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20 Apr 99 - 05:22 PM (#72263) Subject: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: Cap't Bob I'm not really sure of the name of this song but I think it may be SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME. It was on a record (long lost) that I had back in the late 40's and I only remember it in bits and pieces. One verse contained: '...... a game last night, brought on a fight, that finished up with pistol shots. Now I was furthest from the door, the others all got there before, a brother on the floor lay dead, while through the transom some one said. Somebody has to stay behind, yes someone must remain, and when those police officers arrive, just explain why this here brother ain't alive..............now thats a wonder full chanch for some one, its got to be somebody else not me.' most likely not the exact words. CAP'T BOB
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20 Apr 99 - 08:38 PM (#72305) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: dwditty Dave Van Ronk does this on one of his albums (I think by the same name). I would love to get the chords as well as the lyrics. Since I don't know either, it'll have to be Somebody Else, Not Me. DW |
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20 Apr 99 - 11:09 PM (#72331) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: Cap't Bob DW ~ Well, er, not exactly what I was looking for ~ However, for not knowing the words your response gave me one really big chuckle. I guess I never thought about the cords before. I have been working on them for the past fifteen minutes and so far only have the first two! Now I really have problems. Cap't Bob |
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21 Apr 99 - 06:29 PM (#72545) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: TequilaRon (inactive) Ok, guys maybe I can help you, help yourselves. While driving home this afternoon I think I heard this song on my favorite community radio station. This is WMNF 88.5 out of Tampa. The best little radio station on planet earth and not a member of the Big Brother Broadcasting network. This station can be accessed by computer. the address is http://www.wmnf.org . Check out the play list for April 23 between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. Even if this isn't the right song, you will love this web site. By the way dw I am mightily impressed by your screen name. Well envious actually. I suppose if I were a better person I would look this up for you guys, but since I am a slave to time pressures it will have to be done by (big finish all together now) "Somebody else, not me." Ron |
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22 Apr 99 - 07:46 PM (#72839) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: TequilaRon (inactive) I sent WMNF an E-mail about the song I heard. It was "It Wasn't Me" by Chuck Berry. It is on several of his early Chess albums. I hope this is the one you guys want. Ron. |
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17 Oct 03 - 10:59 AM (#1037302) Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME (from Dave Van Ronk) From: GUEST,non member Bertie SOMEBODY ELSE - NOT ME! (Text: Williams verse1+2/Ronk-verse3 1. Great (B7)moments come to (E)every man Some (fis)situations where he can A(gis)chieve such (Es7)fame that (gis)folks ac (Es7)claim The (gis)very mention (gis)of his (B7)name. A (B7)circus played our (E)town one day Three (fis)Bengal tigers got away. The (gis)mana(Es7)ger looked (gis)straight at(Es7) me, Said, (gis)here's your oppor(E)tu(C7)ni(B7)ty. Some(E)body has got to (B7)get those cats, Some(E)body has got to (A)go Our (fis)tiger (Cis7)man is (fis)sick in bed, So (Fis7)put on your hat and coat, (B7)That is what the(Bb7) man (B7)said. (E)The man that brings them (B7)back alive, (E7)a hero is gonna (A)be, It's a (A/Cis)wonderful (Cdim)chance for (E7)somebo(Cis7)dy, (Fis7)Somebody (B6)else - not(E) me! - (Fis7) - (B6) - (E). 2. Two ivory bones with ebony dots Often lead to cemetery lots. Again last night brought on a fight That ended up in pistol shots. I was the furtherest from the door. The others all got out before. Upon the floor a man lay dead. And through the transom someone said— Somebody's got to stay behind— Somebody must remain— And when the officers, when the officers arrive explain Why this brother isn't alive. Yeah. The man who stays and sees it through Is gonna gain celebrity, yeah. It's a wonderful chance, a wonderful chance for somebody – Somebody else, not me. 3. I did a little time in world war two, When them panzer tanks came roll on through In the middle of a minefield beneath barb wire, They pinned us down with machine gun fire There were bullets flying through the air And shrapnels shrapening everywhere Our captain there would shout: "No fear," Says he, "I need a volunteer." Somebody has got to storm that hill. Somebody has got to go. Just to charge up that hill where them mines are lying And blow them to hell with a hand grenade, right. The man, who storms that hill," he said, "Will live in history!" I'd rather live in Hackensack. That's gotta be somebody else – not me! (Big letter - major chord, small letter – minor chord, dim – diminished chord, A/Cis – A-major chord with Cis Bass) Dave's chords are a little bit more complicated, but I think the tune can be played with these above- Sorry bout my language mistakes, I have often problems to understand what Dave sings, BERT – geman non member and big DVR Fan
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17 Oct 03 - 02:31 PM (#1037413) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: Jim Dixon There are lyrics in the thread "Need Lyrics, Van Ronk's Somebody Else Not Me |
