BS: Can you identify this tune?

Subject: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 09:35 AM

I dunno, I can't remember the words, cause I'd had a few too many drinks, but they were really clever - I can't seem to remember what it was about either. That big tall guy with the 12 string guitar did it, I think, or else it was that red haired lady with the banjo and the kazoo.

The tune sort of went something like

Dum de dum, de diddly de dum dum... I think...

Robin

---

Also see Drinking on the premises

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:01 AM

We are good, Robin, but ............

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:03 AM

Actually, there was also this sort of solo where the guy who sings falsetto with that sound like he had grabbed his adam's apple and wobbled it.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:08 AM

Sounds like the "Dumdedum Diddly Song" to me. I claim the prize.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Bobjack
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:09 AM

Got it! Ace of Spades by Motorhead. Am I good or what?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:10 AM

Actually I think it was recorded by that guy who got an OBE for tuning his guitar...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:14 AM

My drinkin' buddy, Greg, wins...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:19 AM

I thought Dean Martin recorded it, but it could have been Johny Cash or Elvis - one of his slower numbers...

Didn't Bob Dylan write it?

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:20 AM

The red haired banjoist was certainly none other than the woman affectionately known as "Futile" Tuning. The "Dumdedum Diddly Song" Greg Stephens mentioned above is her trademark tune. I haven't seen her for a while although I'm told "The Barroom Floor" is a likely venue where she may be seen. To the best of my recollection, the chorus was something close to:

Diddle di dee dum
Diddle dee di day
Doodle diddle, doodle doo
Dumdedum Diddly dit

Sorry, that's all I can dredge up from my deteriorating memory.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:22 AM

Well done Allan, that's helped me enormously! so far...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:28 AM

Isn't the chorus derived from the old Blue Mountains (Massachusetts) song 'Can Kerdiddle' where the chorus goes...

Diddle da dee dum
Diddle dee di day
Doodle diddle, doodle doo
Dumdedum Diddly die

or is that just conincidence?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:33 AM

Loooks close MMario..

if we can get all the verses, I'll ask Joe Offer if he can change the title of the thread to something else...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:38 AM

I think we should all be a little cautious about this till Masato has spoken, he will have the full facts.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:40 AM

I recognise it as very similar to an old Australian falloping song that I heard years ago by Ned Kelty and the Kelpies. I believe it went something like this:

Di di di dum, diddle diddle diddle dum
Diddle di day dum, diddld diddle dum
De dy de do dum do dum do
De dy de do dum do dum do

This is known as the "Rolfus Harrisus" beat.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:41 AM

I thoought it had a German origin - should we wait for input from Wolfgang?

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:46 AM

Thanks, JennyO,

since it seems to have a serious Australian connection, perhaps now Bob Bolton can help? I have heard it played on an ut of tune button box - not by BobB of course, - well, I mean the Button Box wasn't out of tune when BobB played it...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:47 AM

I'm so excited -- I've only heard this tune as an instrumental and never knew it had words. The only trouble is, I want to sing it with a samba band, so I really need the words in Portuguese. Babelfish translated Robin's original lyrics as:

Dum de dum, do de dum diddly de dum

and Allan C's chorus as:

Diddle di dee que o dum diddle dee di dia o doodle diddle, doodle o dit de Dumdedum Diddly do doo

...and while I'm sure these are technically correct, they just don't scan quite right. Can anyone help?

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:50 AM

With JennyO's mention of the falopian connections - I wonder if perhaps there is a connection to Goddess worship here?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:08 AM

My Portuguese isn't what it should be, ClaireBear, but I'm pretty sure that last line should read,

Dumdedum Diddly do dao (Sorry, I haven't yet figured out how to do the tilde in this format.)

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:09 AM

Actually, I want to have a bunch of kids in my kindergarten class at the school for the intellectually gifted play this on instruments they stole when I took them to the New York Philharmonic Concert last week, can anybody explain why some instruments are always out of tune?

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:27 AM

it isn't that some instruments are out of tune - it is that the "accepted" pitches for modern music have drifted from the notes are biologically and physically set by the laws of nature. Many of the "simple" instruments used especially in elementary school education are of aincient origin - and were developed speciafically because they did not require tuning.

Since the accepted values of the notes have drifted - these instruments sound "out of tune" to the modern ear.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:56 AM

This is an Irish tune, naturally, and everyone else has stolen it.
The chorus "Dum diddle door-aye-ay" is derived from the Irish, and refers to the sound made by potatoes falling into a bucket during harvesting.

