Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)

Subject: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From:
Date: 24 Feb 97 - 11:53 AM

I have only heard the song sung once, probably 10 years ago by a group of 90 year old Australian vets. At the time, I just thought it was wonderful, and I didn't ask for the lyrics. I have searched since, and can not find them!

Any help would be great!

James

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Feb 97 - 12:18 PM

It IS a great song. We not only have it in the dt database (search for dink*), but we have a Korean Police Action version and a Vietnam War version. The former is also named DINKIE DIE; the latter is called 14DAYS LEAVE.

If you can't find what you're looking for in the database, consider alternate spellings: DINKY/DINKIE,DINKEE can all be found on a search for DINK*. And , just in case it's got an odd title, a full-text search for DINK* will locate them.

Cooee.

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: James MacNaughton
Date: 26 Mar 97 - 12:07 PM

Thanks for the lyrics! I am in your debt. Can you tell me where I could find the music, or tune, or recording of this?

James

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 26 Mar 97 - 01:20 PM

HI- the tune, except for the chorus, is Sweet Betsy From Pike., or Villikens and his Dinah.

We hope to hqve music up and running soon.

Subject: Lyr Add: MADEMOISELLE FROM ARMENTIERES (Australian
From: GUEST,John L
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 07:10 AM

MADEMOISELLE FROM ARMENTIERES

Mademoiselle from Armentieres, parlez-vous
Sang the Diggers between their beers, parlez-vous
And the ballad roared by the soldiers gay,
Rang through the old Estaminet. Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

Mademoiselle enjoyed the din, parlez-vous
As she tripped around with the bock and vin, parlez-vous
And Mademoiselle, in a manner gay,
Trolled a stave of the ribald lay. Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

There were men from Wagga and Gundagai, parlez-vous
From Perth, and The Towers, and Boggabri, parlez-vous
From Sydney City and Dandenong,
Sinking their troubles in wine and song. Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

There was one young Digger, tanned and lean, parlez-vous
From the Darling Downs, or the Riverine, parlez-vous
Who set her heart in a rapturous whirl
When he vowed that she was his Dinkum Girl. Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

They laughed and loved in the old French town. parlez-vous
And her heart spake out of her eyes of brown parlez-vous
But the time fled by, and there came a day
When he and his cobbers all marched away. Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

Maybe on a field of France he fell, parlez-vous
No word came back to Mademoiselle, parlez-vous
But a pretty French girl, with eyes of brown,
Prays for him still in a war-swept town. Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

Quiet it is in the old estaminet, parlez-vous
No more Diggers will come that way, parlez-vous
May your heart grow light with passing years,
Oh, Mademoiselle from Armentieres! Inky-pinky, parlez-vous!

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: freda underhill
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 08:20 AM

.. Mademoiselle from Armentieres,
she hasn't been kissed for forty years
Inky-pinky, parlez-vous

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 09:08 AM

Does anyone know the name of the lyricist of the sentimental Australian "Mademoiselle" posted by GUEST, John L.? Or when it was first published ?

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: freda underhill
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 09:19 AM

tune

written by Harry Carlton and Joe Tunbridge

Subject: RE: Dinky Di; Australian WWI song, lyrics
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 09:27 AM

Thanks, freda underhill, but that's a different song. You can hear a 1919 recording (not 1915 as the website states) here (though the site seems to be down at the moment) :

http://www.worldwar1.com/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 10:17 AM

http://www.everypoet.org/pffa/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4777 Poetry Free For All has a page about parodies of the song of "Mademoiselle from Armentieres". Here's one comment:

"The phrase "inky pinky parlez vous" is from a song. I don't know what the original song was, but I know a version which did the rounds when I was at school: -

There was an old lady of 92
Parlez vous
There was an old lady of 92
Parlez vous
There was an old lady of 92
Did a fart and away it flew
Inky pinky parlez vous

The fart went rolling down the street
Parlez vous
The fart went rolling down the street
Parlez vous
The fart went rolling down the street
Knocked a copper off his feet
Inky pinky parlez vous

