June 1923, Camp Cavell and Girl Reserve Club Songs, Song #79, pg 28, Detroit, Michigan, published by the girl reserve of the YWCA.

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 28 Jul 23 - 06:30 PM

MONDAY IS A WANKING DAY

Leader: Today is Monday!
All: Today is Monday!
Leader: Monday is a wanking day! (wanking motion)
All: Monday is a wanking day! (wanking motion)

Chorus:
Leader: Are we gonna have a good time?
All: You bet your ass we are!
All: (raise cups over heads and make one complete turn while humming) Da da dut da da, da da dut da da

Leader: Today is Tuesday!
All: Today is Tuesday!
Leader: Tuesday is a finger day! (fingering motion)
All: Tuesday is a finger day! (fingering motion)
Leader: Monday is a wanking day! (wanking motion)
All: Monday is a wanking day! (wanking motion)

Chorus

(now that you've got the idea, here are the rest of the days)

Wednesday is a hmmmm day! (stick tongue between 2nd & 3rd fingers)
Thursday is a drinking day! (raise glass in salute)
Friday is a fucking day! (humping motions, cheering, happiness)
Saturday is a hashing day! (running motions, cheering, happiness)day of rest
Sunday is a hashing day (low key, almost quiet)

(modify as needed for local hashing day, etc . . .)

From Flying Booger's 1996 edition of Hash Hymns. This version of the song is in Flying Booger's later Half-Mind Hymnals

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 28 Jul 23 - 06:31 PM

The Days of the Week

Today is Monday,
Today is Monday,
Monday's a finger day,
Monday's a finger day,

    Are we all happy,
    You bet your ass we are,
    Da-da-da-da, da, da,(8)
    Da-da-da-da, da, da,

Today is Tuesday,
Today is Tuesday,
Tuesday's a ah-ah(9) day,
Tuesday's a ah-ah day,

    chorus

Wednesday...
Wanking day...

Thursday...
Drinking day...

Friday...
Fucking day...

Saturday...
Rugby day...

Sunday...
Day of rest... (sung quietly)

    8.    At this point, drink is put on top of head, and everyone twirls around in a circle.
    9.    Hand is held to mouth simulating oral sex.

March 14, 1999. Penguins RFC Song Book.

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: and e
Date: 28 Jul 23 - 07:00 PM

Rugby Days of the Week Song

“Mee me-me-me-me-me meee!

“Today is Monday! (echo: Today is Monday!)
“Monday’s a scoping day! (Monday’s a scoping day!)
“How’s your brother? (All right!)
“How’s your father? (Up tight!)
“How’s your lover? (Out of sight!)
“When’s the last time? (Last night!)
“When’s the next time? (Tonight!)
“Is everybody happy? (You bet your ass we are!)
“Doo do-do-doo do-do, doo do-do-doo do-do!

“Today is Tuesday! (Today is Tuesday!)
“Tuesday’s a feely day! (Tuesday’s a feely day!)
“Monday’s a scoping day! (Monday’s a scoping day!)
“How’s your brother? (All right!)
“How’s your father? (Up tight!)
“How’s your lover? (Out of sight!)
“When’s the last time? (Last night!)
“When’s the next time? (Tonight!)
“Is everybody happy? (You bet your ass we are!)
“Doo do-do-doo do-do, doo do-do-doo do-do!

“Today is Wednesday! (Today is Wednesday!)
“Wednesday’s a practice day! (Wednesday’s a practice day!)
“Tuesday’s a feely day! (Tuesday’s a feely day!)
“Monday’s a scoping day! (Monday’s a scoping day!)
“How’s your brother? (All right!)
“How’s your father? (Up tight!)
“How’s your lover? (Out of sight!)
“When’s the last time? (Last night!)
“When’s the next time? (Tonight!)
“Is everybody happy? (You bet your ass we are!)
“Doo do-do-doo do-do, doo do-do-doo do-do!

“Today is Thursday! (Today is Thursday!)
“Thursday’s a drinking day! (Thursday’s a drinking day!)
“Wednesday’s a practice day! (Wednesday’s a practice day!)
“Tuesday’s a feely day! (Tuesday’s a feely day!)
“Monday’s a scoping day! (Monday’s a scoping day!)
“How’s your brother? (All right!)
“How’s your father? (Up tight!)
“How’s your lover? (Out of sight!)
“When’s the last time? (Last night!)
“When’s the next time? (Tonight!)
“Is everybody happy? (You bet your ass we are!)
“Doo do-do-doo do-do, doo do-do-doo do-do!

