Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)

Subject: maharaja of mogador
From: GUEST,jake
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:07 AM

This long-forgotten oldie has always been a favorite with my father.I´ve been trying to find the right words and, even more difficult, the right chords to this for quite a while now......can anybody help?? Also any background info would be very welcome!
Thanks in advance, J.

Subject: RE: maharaja of mogador
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:12 AM

sorry, I thought you saud mogadon

Subject: RE: maharaja of mogador
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:13 AM

I thought I wrote said, I'll get me coat

Subject: RE: maharaja of mogador
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:43 AM

I think I have a 78 of this. You'll find the title is The Maharajah of Magador. I haven't checked for online lyrics yet, but there was a sheet-music copy available at GilbertAndSullivanOnline - Classical Music Online Catalogue (£5-00).

I'll see if I can find the words online (and I can probably do the chords for you!).

Mick

Subject: RE: maharaja of mogador
From: Jeanie
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:44 AM

I can't give you the lyrics or chords directly, but a search came up with a recording of it as "The Maharajah of Mogador" on the CD 'Journey's Edge' by Robin Williamson, which appears to be still available, so you will be able to get the lyrics from there, if nowhere else.

I remember hearing this song years and years ago when I was a follower of "The Boy Guru" Guru Maharaji" (remember him ? I wonder if any other 'Catters were also 'premies' following Maharaji ??) - by bizarre coincidence, Maharaji's residence in England was in the depths of the Surrey, near Reigate, in a village called Mogador, and someone sang this old song (or a parody of it) at a birthday event for him in London. Something along the lines of: "The great Maharajah of Mogador/Had seventeen children, or maybe more..."

Hope you get the lyrics; and for former (or present ?) followers of Maharaji: Jai Satchitanand ! (aaah, memories of hippy times....)

- jeanie

Subject: RE: maharaja of mogador
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:46 AM

I can't see the words online anywhere, but there is a real-player version available at: Vaughan Monroe Society - Playlist: Mahrajan of Magador. (I've got this now and I'll post the song later).

(I should have said above that while I may have it on a 78, the 78s are stored away. I'd have to find them (and play them at 45 and deal with them digitally, I've no 78 player now!)).

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 07:16 AM

Here are the lyrics. I'll put the chords up later (time to eat!)

Mick

---

THE MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR
(Lewis Harris & John Jacob Loeb)

There's a rich Maharajah of Magador,
Who had ten-thousand camels and maybe more,
He had rubies and pearls and the loveliest girls,
But he didn't know how to do the rhumba.
He could afford a big reward
So to his people one day he said:

Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
(Echoed by band:) Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah

(Spoken:) Which means:
Take my rubies and take my pearls,
Take my camels and take my girls,
Rhumba lessons are wanted for
The rich Maharajah of Magador.

Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-i-ah, ah-i-ah, ah.

So a slick, little chick answered that's for me
To the ad he had placed in Variety
When she saw his expanse she could tell at a glance
That he'd never learn how to do the rhumba.
He had his wealth, he had his health
So he looked in her eyes and said

Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
(Echoed by band:) Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah

Take my rubies and take my pearls,
Take my camels, I'll keep my girls,
From now on you'll be working for
The rich Maharajah of Magador.

Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah....

He was anxious to learn so she taught him right,
But she taught him the thrill of a moonlight night.
He discovered the bliss of a half-promised kiss
But he never learned how to do the rhumba.
And on the day she went away
You could hear all the people say:

She took his rubies and took his pearls,
Took his camels and all his girls,
Took his money and what is more
But she made the rich Maharajah the poor Maharajah of Magador

ah-ah.....


Source: Vaughn Monroe, featuring vocals by Ziggy Talent. December 27, 1947.

Subject: Chords Add: THE MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR (Harris/Loeb)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 10:31 AM

Here's a basic set of chords, F minor for the verse, F major for the chorus. You could put a lot more in if you want (or if you want to simplify it even more you could replace the Gm with C7, the Db with Bm, the Fm-maj7 with Fm and drop the dim7 chord).