The copper got out his rusty whistle
Parlez vous
The copper got out his rusty whistle
Parlez vous
The copper got out his rusty whistle
Blew the fart from here to Bristol
Inky pinky parlez vous

Bristol Rovers were playing at home
Parlez vous
Bristol Rovers were playing at home
Parlez vous
Bristol Rovers were playing at home
Kicked the fart from here to Rome
Inky pinky parlez vous

The Emperor of Rome was having his dinner
Parlez vous
The Emperor of Rome was having his dinner
Parlez vous
The Emperor of Rome was having his dinner
Swallowed the fart, which made him thinner
Inky pinky parlez vous

I think there's more, but that's all I can remember.

Google shows a number of different versions of this song. Here's a link to my search results: -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...nky+parlez+vous "
-Clive2 07-13-2002, 06:22 AM

-snip-

[Note: that link just takes you to Google's search page; I'll post another comment from that site in my next post to this thread]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 10:28 AM

Here's a comment about the source/s of this song:

"The origin, as far as I know, is the WW1 song Madamoiselle from Armentières - soldiers in France ogling the French chicks, of course - a basic verse of which was -

Madamoiselle from Armentières
Parley-voo
Madamoiselle from Armentières
Parley-voo
Madamoiselle from Armentières
Hasn't been kissed for forty years,
Inky-pinky parley-voo.

(Armentières is pronounced Ar-m'n-teers in the song, and parley-voo is from the phrase, Parlez-vous français? ('Do you speak French?')

On that small foundation were erected hundreds of other verses recording the adventures, qualities, attitudes, vices and virtues of Madamoiselle. Regards / Dunc

PS Since posting that, I find by Google a page called Doughboy Music which alleges the line is "Hinky-Dinky, Parlez-Vous?" and adds -

"The lineage of Hinky-dinky, Parlez-Vous? is a little murky. Most sources credit its origins to a song of the British Indian Army called "Skiboo". The lyrics of the World War I version were possibly written at Armentieres, a rest area behind the British line, in March, 1915 by Edward Rowland and a Canadian composer, Lt. Glitz Rice. Another unsubstantiated claim of authorship was made by Alfred J. Walden (using pseudonym of Harry Wincott)."...
-Dune; 07-13-2002,

http://www.everypoet.org/pffa/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4777

-snip-

A short version of the parody that was posted on that site by Clive2 can be found on Mudcat's thread.cfm?threadid=2998#59283;
"Naughty Kid's Greatest Hits thread" Here's that example:

Subject: RE: Naughty kids' greatest hits II
From: Meic - PM
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:00 PM

...

A fart went rolling down the street, parlez-vous
A fart went rolling down the street, parlez-vous
A fart went rolling down the street
Knocked a copper off his feet
Inky-pinky parlez-vous

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 11:06 AM

Thanks, Azizi! There's been lots of Mudcat discussion of "Mlle. from Armentieres" on other threads.

There's no doubt that the "hinky dinky parlez-vous" refrain belonged originally to that song during World War I.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:21 PM

Hello, Lighter. Thank you too for responding to my post. I used Mudcat's search engine to find this thread, and I did see a several others but I don't recall any of those threads having any parodies posted to them. This thread seemed to be the most likely one for such postings. It may be that I didn't locate all of those threads you mentioned since Mudcat's internal search engine stops after 2005 or so because of that crash that happened around that time... If there are other Mudcat threads that you can point me {and others} to after that year, it would be appreciated.

Also, I'm wondering when you wrote that "There's no doubt that the "hinky dinky parlez-vous" refrain belonged originally to that song during World War I." did you mean that song Skiboo?
What do you make of this comment that I found on http://www.odps.org/glossword/index.php?a=term&d=3&t=383 that "Inky Pinky Parlez vous and another song called "Fart-Man" found here are "variations of the much older armed forces/rugby song 'Three German Officers' - versions of which date back to at least 1914)"? Are you or anyone else on Mudcat familiar with the song "Three German Officers?"