“Today is Friday! (Today is Friday!)
“Friday’s a fucking day! (Friday’s a fucking day!)
“Thursday’s a drinking day! (Thursday’s a drinking day!)
“Wednesday’s a practice day! (Wednesday’s a practice day!)
“Tuesday’s a feely day! (Tuesday’s a feely day!)
“Monday’s a scoping day! (Monday’s a scoping day!)
“How’s your brother? (All right!)
“How’s your father? (Up tight!)
“How’s your lover? (Out of sight!)
“When’s the last time? (Last night!)
“When’s the next time? (Tonight!)
“Is everybody happy? (You bet your ass we are!)
“Doo do-do-doo do-do, doo do-do-doo do-do!

“Today is Saturday! (Today is Saturday!)
“SATURDAY’S A RUGBY DAY! (SATURDAY’S A RUGBY DAY!)
“SATURDAY’S A RUGBY DAY! (SATURDAY’S A RUGBY DAY!)
“SATURDAY’S A RUGBY DAY! (SATURDAY’S A RUGBY DAY!)
“Friday’s a fucking day! (Friday’s a fucking day!)
“Thursday’s a drinking day! (Thursday’s a drinking day!)
“Wednesday’s a practice day! (Wednesday’s a practice day!)
“Tuesday’s a feely day! (Tuesday’s a feely day!)
“Monday’s a scoping day! (Monday’s a scoping day!)
“How’s your brother? (All right!)
“How’s your father? (Up tight!)
“How’s your lover? (Out of sight!)
“When’s the last time? (Last night!)
“When’s the next time? (Tonight!)
“Is everybody happy? (You bet your ass we are!)
“Doo do-do-doo do-do, doo do-do-doo do-do!

“Today is Sunday! (Today is Sunday!)
“Sunday’s the Lord’s day.”

My informant for this song is on the USC Women’s Rugby team and has been a member of this team for the past three years. According to my informant, this song is an integral part of rugby culture since there is not a team that exists that does not know this song (or at least in one version of this song). She tells me that the song is always the first song sung at the end of a rugby game, no matter what team you are on—whether that be a national team or a club team—because it serves as a reminder that no matter what happens during the rough, dirty, grueling game, the teams are all united by one thing: rugby. And to my informant, the song really helps the players leave any hard feelings or bitter thoughts on the field, lest anyone try and take things personally and pick fights with other members of the opposing team. The songs that rugby teams sing (there are many more songs aside from this one) help to foster team spirit despite wins or losses. She says that singing together helps the team feel more like a family than just any regular sports team.

The members of the women’s rugby team learn this song after their first rugby game during their rookie year on the team—the newer members observe the older members of the team in order to learn the words of the song. The repetition of each line of the song is for this purpose: to educate the younger members, to give them members and roles to follow. Then, when they later become veterans themselves, it is then their turn to lead the song. The adjectives used for each day of the week—the giving a specific meaning to everyday of the week—is important too because it emphasizes the values of the rugby teams. In this version of the song, the adjectives get progressively more intimate, ranging from simply “scoping” to “fucking” with a break in the middle for a practice (you cannot play rugby without practicing!). Being that this is the women’s team, it makes sense that the adjective progress in this order: first they set aside Monday to scope out potential male targets, and as the week goes on, they hope to have intercourse with that target. It is a rather sexualized song, but in the context of a single-gendered, collegiate sports team, the sexual nature of the song makes sense.

Posted 14 May 2013 to USC Digital Folklore Archives, by Kelly Covey.



See here: http://folklore.usc.edu/rugby-days-of-the-week-song/

Subject: RE: Origins: Today Is Monday
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Aug 23 - 02:45 AM

My Dad,(1915-89) used to sing.

Sunday's Chu-urch
Saturday's Payday
Friday's Fish 'n' Chip
Thurdsay's Shepherd's Pie
Wendnesday's a Roat 'o' Beef
Tuesday's so-op
Monday's a Washin' Day
Is ev'rybody 'appy?
YOU BET YER LIFE WE ARE!

Cheers

Bugsy