 sj |
||
|
||
Lyr Req: While the Rich Man Rides By in His ...
|
|
|
Subject: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Thomas Stern Date: 21 May 03 - 08:05 PM Subject: identify/locate music-hall song Date: 21 May 2003 16:41:07 -0700 From: bairngley@yahoo.com (Brian Bingley) Organization: http://groups.google.com/ Newsgroups: alt.comedy.vaudeville A friend wishes to identify a song he heard on Australian radio in the 1930's about a balloon seller containing the lines: "See the poor girl in the gutter Overcome by London's fumes Crying while the snowflakes flutter Wont you buy my air balloons" and with the refrain: "Rich man rides by in his carriage and pair" I am hoping that someone with an interest in British Music Hall or vaudeville will recognise the tune and tell me where I can find a copy. Any help or guidance will be appreciated. I am also sending messages via the websites http://monologues.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/index.html#post & http://www.musichallcds.com/ Brian Bingley Adelaide, South Australia bairngley@yahoo.com |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: IanC Date: 22 May 03 - 03:41 AM Sounds like a floating verse from "She was poor, but she was honest. The DT version here isn't the best, but gives an idea of the general drift. :-) |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: SHE WAS POOR, BUT SHE WAS HONEST From: Steve Parkes Date: 22 May 03 - 04:07 AM Written (maybe) by Bob Weston and Bert Lee, performed by Billy Bennett: Version 1 She was poor but she was honest, Though she came from 'umble stock, And her honest heart was beating Underneath her tattered frock. But the rich man saw her beauty, She knew not his base design, And he took her to a hotel And bought her a small port wine. It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame? In the rich man's arms she fluttered Like a bird with a broken wing, But he loved her and he left her, Now she hasn't got no ring. Time has flown - outcast and homeless In the street she stands and says, While the snowflakes fall around her, 'Won't you buy my bootlaces.' It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame? Standing on the bridge at midnight She says, 'Farewell, blighted love!' There's a scream, a splash, good 'eavens! What is she a doing of? Soon they dragged her from the river, Water from her clothes they wrang. They all thought that she was drownded, But the corpse got up and sang: "It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame?" Version 2 She was poor but she was honest, Victim of a rich man's game. First he loved her, then he left her, And she lost her maiden name. Then she ran away to London For to hide her grief and shame. There she met an Army captain, And she lost her name again. "It's the same the whole world over. It's the poor that gets the blame. It's the rich that gets the pleasure. Ain't it all a bleeding shame?" See him riding in a carriage Past the gutter where she stands. He has made a stylish marriage, While she wrings her ringless hands. See him there at the theatre, In the front row with the best, While the girl that he has ruined Entertains a sordid guest. "It's the same the whole world over. It's the poor that gets the blame. It's the rich that gets the pleasure. Ain't it all a bleeding shame?" See her on the bridge at midnight, Crying "Farewell, blighted love". Then a scream, a splash, and . . Goodness! What is she a-doing of? When they dragged her from the river Water from her clothes they wrung. Though they thought that she was drownded, Still her corpse got up and sung: "It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame?" ------------------------------------ Bennett was a terror for changing his monologues, so you'll likely find different "official" versions. There are many unofficial variations, mostly unsuitable for mixed company. If memory serves, it was in the Oxford Book of Comic And Curious Verse with the opening stanzas: She was poor, but she was honest, Victim of a rich man's whim; First he loved her, then he left her, Now she's lost her honest name. Then she ran away to London For to hide her grief and shame. There she met another rich man, And she lost her name again. Another "official" verse: See him in the House of Commons, Making laws to put down crime; While the victim of his vile passions Walks the streets till breakfast time. Redd Sullivan used to perform - and I mean perform! -- this con brio,and with artificial respiration in the "dragged her from the river" verse. Steve |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Little Robyn Date: 22 May 03 - 07:52 AM And when he got to the verse "See her on the bridge at midnight...." he'd jump off the stage, down to the audience. That was something to remember! |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 22 May 03 - 08:04 AM I'm more excited by the reference to the line "Rich man rides by in his carriage and pair" which I'm familar with from the chorus of the obscure Music Hall song "The Pearl Diver" which I started a thread on some time ago. We found not a trace of the song via Mudcat but it would make sense that a remnant would turn up in Australia. My family learned "The Pearl Diver" from world sailor Dennis Puleston of Brookhaven, Long Island, NY. The full chorus runs: G7------C And the rich man drives by ------F In his car-ri-age and pair, G Little does he care, C Little does he care, -----------F----------F7 Though the diver cries "Help!" ---C------E7—A7 He heedeth him not ----D7 But tells his man in livery -------G----G7 "Drive on at a trot!" Brian, are you sure your fragment is associated with the balloon seller's song? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Steve Parkes Date: 22 May 03 - 08:26 AM Well, some singers follow the "walks the streets" verse with See him ridng in his carriage, Home returning from the hunt; He's got [... forgotten this line ...] She's got corns upon her feet! ... so the "air balloons" verse could have found its way in at some time, and gotten vulgarised. Dylan Thomas used to make up scurrilous and lewd poems to amuse his mates in the pub. I wonder if Bennett did the same? Being ex-army, he'd be familar with the genre, and it's hard to believe he didn't do gentlemen-only performances in private. But then he was never smutty in his public performances, as far as I know; using clever word-play and sheer preposterous Goon-like imagery to get laughs. Steve |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Snuffy Date: 22 May 03 - 08:41 AM It could be a variation on "Wont You Buy My Pretty Flowers" |
|
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE PEARL DIVER From: Charley Noble Date: 22 May 03 - 04:54 PM Steve, I like your notes but I still think the refrain quoted by Brian is a match for the chorus of "The Pearl Diver." Maybe the composers or singer you mentioned had a hand in that one too. I've never found a trace of "The Pearl Diver" anywhere in over 50 years and Dennis no longer walks this earth. Here's the rest of that song in the interest of redundency: Learned from the singing of Dennis Puleston of Brookhaven, Long Island, NY, in the 1950's. THE PEARL DIVER C Rich men who go to Woolworth's -------F Buying treasures for their girls, ------G Little dream of all the perils ---C Of those who dive for pearls. ---------------G-C See the diver in the ocean --------------------G-C Fighting with the oc-to-pus, G----C--F While the cruel sharks lie waiting, ---------G7 Saying: "Here's a meal for us!" --------C And the rich man drives by ------F In his car-ri-age and pair, G Little does he care, C Little does he care, -----------F----------F7 Though the diver cries "Help!" ---C------E7—A7 He heedeth him not ----D7 But tells his man in livery -------G----G7 "Drive on at a trot!" C Quickly the lifeboat ----F Puts out from the shore G But it's too late, ---C He meets a cruel fate; ----------F--------------F7 And in the shark's inner or-gans ---C-------E7-A7 He breaths a last prayer, ---------D7------------G While the rich man drives by ------G7---------C In his car-ri-age and pair. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: WON'T YOU BUY MY PRETTY FLOWERS? From: alison Date: 22 May 03 - 09:44 PM I immediately thought it was a variation of "won't you buy my pretty flowers.... I'll post it because the link above took me a long time to to download WON'T YOU BUY MY PRETTY FLOWERS ? 