Here's the version of "Inky Pinky Parlez Vous" from that Seedy Songs and Rotten Rhymes - the poetry of the playground website:

"inky pinky parlez vous
(ed: whilst superficially similiar to "Fart-Man" (also listed here), both are obvious variations of the much older armed forces/rugby song 'Three German Officers' - versions of which date back to at least 1914)

There was an old woman of 92 parlez vous.
There was an old woman of 92 parlez vous.
There was an old woman of 92,
Lifted her leg and a fart came through,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

The fart went rolling down the street parlez vous.
The fart went rolling down the street parlez vous.
The fart went rolling down the street,
Knocked the copper of his feet,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

The copper got out his trusty/rusty pistol parlez vous.
The copper got out his trusty/rusty pistol parlez vous.
The copper got out his trusty/rusty pistol,
Blew the fart from here to Bristol,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

Bristol Rovers playing at home parlez vous.
Bristol Rovers playing at home parlez vous.
Bristol Rovers playing at home,
Kicked the fart from here to Rome,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

Julius Caeser drinking wine parlez vous.
Julius Caeser drinking wine parlez vous.
Julius ceaser drinking wine,
Swallowed the fart the dirty swine,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

The fart went rolling down his spine parlez vous.
The fart went rolling down his spine parlez vous.
The fart went rolling down his spine,
Knocked his bollocks* out of line,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

(* the word 'bollocks' has to be screamed at least 4 times louder)

The fart went shooting off to Mars parlez vous.
The fart went shooting off to Mars parlez vous.
The fart went shooting off to Mars,
Knocked the Martian on his arse,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

The fart went shooting off to Venus parlez vous.
The fart went shooting off to Venus parlez vous.
The fart went shooting off to Venus,
Knocked the Martian on his penis (obviously!)
Inky pinky parlez vous.

(Contributor's Note: "This last verse was made up by my mate and has nothing to do with the fart.")

David Leyshon showing his bum parlez vous.
David Leyshon showing his bum parlez vous.
David Leyshon showing his bum,
It got melted by the sun,
Inky pinky parlez vous.

(Apparently "David Leyshon never joined in with this verse.")

(ed: Symon and friends were trying to find the rest of this song... but found a lot more. Once they got stuck they arrived here, and then sent in this slight variation)

Julius Ceaser was driking gin,
Opened his gob and the fart fell in
Inky pinky parlez vous
The fart flew out the other end
Kicked the fart from here to Rome,
Inky pinky parlez vous."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:39 PM

Ever since I read that Inly-Dinky Parlez-Vous parody on that "Naughty Kid's Greatest Hits II" thread last night, I've been singing that song in my head, though I can't recall ever hearing it.

But it just occurred to me why I feel as though I not only know this song, but I have fond memories of this song.

It came to me as I was reading that version from the Seedy Rhymes etc website, that the tune of this song is just like the Claribel {the clown} song from the long running American children's television show The Howdy Doody Show.

The only words to that song that I remember are:
Who's the greatest clown in the world?
Claribel
Who's the greatest clown in the world?
Claribel
Who's the greatest clown in the world?
Claribel
Clara Clara Claribel.

-snip-

I'm sure that there's more words to this song. But I'm convinced that the tune is that song uses is the same as the Madamoiselle from Armentières/Inky Dinky Parlez Vous songs.

Whew! I'm glad I figured that out. Now maybe that song will get out of my head.

PS:
[But even so, I'd love some confirmation from others that the
Claribel the Clown song does indeed use the Inky Dinky Parlez Vous tune. Thanks!]

Subject: Lyr Add: Dinki Di ( Jason & Chloe Roweth version)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:10 PM

Jason & Chloe sing a different version on their CD 'The Riderless Horse, An Australian Impression of World War 1' & as they got their version from John Dengate, it needs recording

DINKI DI

Pointed parody of the popular tune known as "Villikins & His Dinah" , "Sweet Betsy from Pike" , "Charlotte the Harlot", and many other names! We learned this song from John Dengate.

Well he came down to London and straight away strode
To Army Headquarters on Horseferry Road;
To see all the bludgers who dodge all the straff
By getting soft jobs on the headquarters Staff.
Dinki di, dinki di, for I am a digger who won't tell a lie.