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19 Oct 03 - 02:10 PM (#1038032) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: Jim Dixon Here are the results of my effort to pin down the correct title and attribution of this song. This impressively thorough Bert Williams discography (in pdf format) says he recorded "Somebody" in 1919. It doesn't mention a songwriter, however. "Somebody" performed by Bert Williams, is on the Archeophone CD "His Final Releases 1919-1922" (2002). (Mistakenly called "His First Releases 1919-1922" at AMG - All Music Guide.) AMG credits "Hanley" as the songwriter. That would be the composer James F. Hanley. The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band also performs "Somebody" on "From Past to Present: Featuring and Dedicated to Laurel Watson" (2001). Under the title "Somebody Else, Not Me," AMG lists 6 recordings, one of which is apparently a different song. Four of them are attributed to "Hanley/MacDonald" as songwriters. That would be the lyricist Ballard MacDonald. Several sources confirm that he and James F. Hanley co-wrote many songs, e.g. "(Back Home Again in) Indiana", "Rose Of Washington Square", "Autumn in New York". The one performed by Dave Van Ronk on the album "Somebody Else, Not Me" is attributed to "Van Ronk/Williams." Sam Deacon McDaniel also performs "Somebody Else, Not Me" on the Storyville CD "The Jubilee Shows, Vol. 3." On Van Ronk's live album "Statesboro Blues" the title is given as "Somebody Else But Me" and the only writer credited is Van Ronk himself. I assume this is a publisher's mistake. By the way, Bert Williams also recorded songs called "Nobody" and "Everybody." |
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19 Oct 03 - 02:12 PM (#1038037) Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEBODY (from Bert Williams) From: Jim Dixon A complete recording of Bert Williams' performance is included in an archived radio show that you can find here. This song begins about 29 minutes into the program. Here's my transcription. Williams uses a change of tone to indicate different speakers. This is usually clear, but sometimes ambiguous. I have used punctuation, especially the dash, to indicate my understanding of when the speaker changes. SOMEBODY a.k.a. SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME (Words, Ballard MacDonald. Music, James F. Hanley.) (As recorded by Bert Williams, 1919.) 1. Great moments come to every man, Some situation where he can Attain such fame that folks acclaim The very mention of his name. Now the circus played our town one day And three Bengal tigers got away. And the manager looked right straight at me. Said he, "Now here's your opportunity." –"Yes sir." –"Somebody's got to go and get them cats." –"Uh, yes sir." –"Yes, sir, somebody's got to go." –"I'm with you there." –"The tiger man is sick in bed. Now all you got to do is put on your hat and coat," he said, "Because the man who, uh, catches them alive, A real hero is gonna be. Now, say, isn't that wonderful!" He says, "Yes, it is a wonderful chance for somebody." –"Ah, yes sir, yes sir. I agree with you. Somebody else, yes sir, not me!" 2. Two ivory bones with ebony dots Oft lead to cemetery lots. A game last night brought on a fight Which finished up with pistol shots. I was the furthest from the door. The others all got there before. A body on the floor lay dead. And through the transom someone said: "Somebody's got to stay behind." –"Uh huh." –"Somebody must remain." –"Oh, do tell!" –"And when the officers arrive, of course, Explain how this brother here ain't alive." –"Yes, sir." –"The man who stays and, uh, sees it through, He's gonna gain notoriety." –"Yes sir! It's a wonderful chance for somebody. I agree with you there. But it's got to be somebody else, yes sir, not me!" Bert Williams, 1919: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze3DKv4OWXM |
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23 Oct 03 - 06:53 AM (#1040252) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: dwditty Guest, not a member Bertie, Thank you so much for your post. I have been trying to figure out the chords to this song for ages. Watching Van Ronk was no help, as I am pretty much a first position guy. Could you please explain your chord notation just a bit more. (yes, I did see the info you provided at the bottom of your post.) For example: (fis) I understand to be Fm, but I do not understand the significance of the "is" Thanks again for taking the time. I too am a huge fan of all that DVR gave us. dw |
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23 Oct 03 - 02:55 PM (#1040553) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: GUEST,Bertie Dear DW - Happy to hear from you. First I try to explain my german notation: Small letters = minor chords, so fis can also be notated as Fis-minor: Baree second fret (first finger) and third and fourth fingers for on the fourth fret, 5. and 4. string. By the way its my hobby to listen to Daves music and to write it down. I have written the whole piece (the way DVR plays it) in traditional notes, if you can play guitar from notes, I'd be glad to send you the sheet, mail me your post adress, if possible. Greetings Bertie |
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23 Oct 03 - 03:05 PM (#1040559) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: lamarca I remember hearing (or reading in the liner notes?) that Dave van Ronk credited the first two verses to Williams, and wrote the third verse himself (his growling voice declaiming "I'd rather live in Hackensack" is one of my quintessential Van Ronk images...) |
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23 Oct 03 - 04:36 PM (#1040615) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: dwditty Thank you Bertie. You can find my address at www.dwditty.com. |