But the question remains: is it folk? I believe a wise man once said something meaningful about horses, but I seem to have conveniently forgotten what it was.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:18 PM

Scottish mouth music. My father used to sing it. He learned it from his grandfather who was born on Mainland Orkney.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:36 PM

I've heard it many, many times since I've moved here to Idaho. It's sung by Basque shepherds as their walk herd at night. I'm told that it keeps the sheep from stampeding, attempting to get back to Wales.

It may well be an old Basque-Welsh tune dating back to when they Celts emigrated from the Iberian Pennisula to Eire and from Eire to Wales (I can't spell Cymra reliably). I will, however, call your attention to the word "dum" being used repeatedly, and the city of Dumdum in India. I'm not sure that it's a coincidence!

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:38 PM

This is the only one I know.

Dum Dum
Brenda Lee
(Sharon Sheeley - Jackie De Shannon)

A dum dum, a deedely dum
Uh huh huh
A dum dum, a deedely dum
Oh yeah
Dum dum, a deedely dum

A music's sweet the lights are low
Playing a song on the radio
Your ma's in the kitchen
Your pa's next door
I wanna love you just a little bit more

Singing dum dum, a deedely dum
Uh huh
Dum dum, a deedely dum
Sing it out
Dum dum. a deedely dum

Come on baby, don't you be so shy
You know that I love you, let me tell you why
You got a heart I know that it's true
I couldn't love you any more than I do

Singing dum dum, a deedely dum
Oh yeah
Dum dum, a deedely dum
One more time
Dum dum, a deedely dum

Ahh, I want you with me all of the time
Tell me you love me and you'll be mine
There's so many things that we could do
So say the words and make my dreams come true

Singing, dum dum, a deedely dum
Uh huh
Dum dum, a deedely dum
Sing it out
Dum dum, a deedley dum

A dum dum, a deedely dum
Sing it out
Dum dum, a deedely dum
I can't hear ya
Dum dum, a deedely dum
Oh yeah

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 03:08 PM

Yes I can.
Io nao falar Portogues
Muit obrigada
Joao
Uma Sagres for chavor

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 03:20 PM

Didn't Kate Rusby sing this?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 06:55 PM

Doesn't she sing everything?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 07:17 PM

Sadly, during the darker days of the "folk scare" there were artists who took such great, traditional songs as this, changed them slightly (maybe even added some verses,)and then claimed copyright. See example:

Come Softly To Me

Words and Music by The Fleetwoods (Gary Troxel, Gretchen Christopher, and Barbara Ellis)
Words (in parentheses) are sung by Gretchen and Barbara only

Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
Mm dooby do

(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)

(Come softly, darling)
(Come to me, sta-ay)
(You're my ob-session)
(For ever and a da-ay)

I want, want you to kno-o-ow
I love, I love you so
Please hold, hold me so tight
All through, all through the night..

(Speak softly, darling)
(Hear what I sa-ay)
(I love you always)
(Always, always)

I've waited, waited so long
For your kisses and your love
Please come, come to me
From up, from up above

(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
I need, need you so much
Wanna feel your wa-arm touch

Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm

Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Emma B
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 07:19 PM

It's definitely Irish! a lewd old drinking song for lewd (or cold) old drinkers

Dom - do
Digh - var of deoch - drink
di- eadaigh   - unclothed

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 07:37 PM

Actually Alln C,

I think your contribution, although extremely well researched and very good and and all that, may be thread creep....
can we please get this thread back on topic?

Thanks Emma B - Being monolingual, I appreciate assitance from those more educated than I.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 09:01 PM

Well, it obviously is not a Spanish or Greek language song....possibly not English either...

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 02:55 AM

I know! It's written in the Garlic!
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Teresa
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:58 AM

Perhaps one factor in identifying the tune is the linguistic origin and etymology of the words in question. How much have they changed over the years, or have the phrases been maintained without a blemish in the true oral folk tradition?

;)

:)

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 04:33 AM

If it's a garlic song could it be Spem in allium?
John

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 05:45 AM

Why "Obviously" Sorcha, if that is your real name?

I mean, I come to a place all my muso friends told me about - I can only sing in the bathroom after a few scotches - and all you e-rude-ite folkities can do is be negative!

When I was doing Formal Logic in my PhD on Mumblemathics, it was stressed on me that if you make a sweeping ststement, then you should show evidence of what the broom swept away!

