Lyr Req: Black Strap Molasses (Ennis/Harrington)

Subject: Lyr Req: blackstrop molassas and wheat germ bread
From: GUEST,Jim Z
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 06:16 PM

Searching for song name and lyrics for song out of the Carolina's that has the words "...blackstrop (or blackstrap) molassas and wheat germ bread..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blackstrop molassas and wheat germ bread
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 12:06 AM

There are at least two versions of this song in the DT here and here.
It's been recorded by Laura Lind and Adam Miller on their CD "Wild Birds" under the title "Cousin' Emmy's Blues" and (we think) by Sam Hinton and others as well.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blackstrop molassas and wheat germ br
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 09:40 AM

Sorry, but the lyrics that I am seeking do not appear in either of the references you gave. Thanks for the effort but this continues to elude me and everyone I know except the elderly couple who sang a couple of bars of the song to me.

Subject: Lyr Add: BLACK STRAP MOLASSES (Ennis/Harrington)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 10:14 AM

Lyrics below copied from http://www.angelfire.com/film/dannykaye/Molasses.htm

AMG/All Music Guide lists several recordings.

The April Winchell Show: Audio Archive claims to have a sound file, but I haven't played it.

BLACK STRAP MOLASSES
by Carmine Ennis and Marilou Harrington.
(As sung by Danny Kaye, Jane Wyman, Groucho Marx, and Jimmy Durante)

Black strap molasses and wheat germ bread
Makes you live so long you wish you were dead
Add some yogurt and you'll be well fed
With black strap molasses and the wheat germ bread

(Jane Wyman)
My grandpa's older than the old gray mare
He sits rocking in his rocking chair
But now he's got a smile that he can't lose
Grandma's sitting knitting baby shoes

From eating black strap molasses and wheat germ bread
Makes you live so long you wish you were dead
Add some yogurt and you'll be well fed
With black strap molasses and the wheat germ bread

(Jimmy Durante)
I gave up cherry pie and T-bone steak
Chicken fricassee and ice cream cake
I don't need vitamins or pills at all
I even mix it with my Hadacol

I'm eating black strap molasses and wheat germ bread
Makes you live so long you wish you were dead
Add some yogurt and you'll be well fed
With black strap molasses and the wheat germ bread

(Groucho Marx)
My nerves were jumpy and I'd walk the floor
I never got to sleep till after four
But since I'm eating right, I feel okay
I'm sleeping every night and half the day

From eating black strap molasses and wheat germ bread
Makes you live so long you wish you were dead
Add some yogurt and you'll be well fed
With black strap molasses and the wheat germ bread

(Danny Kaye)
Now I was thinner than a pencil line
Had no muscles and I had no spine
But now I'm friskier than a pup
All you have do is prop me up

Just feed me black strap molasses and wheat germ bread
Makes you live so long you wish you were dead
Add some yogurt and you'll be well fed
With black strap molasses and the wheat germ bread

(GM) I know a fella who is ninety-two
(JW) Doctors told the guy that he was through
(DK) But now that the doctor has been proven wrong
(JD) He got more hop in him than Hopalong

From eating black strap molasses and wheat germ bread
Makes you live so long you wish you were dead
Add some yogurt and you'll be well fed
With black strap molasses and the wheat germ bread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: blackstrop molassas and wheat germ bread
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 11:19 PM

"Black Strap Molasses" was written by Carmene Ennis and Mari Harrington in 1951.

The Fred Waring Music Library at Penn State University has a copy of the sheet music.