1. Underneath the gas-light's glitter, Stands a little fragile girl, Heedless of the night winds bitter, As they round about her whirl; While the hundreds pass unheeding, In the ev'ning's waning hours, Still she cries with tearful pleading, "Won't you buy my pretty flowrs ? " CHORUS There are many, sad and weary, In this pleasant world of ours, Crying ev'ry night so dreary, "Won't you buy my pretty flow'rs?" 2. Ever coming, ever going, Men and women hurry by, Heedless of the tear-drops gleaming, In her sad and wistful eye ; How her little heart is sighing In the cold and dreary hours, Only listen to her crying, "Won't you buy my pretty flow'rs?" CHORUS There are many sad and weary, In this pleasant world of ours. Crying ev'ry night so dreary, "Won't you buy my pretty flow'rs" 3. Not a loving word to cheer her, From the passers by is heard, Not a friend to linger near her, With a heart by pity stirr'd. Homeward goes the tide of fashion, Seeking pleasure's pleasant bow'rs None to hear, with sad compassion, "Won't you buy my pretty flow'rs?" CHORUS There are many, sad and weary, In this pleasant world of ours, Crying ev'ry night so dreary, "Won't you buy my pretty flow'rs?" slainte alison |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: GUEST Date: 22 May 03 - 10:14 PM Lyr. Add: Won't You Buy My Pretty Flowers? George W. Persley, 1874, American Memory, sheet music. Reference for song posted by Alison. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: alison Date: 23 May 03 - 01:44 AM thanks guest there wasn't a composer at the site where I got it slainte alison |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Steve Parkes Date: 23 May 03 - 03:29 AM "The Pearl Diver" puts me in mind of that 50s movie "Underwater", which is fairly unmemorable except for the wonderful theme tune "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" by Prez Prado. I someties play it on the mandolin, but it acks something ... You'd have to take care wth "Diver" and "Flowers" not to get mawkish. I've always found that most audiences will take a sentimental song at face value, if you take care not to send it up. Of course, with "Poor", you have to send it up; it might work as a serious song, but I think it's far too well-known as a comic song. I've done "Father, Dear Father" and "The Miner's Dream of Home" and the like in the past, and they've gone down well; but I could never get "The Gipsy's Warning" across. Steve |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Steve Parkes Date: 23 May 03 - 03:50 AM ... it lacks something...! This new keyboard doesn't type as well as my old one! Steve |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 23 May 03 - 07:54 AM We're all having so much fun with this but WHERE is Brian? Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Billy the Bus Date: 24 May 03 - 12:42 AM Wonder-fuel, Great to see Mudcat hasn't changed! "She was Poor.." (and variants) is one of my favouritest Music Hall songs. The verse I like most is ... See her on the ridge at midnight Throwing snowballs at the moon. She said "Bill - I've never had it!" But - she spoke too bleedin' soon! Cheers - Sam PS - thanks Kat for getting me back into this Mad-Kat House |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 24 May 03 - 09:35 AM Steve- Well, I didn't find exactly the fragment you posted: "See him ridng in his carriage, Home returning from the hunt; He's got [... forgotten this line ...] She's got corns upon her feet!" But it seems to be in the same family: See him ridng in his Bentley, Coming homeward from the hunt; He got riches from his marriage She got corns upon her c**t. From BAWDY BALLADS & DIRTY DITTIES OF THE WARTIME R.A.F., edited by Harold Bennett, p. 232. Guess I'll have to PM Brian since he's not tending his thread. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 25 May 03 - 07:25 PM Refresh! |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Hrothgar Date: 10 Jul 03 - 03:21 AM See him riding with the gentry At the races, at the hunt While the girl that he has ruined Makes her living selling matches. See her standing in the gutter Selling "matches" by the box But there's no-one buys her matches Just because she's got no change. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Billy the Bus Date: 10 Jul 03 - 04:16 AM Steve, and Little Robyn, Missed the reference to Redd Sullivan in this thread until tonight. Great guy! Been thinking of him a lot recently. Was thinking of making a post. Where oh where is bloody old Redd, I hope he is still up and kickin', Please don't tell me the old sod is dead, That's a tale that would be far too sicknin' Sorry, didn't even try to get it into 'Poor but Honest..' metre. Used to do it at the drop of a hat, years ago, as Lil' Rob may recall... Cheers - Sam - ex-Poles Apart, with Redd Sulivan (& Malcolm Price) |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: GUEST,Santa Date: 10 Jul 03 - 04:45 AM Excuse (or not) possible thread drift, but "Won't You Buy My Pretty Flowers" immediately struck me as possible inspiration for Jez Lowe's "Northern Echoes". Certainly not plagiarism, not even folk process, maybe pure coincidence. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Steve Parkes Date: 10 Jul 03 - 06:31 AM Sam (and other fans) -- I've searched dilligently and turned up a couple of references to Redd's death a few years ago, although I haven't found any details. Bad news, sorry. Steve |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: The Walrus Date: 10 Jul 03 - 08:19 AM Other 'floating' verses from "She was poor..." See him in the grand theatre Eating apples in the pit While the poor girl what he ruined Wanders round in mud and filth It's the same the whole world over &c. See her staning in the gutter Selling matches, penny a box He got riches from his marriage, She's got an awful dose of 'flu Then there came a wealthy pimp Marriage was the tale he told, She had no one else to take her So she sold her soul for gold Chorus In a little country cottage There her sorrowing parents live: Though they drink the fizz she sends them, Yet they never will forgive. Chorus Any use? Walrus |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 04 Apr 04 - 01:36 PM Here's a long promised link to a MP3 sample file of how I sing this song:Click here! I've still never run across anything like this song although it fits into the Music Hall genre. Denis no longer walks this earth although I'd like to think he can upload, or download, this thread. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 04 Apr 04 - 01:51 PM The above post refers to "The Pearl Diver." Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 04 Apr 04 - 05:23 PM I know the chorus of this in this way: Hit's the syme, the 'ole world over Hit's the poor what tykes the blyme Hit's the rich what gets the gryvy Heyen'it it all a bleedin' shyme! And the rest of the song in similar dialect. Dave Oesterreich |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 04 Apr 04 - 06:19 PM And a line that was given here above, in words about like this: "And she lost her name again." No, no, no, no, no! "Wunst agyne she lorst 'er nyme." !!!!!!! Dave Oestereich |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Billy Weeks Date: 05 Apr 04 - 06:36 AM From memory (and it is very singable): The Rich Man Rides By Mr William Shakespeare told us Back in 1594 It's the rich what helps the rich But it's the poor what helps the poor; See the poor girl in the gutter Morning, evening, afternoons, Hear her stumble, see her stutter 'Won't you buy my air balloons?' While the rich man rides by in his carr-I-age and pair. What does he care? What does he care? As the girl sells her airballs around London town Crying 'eaven 'ellup me, I can't 'old them down'. Up she flies straight to the 'evinly gate, But there she can't stop, Her airballs go pop; She falls with a wallop in Lei-ces-ter Square And the rich man rides by in his carriage and pair. Verse is in 4/4. Chorus is in waltz time. Note that 'carriage' where it first occurs has three syllables. Americans will have no problem pronouncing 'Leicester 'with three syllables. That's the way all American visitors do it. But all of this - and the transposition of 'stumble' and 'stutter' in the verse - mark it out as a music hall song of the 1920s. It was recorded in 1926 by the seaside concert party artist Clarkson Rose on the Zonophone label as 'While the Rich Man Drives By' and reissued later on the cheap Ariel label. It has at least one other verse, but I can't find it in the BL catalogue or in Kilgarriff's great index. This song has nothing to do (except in genre) with 'She Was Poor' or 'Won't You Buy my Pretty flowers'; |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Billy Weeks Date: 05 Apr 04 - 06:47 AM I forgot to say that the record label attributes 'Rich Man Rides By' to Weston and Lee. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Dave Bryant Date: 05 Apr 04 - 07:55 AM This song has nothing to do (except in genre) with 'She Was Poor' Except that It was written by the same authors. Incidently when Redd Sullivan died a few years ago, Martin Winsor was to have been one of the chief mourners, unfortunately Martin was taken ill and died a week or so later. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Apr 04 - 08:25 AM So it would appear that "The Pearl Diver" is a parody of "The Rich Man Rides By." The late 1920's seem a good fit for this song. Billy, could you check the tune with this link and tell me if it sounds similar?The Pearl Diver It's possible that Dennis picked this song up at some waterfront pub when he was sailing in the South Pacific in the 1930's. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Joe_F Date: 05 Apr 04 - 04:55 PM See them at the gay theAter Sitting in the costly stalls; With one hand she holds the programme, With the other strokes his hand. See him have her dance in Paris In her frilly underclothes; All those Frenchies there applauding When she strikes a striking pose. See him in his splendid mansion Entertaining with the best, While the girl as he has ruined Entertains a sordid guest. See him riding in his carriage Past the gutter where she stands; He has made a stylish marriage While she wrings her ringless hands. -- from _The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse_ (Kingsley Amis, Ed.) |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Billy Weeks Date: 05 Apr 04 - 05:23 PM Charley - no doubt about it! These are closely related songs. 'Pearl Diver' (superbly sung, incidentally, Charley) has a similar but much more subtle tune which, of course, was designed to suit a pit orchestra, rather than a folk voice. My instinct tells met that 'Pearl Diver' is not a parody but probably an earlier song that has that has had the 'Rich Man' chorus neatly glued to it. 'Diver' must surely exist in other, fuller versions? I have long suspected Weston and Lee of adopting and refurbishing songs already in oral tradition. Proof may be hard to come by. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Billy Weeks Date: 05 Apr 04 - 05:25 PM I meant of course, that 'Rich Man' had the less subtle tune. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Apr 04 - 06:10 PM Billy- Glad to hear your comments. I've never found a trace of "The Pearl Diver" before but I wouldn't be surprised if it were indigenous to Australia or New Zealand. Dennis Puleston was an incredible source of music hall songs and bawdy songs, and quite the international sailor. You should check out a copy of his Blue Water Vagabonds on some used book website. However, Denis was orignally from England and may have picked up this song there, or somewhere else during travels in WW II; he played a key role in the design of the amphibeous DUCK and in training the crews in the war zones. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Jim Dixon Date: 03 Feb 08 - 03:00 PM The British Library Integrated Catalogue lists a song called WHILE THE RICH MAN RIDES BY IN HIS CARRIAGE AND PAIR, c1926, by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: Peace Date: 03 Feb 08 - 03:13 PM Excellent complement to this thread. Good scholarship. Note: I found that site thanks to the last post by Jim Dixon AND, it is from Charlie Ipcar's site. This is getting to be one small world. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fwd: help identify music hall song From: GUEST,JTT Date: 04 Feb 08 - 02:19 PM What is she a-doing of? Heh! Love the Cockneys! The song is also reminiscent of that American classic with the verse Fallen and forgotten Without a good man's name She dreams of Indiana As she walks the streets of shame (I've never heard the actual song, only read the reference to it in one of the articles of the blessed Florence King.) |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Rich Man Rides By in His ... From: GUEST,redge Date: 27 Jun 11 - 05:43 PM it goes Oh the rich man rides by in his carriage and pair what does he care that milli onaire |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Rich Man Rides By in His ... From: Charley Noble Date: 27 Jun 11 - 08:27 PM redge- Please add more notes to where your fragment comes from. Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Rich Man Rides By in His ... From: Jim Dixon Date: 28 Jun 11 - 10:50 PM This page at the Library of Congress web site says that WHILE THE RICH MAN RIDES BY IN HIS CARRIAGE AND PAIR comes from a musical work called "The Co-optimists" (1926). Other songs from that show are: THREE LITTLE SCHOOL GIRLS THE PERAMBULATOR WALK TO PASS THE TIME AWAY ROLLING STONE THE PIRATES LULLABY ONCE UPON A TIME IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA PIG-TAIL ALLEY THE LONGEST DAY |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Rich Man Rides By in His ... From: Charley Noble Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:20 AM Jim- That's real progress. There's real promise that this old "mystery" will be fully resolved. And some of the other song titles seem of interest as well. Cheerily, Charley Noble If anyone needs to post to this thread, ask a moderator to reopen it. A spammer has hit this heavily and the easiest way to head him off is to close it. --mudelf
|
| Share Thread: |