ADD:I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover + parodies

Subject: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:
Date: 20 Nov 98 - 05:36 PM

Does anyone happen to know the words to "I'm looking over a four-leaf clover?" No one seems to know anything but the first two lines.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
From:
Date: 20 Nov 98 - 07:35 PM

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine. The other is rain.
Third is the roses that bloom on the lane.
No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
Oh, I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
From: Brack&
Date: 20 Nov 98 - 07:51 PM

Here's the verse.

Farewell ev'ry old familiar face,
It's time to stray, it's time to stray,
Only wait till I communicate,
Here's just what I'll say

Regards Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:
Date: 20 Nov 98 - 08:06 PM

Thank you all kindly.

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:
Date: 20 Nov 98 - 11:34 PM

Does anyone remember the naughty kids version...

"I'm looking under, a two legged wonder..."

That's all I recall.

Frank i.t.s.

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 21 Nov 98 - 03:13 PM

Also "I'm looking over/ My dead dog Rover/ That I overran with the mower..."

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: Barbara
Date: 21 Nov 98 - 03:27 PM

Isnt that Mad Magazine, Jerry?

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:
Date: 21 Nov 98 - 07:29 PM

My dead dog Rover is in the database

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Nov 98 - 05:47 PM

I'm lookin over my dead dog Rover, Which overlooked before, One leg is broken, the other is maimed I ran him down with my Cocopuff train. No need for sorrow, until tomorrow when I have to mop the floor. I'm lookin over my dead dog Rover, Which overlooked before,

Best I can do,

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 24 Nov 98 - 06:51 PM

And how could I resist:

I'm getting over the worst hangover that I ever had before, The first was a whiskey, the second a gin, the third was a beer with a cigarette in, No need explaining the one remaining, it's over the bathroom floor, I'm getting over the worst hangover that I ever had before.

Regards John

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: gargoyle
Date: 24 Nov 98 - 11:45 PM

I don't believe it was Mad Magazine; it was a "standard" in the late 70's on the Dr. DeMento Show and was perhaps performed by Barnes & Barnes

All my old listings for DeMento links are now defunct.

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:
Date: 25 Nov 98 - 02:27 AM

I'm lookin over a four leaf clover That I've overlooked before One leaf's for sunshine, Another's for rain, A third one's for [its midnight and I can't recall this 1.5 lines]

No need explaining, The one remaining Is left for the one I adore. I'm lookin over a four leaf clover That I've overlooked before

Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: SteveF
Date: 25 Nov 98 - 08:06 AM

Frank - The version we sang in the Cub Scouts went

I'm looking under A dress of wonder That I underlooked before First comes the ankles And then comes the knees Then comes the bloomers That blows in the breeze.

Maybe there is more to the song than the one verse, but our Den Mother decided she had heard enough :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From:
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:23 PM

I found some details as to the author and date:

Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods
Written in 1927 - popularized in 1948 by Art Mooney

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: DougR
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:05 PM

Also popularized in the late 1940s by Arthur Godfrey.

DougR

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 03:05 PM

I prefer the Bugs Bunny version - I'm looking over a three leafed clover that I overlooked be three.....

Ain't I a stinker?!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 04:26 PM

Hit Parade recordings (chronological by and in year):
1927- Nick Lucas, Ben Bernie, and Jean Goldkettle.
1948- Art Mooney, Rus Morgan, Alvino Rey, Three Suns, Uptown String Band, Arthur Godfrey.

Data from Joel Whitburn's 'Pop Memories: 1890-1954'

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
From: Tiger
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:29 AM

Typically, everyone has forgotten the first verse. Here it is and now, you know WHY it was forgotten.

I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods
Copyright 1927 by Remick Music Corporation

Farewell ev'ry old familiar face,
It's time to stray,
It's time to stray.
Only wait till I communicate
Here's just what I'll say.

I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before;
One leaf is sunshine.
The second is rain.
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
From: GUEST,Mark Cohen (hospital nursery, nearly 2AM)
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:41 AM

Yeah, but how about this gem from, oh, let's say, fifth grade:

I'm looking over my dead dog Rover
That I overlooked before
One leg is broken, the other's in pain
He got run over by the Cocoa Puffs Train

Anybody who's willing to embarrass him- or herself is welcome to come up with the lines I've forgotten.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
From: Snuffy
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 08:36 AM

I'M LOOKING OVER MY DEAD DOG ROVER is here at Mudcat in the DT database

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
From: GUEST,Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 10:55 AM

Well, yes, of course I should have checked the DT. But they don't have the line about the Cocoa Puffs train, so, as Marty Feldman said in Young Frankenstein, "They're wrong, then, aren't they?" At least that's the way we sang it at Rhawnhurst School in Northeast Philly...

Aloha,
Mark
(Go Sixers!)