Well, the lousy Lance Corporal says, "Pardon me, please,
You've mud on your tunic and blood on your sleeve,
And you look so disgraceful that people will laugh"
Said the lousy Lance Corporal on headquarters Staff.
Dinki di, dinki di, for I am a digger who won't tell a lie.

well the digger just shot him a murderous glance
Says he, "I'm just back from the balls-up in France,
Where whiz-bangs are flying, and comforts are few
And brave men are dying for bastards like you!"
Dinki di, dinki di, for I am a digger who won't tell a lie.

"We're shelled on the left and we're shelled on the right,
We're bombed through the day and we're bombed through the night
And if something don't happen - and that very soon
There'll be nobody left in the flamin' platoon!"
Dinki di, dinki di, for I am a digger who won't tell a lie.

well, the question soon came to the ears of Lord Gort
Who gave to the matter a great deal of thought;
He awarded the digger a V.C. and two bars
For giving that Corporal a kick up the arse.
Dinki di, dinki di, for I am a digger who won't tell a lie.

Sandra (ANZAC Day, Sydney 2008)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: JennieG
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:51 PM

Excellent, Sandra! Tonight the club I attend (Toongabbie Music Club)is having the theme "songs from, and about, war" and this is a doozy. I have known it for many years but never sung it before.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:54 PM

and you'll do well, I know

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Rowan
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:32 AM

So, JennyG, will you sing "When this lousy war is over" on my behalf, please?

If I could be there myself I'd do it myself, as well as "They were only playing leapfrog", but I can't get there.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:37 AM

Interestingly up near the top of this thread

From: freda underhill
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 09:19 AM

tune

written by Harry Carlton and Joe Tunbridge

With links to Wiki...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 02:04 AM

from the wiki article

There are a couple of claims to who might have written the lyrics for this song, e.g. Edward Rowland and a Canadian composer, Lt. Glitz Rice is one pair. Harry Carlton and Joe Tunbridge is another. Lastly many also refer to the famous British song writer Harry Wincott.

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 08:54 PM

Julius Caeser drinking Gin (parlez vous)
Julius Caeser drinking Gin (parlez vous)
Julius Caeser drinking Gin, opened his mouth and the fart flew in
Inky Pink parlez vous

The fart went rolling down his spine (parlez vous)
The fart went rolling down his spine (parlez vous)
The fart went rolling down his spine, knocked his bollox out of line
Inky pinky parlez vous

As above - I know there's more but cannot remember.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: goatfell
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 11:37 AM

I sang this dinki di song at my local folk club and after I sung it the crowd was in shock.

Subject: Lyr Add: HORSEFERRY ROAD / DINKY-DI / ...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 11:12 PM

From The Oxford Companion to Australian Folklore by Gwenda Davey, Graham Seal (Melbourne & New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), page 364:


HORSEFERRY ROAD / DINKY-DI / THE DIGGER'S LONDON LEAVE

Well, he got back to London and straight away strode
To army headquarters in the Horseferry Road,
To see all the Provos who dodge all the strafe,
And see all the bludgers on headquarters staff.

CHORUS: Dinky-di, dinky di,
For I am a digger who won't tell a lie.

A hulking great sergeant said, "Pardon me, please.
There's blood on your tunic and dirt on your sleeve.
If you walk round like that all the people will laugh.
Don't hang about here near the headquarters staff."

The digger just shot him a murderous glance,
Saying, "I've just come from the shambles in France,
Where whizzbangs are flying and comforts are few,
And brave men are dying for bastards like you.

"We're shelled on the left and we're shelled on the right.
We're bombed all the day and we're bombed all the night.
If something don't happen, and that mighty soon,
There'll be nobody left in the bloody platoon."

This story soon got to the ears of Lord Gort,
Who gave the whole matter a great deal of thought.
He awarded the digger a VC and two bars
For giving that Corporal a kick in the arse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 02:50 PM

And, as sung in Vietnam:


Fourteen Days Leave

A trooper came down on his fourteen days leave,
When up stepped a Provo saying, "Leave passes, please.
There's blood on your tunic and guts on your sleeve
I think I'll just cancel your fourteen days leave."

cho: Dinkie die, dinkie die
    I couldn't, I wouldn't not tell you a lie.

