Lyr Req: High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane

Subject: Lyr Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking C
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 07:33 PM

Searching for lyrics to an old pre world war 2 tune, I believe, on an old 78 record. I used to sing this but can no longer remember the lyrics.

I'll get myself a High Silk Hat and a gold top walking cane,
and a watch you twist around your wrist that don't need any chain.
There'll be silk and hose and store bought clothes for pappy ma and jane.
I'll take a trip aboard a ship across the bounding maine
like an aristocrat in a high silk hat and a gold to walking cane.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking C
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:06 PM

Here: Frank Crumit
Scroll down to the song, which can be downloaded.
Lyrics posted at numachi: Silk Hat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking C
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:15 PM

nawww.,Q, maybe this one...which you could download, if you were a member..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking C
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:18 PM

(Already in the Mudcat DT. The wristwatch was in the Crumit version, I believe).

Subject: RE: Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking Cane
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:19 PM

and then there's Pinocchio

Subject: RE: Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking Cane
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:25 PM

Good Heavens!

Subject: RE: Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking Cane
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:28 PM

My Silk Hat is a different song as well as Pinocchio. I believe the first verse started. My old man is going to be a Lady fine and grand
The railroad is going to build a railroad track across our pasture land.

Subject: RE: Req: A High Silk Hat And A Gold Top Walking Cane
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 07 Dec 04 - 09:11 AM

Seems to have been recorded by Billy Cox on Home in West Virginia: West Virginia Project, Vol. 2, see:Folk Music Index - High Silk Hat and a Gold Walking Cane. There's a reference to the record company there if you want to try and get a copy.

Mick

Subject: RE: LyReq: A High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 10:56 PM

Here's the description from Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

Title: HIGH SILK HAT AND A GOLD TOP WALKING CANE
Composer: Marston, Len
Name: Kahal, Irving
Role: L
Publisher: Adams, Vee & Abbott, Inc.
Place of publication: Chicago
Date of publication: 1929
Call Number: M1 .D48 Box: 119 Item: 070
Performance Medium: Piano, Voice and Chords
First Line: My old mammy's going to be a lady fine and grand. The railroad's
Chorus First Line: I'll get myself a high silk hat and a gold top walking cane
Subject term: Popular song
Subject term: Depression Era (1928-1930s)

Other sites indicate it was recorded by Frank Crumit, Grandpa Jones, and Luke Baldwin (Bill Cox).

Subject: RE: LyReq: A High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 03:58 PM

For what it is worth-- The Southern Moonlight Express recorded this ditty in the late 20's-Early 30's as "Then I'll move to town." You can hear them on:

Times Ain't Like They Used to Be- Vol. 2 on the Yazoo label.

You might get it at Camsco or you can definately get it at Amazon.

Biglappy

Subject: RE: LyReq: A High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: Stewie
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 06:45 PM

Biglappy, the group's name was 'Southern Moonlight Entertainers', not 'Express'. According to Russell's finally published country records discography, the group recorded 10 sides in 1929 and 1930 in Knoxville, TN.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: LyReq: A High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 06:52 PM

Stewie you are so right. Could be dyslexia, could be senility.. could be almost anything. Anyhow thanks for the correction.

-Biglappy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 12:41 PM

Here are some excerpts from THEN I'LL MOVE TO TOWN transcribed from sound samples found at allmusic and at Yahoo! Shopping > Music.

I'll ramble around this London town and across the deep blue sea,
And I'll swap jokes with lordly folks in high society,
And when I'm low, they'll never know, for you can change your name,
'Cause all you need is a high silk hat and a gold-top walking cane.
...
Now I'll never get my high silk hat and my gold-top walking cane
And a watch that twists around your wrist that don't need any chain.
I'll plan a trip upon a ship across....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 07:06 PM

My old Mammy"s gonna be a lady fine and grand
The railroad"s gonna lay their track right on our pasture land
They'll pay Pappy twenty thousand and he ain't commin down
Were gonna sell our mountain shack and then we'll move to town.

I'll get myself a high silk hat and a gold top walking cane
And a watch you twist around your wrist that don't have any chain
There'll be silk and hose and store bought clothes for Pappy Maw and Jane
And you can bet I'll never fret I'll never toil again
Like an aristrocrat in A hgh silk hat and a gold top walking cane

Lyrics from Jim Dixon's post are familar and go in here at the end but just cannot seem to bring it all together.

Subject: Lyr Add: HIGH SILK HAT AND A GOLD TOP WALKING CANE
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:13 PM

A HIGH SILK HAT AND A GOLD TOP WALKING CANE
As recorded by Frank Crumit

My old mammy's goin' to be a lady fine and grand.
The railroad's goin' to lay their tracks right on our pasture land.
They'll pay Pappy twenty thousand; he ain't comin' down.
We're goin' to sell our mountain shack and then we'll move to town.

I'll get myself a high silk hat and a gold-top walkin' cane.
There'll be silken hose and store-bought clothes for Pappy, Ma, and Jane,
And you can bet I'll never fret. I'll never toil again,
Like a 'ristocrat with a high silk hat and a gold-top walkin' cane.

I'll get myself a high silk hat and a gold-top walkin' cane
And a watch you twist around your wrist that don't need any chain.
I'll plan a trip upon a ship across the bounding main,
Like a 'ristocrat in a high silk hat and a gold top walkin' cane.

Goodbye, all my dear old friends; I sure will miss you so.
I'll miss the scenes of childhood days, the days that I love so;
But don't think when I am gone, that I've forgotten you,
For when I am a millionaire, here's what I'm goin' to do:

I'll ramble round old London town and across the deep blue sea,
And I'll swap jokes with lordly folks in high society;
And If I'm low, they'll never know, for you can change your name,
For all you need is a high silk hat and a gold-top walkin' cane.

I'll travel down to Paris town on the early mornin' train,
And when I come a-roamin' back, I'll never be the same;
And if I'm sad, I'll drown my cares in sherry and champagne,
For that goes well with a high silk hat and a gold-top walkin' cane.

And when I'm old and poor again, I'll settle in these hills,
For I'll buy back that mountain shack and pay up all my bills;
And early every Sunday morn, I'll feel so rich again,
When I put on my high silk hat and my gold-top walkin' cane.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High Silk Hat and a Gold Top Walking Cane
From: 12-stringer
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 03:20 AM

A copy of the Southern Moonlight Entertainers' version is downloadable here (about 4 MB for those on dialup):

http://lynnpoint.com/st_james/songs.htm