So please, everybody, when you make sweeping statements, please give the background evidence to dicument your statements!

I do aplogagize if I overreacted - I didn't mean to lose my cool...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 04:15 AM

Revealing my self to be a sad git it sounds like a cut from the Archers theme tune

Dum de dum de dum de dum de dum
Dum de dum de da da
Dum de dum de dum de dum
Dum de diddly dah

Repeat for 30 seconds

Then audition for BBC radio 4.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Noreen
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 09:13 AM

Ah Giok- a fellow Radio 4 listener! (I got that answer before they did :0) )

No, there's a lot more notes in Spem in Allium. It's still my ambition to sing one of the 40 parts...

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Janie
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 10:18 AM

This version is very common in the coal fields of West Virginia, although one usually only hears it at high school pep rallies. It clearly has changed in modern times, since it is usually accompanied by brass instruments instead of the traditional lap dulcimer.

Da naw naw naw
Da naw naw
Da naw naw naw naw naw da naw.

In fact, I did not even know of its traditional roots until I heard it here in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The Piedmont All-Stars were playing at Dani's restaurant one night and prevailed upon her to join them with her kazoo. I think it went smething like this:

Dada dee dee diddly dee
Diddly do do dee dee da
Dum diddle dee
Dum diddle dee
Dum dee dee dada diddle dee.

(kazoo break)

Dum dum dum dee dee
dum dum diddle dee dee da naw

Needless to say---they brought down the house!

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Dani
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 01:09 PM

Well, I went back to the All-Stars. They picked up the tune, apparently, from Lex's grandmother, who used to sing it when she was working out back. Apparently it was a WORK song she'd learned at HER mother's knee, useful for keeping the rhythm of pinning up the laundry while slaughtering chickens. If you do it right, you avoid getting blood on the sheets, apparently. That's how the tradition evolved of playing the spoons at the same time as the kazoo. Can you picture Gran with the clothespins in her mouth and a chicken neck in each hand? You get the idea...

I just love a kazoo, so it was a natural tune for me. It is, though, a challenge for me to play the spoons and do the kazoo at the same time. Lex swears his grandmother did it just like that, though, so I will as long as I have breath in me.

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 08:32 PM

its syncopated arrangement of shetland mouth music perpetuated by shepherds to co-ordinate their communal knitting rythms over long distances.

original gaelic

'Dummelly tum de tedium, she diddly, he dumb dumb...'

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Allan C.
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 10:36 PM

I'm almost certain that Bill Sables sings a song like this. He always cracks a wicked smile as he delivers the last lines. The problem is that he does the whole thing in Geordie so I have no idea what it's about.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST,marthabees
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 08:02 PM

You folks crack me up.

I have enjoyed this thread immensely.

Martha

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 08:25 AM

we are pleased that such a dry, academic thread gould give humour to those who are researching song texts. We do try to liven things up a bit - such as Allan's pretense to have a hard time understanding Bill Sables!

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Crane Driver
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 10:17 AM

After considerable research at the Felinfoel brewery, I can assure you that it isn't Welsh. There is, however, a similar Welsh song that goes:

Ddwm ddwm dydel dydel ddi
Ddydel di ddwm ddwm di

But that's probably no relation at all.

Andrew

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 01:10 PM

I collected another fragment of this traditional ditty from a drunk man in George Square Glasgow. It went

Hoo di fa,
Hoo de fa,
Hoo de fa,
yoo loo kinat......Jimmy.

The last line sounds as though it may have Chinese roots, this is lent credence by the 5 spices between the word 'kinat', and the explosive utterance of the word Jimmy. He then followed this up by saying,
'hal aw rer ma awl china' which clinches it for me.
John C#

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Allan C.
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 01:31 PM

John, I think you're onto something.....or on something. I'm not sure which.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: GUEST,Dum-De-Dumb
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 07:50 PM

Yes I agree upon studying the lyric how very clever it tis. However the tune I think I recall is chilling. Therefore could one safely assume it's an old folksong from possibly Iceland or one of the Poles? Maybe even an ice age campfire ditty? DDD

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 04:19 PM

Nope, it isn't Tsa la gi either. we don't have any characters in the syllabary for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you identify this tune?
From: dianavan
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 01:36 AM

dee di diddly di day
dee di day ay ay oh
dee di diddly di oh
diddle diddle di dum doh.

d