The trooper then gave him a murderous look
Said, "See here, you bastard, I'm fresh from Hiep Duc,
Where whiz-bangs are flying and comforts are few
And brave men are dying for bastards like you."

Oh Quang Ni, oh Quang Ni, a hell of a place
The way things are done it's a fucking disgrace;
With Captains and Majors and Light Colonels too
With their heads up their asses and nothing to do.

They stand in the compound, they scream and they shout
Of a whole not of shit they know nothing about.
For all they accomplish, they might as well be
Shoveling shit in the South China Sea.

I've fought in Ha Tahn, I've fought up in Hue
I've fought in this place for a year and some days;
And while you were down on the fat of your ass
I was out at Kam Duc near the Ho Che Minh Track.

Did you ever have a father, did it ever occur?
Did you ever have a mother, and did you strike her?
When women have babies, they have them with ease,
When harlots have bastards, they call them MPs.

Oh the rules of engagement are something else, too
You can't shoot a dink unless he shoots as you.
For all of the murders we'd like to commit
We end up with footprints all over our dick.

From The Longest Year, Bowen and Fish
Note: A clear decendant of the WWI Dinkie-die, with names
    changed to bring it to Vietnam. rg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Lighter
Date: 26 May 20 - 02:40 PM

The following poem appears to be the original text:

                                BLANK FIRE

I landed in London and straight away rode
Direct to Headquarters in Horseferry Road;
A bucksheesh Lance Corporal said, "Pardon me, please,
You have dust on your tunic and dirt on your knees,
You look such a sight that people will laugh,                                 
Said the cold-footed --- of Horseferry Staff.

"Your hat should be turned up at the side like mine
Your boots, I might state, are in want of a shine,
Your puttees are falling away from your calf;
Said the cold-footed --- of Horseferry Staff.

The soldier gave him a murderous glance,
"Remember I'm just home from the trenches in France,
Where shrapnel is flying and comforts are few,
Where the soldiers are dying for --- like you.

"You bully the soldier you meet in the street,
And tell them you suffer from frost-bitten feet,
While your mates in the trenches fight on behalf
Of you cold-footed --- of Horseferry Staff.

"You speak to a soldier you cold-footed cur.
What of your Mother, did it ever strike her,
That her son was a waster and afraid of a strafe,
Who hangs on to his job at Horseferry Staff."

- Lieutenant W. T. Barnes

Australian War Memorial, 1918 Australians in France [http://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/1918/soldier/superiors.asp] (as of May 1, 2010).

John Vereker, Viscount Gort, was never stationed in Horseferry Road, the WW1 headquarters of the Australian Imperial Forces (who did not arrive in France till 1916). Nor were Australian units in France in 1939-40, when Gort commanded all British forces. A British soldier presumably added the lines about Gort, either in 1939-40, or else earlier when Gort commanded of the 4th and later the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards of the British Army, 1917-1918.

In WW1, Gort was not well known beyond his own British units. In 1940, however, he was commander of an entire army.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
From: Lighter
Date: 26 May 20 - 06:56 PM

Lt. Arthur McKeogh, “Whittlesey’s Other Answer,” Everybody’s Magazine (Apr., 1919), p. 111 [ref. to U.S. 308th Inf., 77th Div., 1918] :

“Our numerical shortage reminded me of the song we had adopted from the British while we were brigaded with them as reserves behind Arras in the early days:
        
        We started with fifty-odd non-coms and men,
        We started with fifty and now we are ten!        
        And if this bloody war doesn’t end pretty soon,
        There’ll be nobody left in the ruddy platoon!
                Cheerio! Cheerio!
        There’ll be nobody left in the ruddy platoon.

“Our boys thought it smart and veteranish to sing it. But when, months later, we had been reduced to twenty-five per cent. our original size, there was no singing.”