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24 Oct 03 - 11:32 AM (#1041093) Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me From: GUEST Bertie, I am not able to email you my address as you contacted me via sonic bids and they did not include your email. Please send email to dwditty@hotmail.com. Thanks. |
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31 Jan 10 - 01:50 PM (#2826558) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST,Ray Check our Tommy Burton on youtube he sings this song. Unfortunatly now departed Tommy was a real entertainer as I'm sure you will see |
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31 Jan 10 - 01:53 PM (#2826560) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: kendall Phil Harris recorded this back in the 40's as a recitation.He did other things as well. |
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07 Mar 10 - 05:11 PM (#2858601) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST Thanks to Everyone here for providing the lyrics to this ancient ditty. I had only a vague memory of my older brothers singing this around the house when I was a baby back in the mid 40s, and strangely enough today I remembered a few of the words but not the music. I did this search not really expecting to find much because I didn't have much to go on, and here it is. Having the actual music would give my younger brother and I a few more moments of fond distant memories of loved ones no longer with us and so is the object of my next search. Thanks again. Diane |
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07 Mar 10 - 06:18 PM (#2858656) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: pdq I hope this works on your computer...Bert Williams most famous song: Nobody ~ Bert Williams, 1913 |
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04 Apr 10 - 03:20 PM (#2879516) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams From: GUEST,D. Elder Jim Dixon got it right. As a young boy back in the early 1930's, I remember playing that record on my aunts wind up Victrola. I thought the song was sung by the Vaudevillians, "Two Black Crows," but maybe not. In any case, my memory of the lyrics coincides exactly with those Jim Dixon listed. BTW: Another great song from that era was, "The moon shines on the moonshine. I have the lyrics if anyone is interested. |
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05 Apr 10 - 12:32 AM (#2879784) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST I like this Tommy Burton version of SOMEBODY ELSE, NOT ME, complete with a pretty good joke. dw |
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17 Sep 10 - 08:24 AM (#2988605) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST,Jon James I remember it as a 78 by Pee Wee Hunt - great version and available on iTunes :-) |
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14 Feb 11 - 12:59 AM (#3094812) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST,Roger Taylor's daughter Ivory cubes with ebony dots Often lead to cemetery lots. The game last night brought on a fight that ended up in pistol shots. I was the furthest from the door, The others all got there before -- The body on the floor lay dead And through the transom somebody said, "Somebody's got to stay behind, somebody must remain: And when da Officerz arrive -- 'splain why this Brother here ain't alive. The Man who stays and sees this through will gain some notoriety." --It's a wonderful chance for somebody: Somebody else, not me. --The Circus played our town one day, Three Bengal tigers got away! Boss-man, he looked straight at me and said. "Son, here's yo' Opportunity! -- Somebody's got to get dem cats, Somebody's got to go -- Tiger-man is sick in bed so get yo' coat and hat" He said -- Beecause The Man who brings them back alive A Reel Hee-ro's going to be!" It's a wonderful chance for somebody --- Somebody else -- not me. |
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17 Feb 11 - 07:48 PM (#3097597) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: Jim Dixon I think there ought to be a rule that, if you're going to post lyrics more or less like lyrics that have already been posted, you have to explain why you're posting them. |
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21 Sep 11 - 03:06 PM (#3226734) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST,Steve Munslow. The circus played our town one day. Two bengal tigers got away. The manager looks straight at me and says: Somebody's got to get them cats. Somebody's got to go. The man who catches them cats and brings them back to me alive a real hero is gonna be. Well that's a wonderful chance for somebody. It's got to be somebody else not me. Two ivory bones with ebony dots oft times leads to cemetery plots. Game last night brought on a fight which finished up with pistol shots. A brother on the floor lay dead while through the transom somebody said: Somebody's got to stay behind, somebody must remain. Then, when the police officers arrive they c'n explain how it is our brother ain't alive. Well that's a wonderful chance for somebody. It's got to be somebody else not me. |
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11 Jan 13 - 09:18 PM (#3464830) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: Max See also: Lyr Req: Somebody Else, Not Me (from Dave Van Ronk) |
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10 Apr 13 - 12:16 PM (#3501450) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams) From: GUEST I've seen the lyrics/chords posted here as well as the video of DVR playing "Somebody Else Not Me." What I'd like is something closer to the tab for his version of that song. Guest,Bertie mentioned having something approaching this. And others have mentioned lessons with DVR. I know his notation is a little strange, but I've got one of his books so I think I could work it out, with a little more help. Email me at mwalsh.nm@earthlink.net if you can help. Thanks. |