Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador

Subject: Origins: Alfonso Spigoni, the Torreador
From: GUEST,sylvia herold
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 08:47 PM

Hi! I'm lookng for a recorded source for a song I heard (and transcribed the words to) long ago. The chorus goes like this:

When i catch Alfonso Spigoni, the torreador. Ah, ah, ah
With a mighty swipe I will dislocate his balley jaw. Ah
I'll fight the bullfighter, I will and when I catch the blighter the bounder I'll kill
He shall die, he shall die, he shall di-diddle-ee-i-di-di-di-di-di-di
He shall die, he shall die
For I'll raise a bunnion on his Spanish onion
If I catch him bending(?) tonight

It sounds like a Flanders and Swann song, but isn't. At least, I looked at all their cuts on Amazon and couldn't find anything that looked quite right.
Can anyone help me relocate the source for this wonderful song?

Thanks!
Sylvia

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:02 PM

Written by Billy Merson (1913), a Music Hall star. Sung by everyone from Al Jolson to our own Seamus Kennedy - shameless plug for his latest CD "Party Pieces".

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:31 PM

Go here for info and recordings:
http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2002-12/thismonth/feature.asp

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 12:26 AM

You know, you buy a Seamus Kennedy CD, and you expect to get nice, sedate, traditional Irish music - the kind that makes you homesick for the Emerald Isle, even if Ireland has never been home to you.

Is that what you get when you buy a Seamus Kennnedy? No, sirree! You get rowdy stuff like this Spaniard song and its ilk. I can't understand why I like it so much, but I do.

But seriously (or not), Seamus does an amazing job on this song.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 02:48 AM

Thanks, everyone, for pointing me in the right direction. I think I have enough to go on now. What a fantastic song!

Sylvia
p.s. Hi, Joe!

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: mandotim
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 04:13 AM

One way to do this song with some audience participation; Bit on the Side have a competition on the last chorus; the audience are invited to sing along, and on the last 'he shall die', the note on 'die' is held for as long as possible. Any audience member who can hold it for longer than me on one breath gets a pint from the band. Still haven't bought a pint...
Tim from Bit on the Side
(Who is popular with the ladies on account of his ability to breath through his ears.)

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 09:43 AM

Seamus and I have had a bit of a disagreement over the meaning of his "Spanish onion". Any thoughts?

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 01:07 PM

Hmmmm. Spanish onion?
SINSULL, I think that sort of discussion is a bit off-color for a family-oriented forum...

Of course, who said THIS was a family-oriented forum?


Sylvia, are we going to hear you sing this one at Camp Harmony next year? It might have been an great song for the Cats & Jammers. Alas, the Cats ain't Jammin' anymore, and Sylvia has gone trad - but Sylvia does trad very well. It would be interesting to see what you'd do with this one. I really enjoy the way you interpret songs.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:11 PM

"You get rowdy stuff like this Spaniard song and its ilk"

Oh no! The ilks are rowdy now!

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 05:30 PM

my grandpa sung this song tonight at folk festival and had no idea of the origon - he heard it from someone in the navy in 1943.
it is an amzing song

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 03:25 AM

"Spanish onion".

from "I'll raise a bunion on his Spanish onion"

Clever rhyme for - 'raise a bump on his head'...

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 09:30 PM

Sang it at Glenfarg Folk club session on monday night
Its on a Roy Hudd Music hall CD "Those Music Hall Days"
I can mail an mp3 track if reqd.

Subject: RE: Origins: Alfonso Spegoni, the Torreador
From: GUEST,Letty in Ireland
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 05:37 AM

I have been really ill for some time and for I comfort I like to remember things from my childhood. I was trying to remember the words to Spegoni the Torreador, but couldn't quite catch them. My dad used to sing it to us especially on car journeys. I've had trouble finding it as he used to sing Don Carlos Spegoni. Finding this forum has made me really happy. Thank you everyone who wrote about this song it has means a lot ti finally get the words. Now I will go in search of the song itself and I can lie back and enjoy.