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 10:09 AM

The way I remember the parody is this:
I'm looking over My dead dog rover who I overlooked before
One leg is broken   The other is sprained The third I ran over With my electric train
No need explaining The one remaining The one I slammed in the door
I'm looking over My dead dog rover Who I overlooked before!

Can't remember where I heard it originally though.
Scott

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: Joe_F
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 08:18 PM

A filk version

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 03:35 PM

ok - THIS IS AWFUL, but... my Dad (of all people) taught it to me, he said the pilots used to sing it in the United Airlines cockpits as they crossed country.. :

I'm looking over the balls of Rover
for fleas that I missed before;
one's on the left ball, and ones on the right,
one's way down under, and clear out of sight,
Oh-oh-oh, I'm looking over the balls of Rover for fleas that I missed before, If I don't see them, if I can't find them, then I'll end up with a bite!

really, really.. bad!

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,oldcmt
Date: 19 May 13 - 06:21 PM

Next lines
"No use explaining, what's left remaining,
It's nothing I've see before,
Oh, I'm looking under (on to refrain)

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 19 May 13 - 07:24 PM

This is how I remember the version heard on Dr Demento's show:

I'm looking over my dead dog Rover,
That I over-ran with the mower.
One leg is missing the other is gone.
The third one is scattered all over the lawn.
No need explaining the one remaining
It's splattered on the kitchen door.
I'm looking over my dead dog Rover,
that I over-ran with the mower.

And a second verse I didn't remember (found on the Boy Scout Trail website):   

I'm looking over my dead dog Rover
Who died on the kitchen floor.
One leg is broken, the other is lame,
The third leg is missing, the fourth needs a cane.
No need explaining, the tail remaining
Was caught in the oven door.
I'm looking over my dead dog Rover
Who died on the kitchen floor.

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 13 - 01:54 PM

I just now tried recreating that childhood song, resulting in a few gaps. When I read the first version that Yorkshire Yankee posted it scanned perfectly with what I remember of the song I learned in the early 1960s.

SRS

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Benny
Date: 22 May 16 - 03:06 PM

This one's from an early 60's Mad Magazine, and refers to a Soviet proposal to replace the UN Secretary General with a three person panel:

I'm looking over a three man troika
to head up the UN floor,

One man's a Commie, the other's the West,
Third one is neutral - a Cuban is best...

No need explaining that chaos reigning
is something that I'd adore...

If the three we're using is not confusing
then maybe we'll make it four!

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Bruce
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 10:56 AM

I'm looking under a two-legged wonder that I've under-looked before.

One leg is straight out, the other's in front, and in between there is a big cun*.

No need explaining why I'm remaining (can't remember the rest of the line)

I'm looking under a two legged wonder that I've under-looked before.

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 11:13 AM

Two Legged Wonder

I'm looking under,
A two legged wonder,
That I overlooked before,
First comes the ankles,
and then comes the knees,
then comes the thighs,
and then the hinney.
I'm looking under,
A two legged wonder,
That I overlooked before.

That is from   https://www.jollyrogerh3.com/Songs.htm

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 12:46 PM

I remember there was a joke about a baker who had a knife that was so long it could cut through four loaves of bread at once, and he would sing -
"I'm looking over a four loaf clever".

(That's a groaner, I know).

Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: Stevebury
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 04:34 PM

I was a camp counselor in the mid-1960's and I learned "Dead Dog Rover" (maimed/Coco Puff train) from one of my campers on a canoe trip.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Mar 20 - 12:55 PM

I made this transcription from two recordings I found at the Internet Archive. (Click the links below.)


I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods, ©1927.

I. As recorded by Honey Duke on Radiex (2321 (a)), 1927.

1. Farewell, ev'ry old familiar face!
It's time to go; it's time to go
Backward, backward, to the little place
I left behind so long ago.
Watch Mister Casey Jones
Carry this lazy bones.
I should arrive in a day.
Only wait till I communicate.
Here's just what I'll say:

CHORUS: I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.
One leaf is sunshine; the second is rain.
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining:
The one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

2. Hello, homestead in the new-mown hay!
I'm glad I'm here; I'm glad I'm here.
Hello, humble mill across the way,
Beside the pond so cool and clear!
Right to my sweetie's home—
Oh, what a place to roam!
She'll be as glad as can be.
Up the trail and over hill and dale—
Don't you envy me?


II. Nick Lucas on Brunswick (3439-A), 1927 sings the following additional variant chorus:

CHORUS: I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.
One leaf is sweetheart; the second is bad.
Third is the best pal that I ever had.
No need complaining;
The one remaining
Is home where I'll weep no more.
I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.


HOWEVER, the sheet music is viewable at Baylor University, and the words correspond to the ones posted by Tiger above on 13-Jun-2001. I can't explain where the variations came from.