Mick

---

THE MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR
(Lewis Harris & John Jacob Loeb)


(Fm)There's a rich Maha-(C7)rajah of (Fm)Magador, (C7)
(C7)Who had (Fm)ten-thousand (C7)camels and (Fm)maybe more,
(Fm)He had (Db)rubies and (Bbm)pearls and the (Fm)loveliest girls,(Fm-maj7)
(Fm-maj7)But he (Fm)didn't know how to (Fm-maj7)do the (C7)rhumba.
(C7)He could afford a big reward
(C7)So to his people one (Fdim7)day he (C7)said:

(Fm)Ah-ah, (Bbm)ah-i-ah-ah, (Db)ah-ah, (Fm)ah-ah (C7)
(Fm)Ah-ah, (Bbm)ah-i-ah-ah, (Db)ah-ah, (Fm)ah-ah (C7)

(F)Take my rubies and (Gm7)take my pearls,
(C7)Take my camels and (F)take my girls,
(F)Rhumba lessons are (Gm7)wanted for
(C7)The rich Maharajah of (F)Magador.

Subject: RE: maharaja of mogador
From: GUEST,jake
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 11:34 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! And now for the fun.....trying to sing it........I think even I´ll need earplugs!
J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: maharaja of mogador
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 10:07 PM

There is a recording of THE MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR performed by Edmundo Ros and His Rumba Band on an album called "Chocolate Whiskey & Vanilla Gin: 1948-1949," Harlequin CD 147, 2000. Barnes & Noble has a sound sample, in case you want to hear what it sounds like.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR (Harris/Loeb)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 05 - 04:35 PM

             Am      E7       Am     (E7)
  There's a rich Maharajah of Magador,
  Who had ten-thousand camels and maybe more,
          F          Dm             Am        E+ 
  He had rubies and pearls and the loveliest girls,
          Am                E+       B7
  But he didn't know how to do the rhumba.
  
   E7                                                A°      E7
  He could afford a big reward, so to his people one day he said:
  
     Am      Dm         F       Am  (E7)
  |: Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah :|  "Which means:"
  
   A                  Bm7 
  Take my rubies and take my pearls,
   E7                 A
  Take my camels and take my girls,
  Rhumba lessons are wanted for
  The rich Maharajah of Magador.
  
  Ah-ah, ah-i-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-i-ah, ah-i-ah, ah.
  
  So a slick, little chick answered that's for me
  To the ad he had placed in Variety
  When she saw his expanse she could tell at a glance
  That he'd never learn how to do the rhumba.
  
  He had his wealth, he had his health, so he looked in her eyes and said:
  
  Take my rubies and take my pearls,
  Take my camels, I'll keep my girls,
  From now on you'll be working for
  The rich Maharajah of Magador.
  
  He was anxious to learn so she taught him right,
  But she taught him the thrill of a moonlight night.
  He discovered the bliss of a half-promised kiss
  But he never learned how to do the rhumba.
  
  And on the day she went away you could hear all the people say:
  
  She took his rubies and took his pearls,
  Took his camels and all his girls,
  Took his money and what is more
  But she made the rich Maharajah the poor Maharajah of Magador
  
  [Source: Vaughn Monroe, featuring vocals by Ziggy Talent. December 27, 1947]
  

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: maharaja of mogador
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Dec 05 - 04:49 PM

Amazing!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: maharaja of mogador
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 12:13 PM

THE MAHARAJA OF MAGADOR

by Ziggy Talent with the Vaughan Monroe Band (1948)

There was a rich Maharaja of Magador.
He had ten thousand camels and maybe more.
He had rubies and pearls and the loveliest girls,
But he didn't know how to do the rumba.

He could afford a big reward,
So to his people one day he said:

A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah
A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah

which means:

Take my rubies and take my pearls,
Take my camels and take my girls,
Rumba lessons are wanted for
The rich Maharajah of Magador.

A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah
A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah

So a slick little chick answered, "That's for me!"
To the ad he had placed in "Variety."
When she saw his expanse, she could tell at a glance
That he'd never learn how to do the rumba.

He had his wealth: he had his health,
So he looked in her eyes and he said:

A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah
A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah

Take my rubies and take my pearls,
Take my camels: I'll keep my girls.
From now on, you'll be working for
The rich Maharajah of Magador.

A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah
A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah


He was anxious to learn so she taught him right,
But she taught in the thrill of a moonlight night.
He discovered the bliss of a half-promised kiss,
But he never learned how to do the rumba.

And on the day she went away,
You could hear all the people say":

A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah
A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah: A-ah A-a-a-a-a-ah

She took his rubies and took his pearls.
Took his camels and all his girls.
Took his money and what is more,
She made the rich Maharaja –
Yes, the rich Maharaja –
The poor Maharaja of Magador.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: maharaja of mogador
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 06:12 PM

Mogador is the village in Surrey just up the road from where I live. It has a very nice pub called the Sportsman's Arms and backs onto the downland. People quite often ride horses to the pub. The village isn't up to much but it's a real country pub and you can forget you are anywhere near London.....yes it is refered to locally as mogadon!!!!!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: maharaja of mogador
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 06:48 AM

I had totally forgotten this song (which was a big 'hit' when I was about eight or nine years old) until , of all people, Martin Carthy chose to have it played on a radio 2 'Folk on two' programme several years ago. The whole programme was devoted to Carthy and his career and I think it was his example of the sort of stuff he heard on the 'wireless' as a child. I've been one of Martin's biggest fans since the mid sixties but have never forgiven him for re-awakening my memory of that song - and it'll never go away!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,terry grant
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 12:01 PM

i have never stopped singing this song and all the lyrics are as i sing them except for the last line which i always understood to be 'she took his money and what is more - she took the rich maharaja of magador.
ah lovely days

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 10:29 AM

Ah yes,

I also wanted to get the lyrics and the realplayer. My father died last year and it was a staple party piece of his.
I found the Vaughn Monroe society website incredibly friendly and useful.
When I told them my circumstances, they let me have the lyrics and the download of the rocording for free.

One question... I always thought that my Father got the song from a movie. Anyone know if this was ever in a movie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,lee
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 12:49 PM

there was a rich maharajah of magador
who had ten thousand camels and maybe more
he had rubies and pearls
and the loveliest girls
but he never knew how to do the rumba
he could afford a big reward
so to his people one day he said

ho ho ho

(which means)
take my rubies and take my pearls
take my camels and take my girls
rumba lessons I want it for
the rich maharajah of magador

ho ho

so a slick little chick
answered that`s for me
through the ad
he had placed in variety
when she saw his expense
she could tell at a glance
that he`d never learn
how to do the rumba
he had his health
he had his wealth
so he looked in her eyes and said

ho ho

take my rubies and take my pearls
take my camels i`ll keep my girls
from now on you`ll be working for
the rich maharajah of magador

ho ho

he was anxious to learn
so she taught him right
but she taught him the thrill
of a moonlit night
he discovered the bliss
of a half promised kiss
but he never learnt
how to do the rumba
and on the day she went away
you could hear all the people say

she took his rubies and took his pearls
she took his camels and all his girls
she took his money and what is more
she made the rich maharajah
the poor maharajah of magador.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,CLAWDUDE
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 12:59 AM

I finally remembered to check the web for this funny old song, which I practically memorized from a jukebox [into which I sank most of my allowance] one August day in 1946 or 1947, while forced to sit for several hours and wait [with my mum and brother] in a tiny Greyhound Bus station in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia. I am delighted to have the words back, and can sing the refrain, but have forgot the verse.
Ah, good times!
CLAWDUDE, Harrisonburg Virginia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 03:58 PM

I heard this song on a mid-afternoon radio program in 1949 or 1950 that I have thought all these years was called "Poole's Paradise," and I have also thought it was hosted by Arthur Godfrey. Both of these thoughts are probably wrong. Through the years, when I have mentioned it or sung it to those unfortunate enough to be so favored, I have met with complete incredulity and disbelief. Now, at last, I am finally vindicated and can prove that I have not gone 'round the bend. Thank you for providing this on the'net.

Garry Owens
Son of the Seventh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 01:28 PM

There are several recordings on YouTube of THE MAHARAJAH OF MAGADOR, sung by—

Ziggy Talent with the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra

Ziggy Talent with the Steven Scott Orchestra - an updated version, with "bossa nova" instead of "rumba" etc.

The Squadronaires (A British dance band)

Robin Williamson & His Merry Band

...and several more that are less professionally made.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,John Harter
Date: 16 Aug 10 - 02:45 PM

This song was played over and over throughout the summer of 1946 or 47 at the pavilion at Compo Beach in Westport, Connecticut where we hung out as young teenagers. I still try to sing it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST,terry
Date: 05 Dec 10 - 04:37 AM

Does anyone know where I can get the backing track for the rich maharajah od magador

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Maharajah of Magador (Harris, Loeb)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 06:11 PM

I've got the record (a 78). Will try to get the lyrics and post.