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31 Jul 08 - 11:54 AM (#2402318) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU From: GUEST,Bob Coltman The 1881 song "For Goodness' Sake Don't Say I Told You" became a publishing phenomenon, going through numerous versions in the '80s. More than that, this catchy number acted almost like a traditional song in that it adapted itself to local conditions and spawned new lyrics wherever it went. Though Arthur Lloyd's sturdy tune continued throughout, sets of new verses were written and sung, most of them on local political topics, always retaining the first verse of the original, which had been a cute ingenue song for the stage. Eventually it entered country music in "For Goodness Sakes Don't Say I Told You," by Uncle Dave Macon and Sid Harkreader, Vocalion 5374, recorded in Chicago c. January 1930, with humorous verses by Uncle Dave. Following are some of the principal versions. Let's start with the one that (I believe) started the craze in 1881, though in his Country Music Sources, Gus Meade refers to one I haven't seen, with lyrics by George Russell Jackson. (If you know of an earlier version, or indeed any not included here, add it to the thread, please!!!) Bob Sources: Levy Collection, Maine Music Box archive FOR GOODNESS' SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU or, I'M A SWEET LITTLE GIRL As sung by Miss Maggie Duncan. Words Earl Marble, music Arthur Lloyd. c 1881, White, Smith & Co., New York. I'm going to whisper some words in your ear, But for goodness' sake, don't say I told you, Whatever I say, and whatever you hear, For goodness' sake don't say I told you, I think you'll acknowledge before you depart That I've unreservedly opened my heart, What- ever I know, I to you will impart, But, for goodness' sake, don't say I told you. I'm a sweet little girl, so the boys all say, but … And though I am innocent, just a bit gay, but … And all of my mischief is done on the sly, With a pout of my lips, and a glance of my eye, I'm terribly proper, but awfully fly, but … I think just the jolliest time for a lark, but … Is a moonlight night in a quiet park, but … With a fond arm around you, goodbye to the blues, Let all others just mind their Ps and Qs, All the birds are asleep and can't carry the news, but … I don't care a fig for this mere surface show, but … I never get fast, though I never go slow, but … I don't think that all of the goodness we see So carefully labeled, is goodness for me, It is only pretense, and I call it N.G.* — but … *no good. |
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31 Jul 08 - 11:58 AM (#2402323) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Chronologically the next version I have found is this one, from 1882. A lot of it still rings true today. FOR GOODNESS' SAKE, DON'T (sic) Words by D.S. Published C.H. Ditson & Co.,, New York, 1882. I'm going to whisper some words in your ear, But for … What- ever I say, and whatever you hear, For … I think you'll acknowledge before you depart That I've unreservedly opened my heart, And whatever I know I to you will impart, but for … Political parties have long held their sway, but for … Yet some politicians are having their day, but for … There's lately been witnessed a sort of love-feast, With wages cut down and expenses increased, Our side isn't frightened—no, not in the least! but for … The harbor and river bill quickly was passed, but for … Our members of Congress were certainly fast, but for … We've harbors and rivers, and water enough To get up a Navy both valiant and tough, The things that we need now are ships, quantum suff., but for … The Injuns are quiet now, just for a change, but for … And over the prairies they cheerfully range, but for … The government policy surely is queer, That is, if it has one, which isn't quite clear, The redskin's reducing our army each year, but for … Now England treats Ireland with strict iron rule, but for … She doesn't learn much in experience's school, but for … If she would try kindness instead of hard raps, She'd soften the hearts of those well-meaning chaps, She'd find that there's strength in the old sod, perhaps, but for … The rage now for acting is spreading quite fast, but for … The stage is the bright goal of multitudes vast, but for … It's all very well, but before you decide To go on the stage, on the bus take a ride, Twill save you some heartaches and money beside, but for … The fearful disaster that's caused by a war, but for … When soldiers all fight, tho' they know not what for, but for … Depend on this fact, that if we have to fight, We like to be sure that our cause is just right, And prove that our side thus shall overcome might, but for … The pedestrians at the Third Avenue Hall, but for … In the end were so fagged that they scarcely could crawl, but for … One bottled himself, oh, he looked very thin, Vaughn made a brave struggle to capture the tin, And O':Leary, tho' tired, was first to walk in, but for … The cry of the public is civil reform, but for … The government tries to calm down the storm, but for … And what we all want at the fat public crib Is men that will work hard and not to talk glib, Nor try to breed humbug by telling a fib, but for … Now mind what I've told you is private, you know, so for … And if you'll excuse me, I think I will go, but for … I could keep on singing, but might prove a bore, A dozen of verses, aye, even a score, But the fact is, I really don't know any more, but for … Encore verse I thought I had sung quite enough, so I went, but for … Tho' I really believe that you're never content, but for … I may tell you this much, and it's perfectly true, That if I continue each night to please you, My manager is going quite handsome to do, so for … |
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31 Jul 08 - 12:01 PM (#2402325) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU From: GUEST,Bob Coltman After that, the song spread to both coasts and adapted itself to local conditions in the hands of eager rewrite men. A number of versions followed in 1883. FOR GOODNESS' SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU Verses by Geo. Cooper. Published Wm. A. Pond & Co., New York, 1883. I'm going to whisper some words in your ear, but for … Whatever I say, and whatever you heart, for … I think you'll acknowledge before you depart That I've unreservedly opened my heart, And whatever I know I to you will impart, but for … The great Brooklyn Bridge is our latest event, but for … A nice promenade, and it's only a cent, for … They go there to spoon 'neath the bright starry sky, And many a time lips do meet on the sly, It's funny to hear all the smacks passing by, but for … A fresh importation of late is the "Dude," but for … I'll describe it to you if you won't think I'm rude, for … It looks like a billiard cue, chalked on the top, And it flies down the street with a skip and hop, They give them for chromos at any tea shop, but for … Of corn-colored tresses the girls are now fond, but for … You can't tell nowadays a brunette from a blonde, for … Such frizzes and curls on their heads now they hang To give to the hearts of admirers a pang, The latest thing out is a heat cow-tail bang, but for … They bring breach of promise suits now ev'ry day, but for … It fills a young fellow with fear and dismay, for … You help a fair charmer to get in a stage, A widow or maiden of uncertain age, Next day a good lawyer she'll go to engage, but for … Who'll be our next President? now is the cry, but for … How many would like a nice slice of that pie? for … The Nation's o'er full of most capable men, But for quelling abuses by tongue and by pen, I nominate here our old friend Uncle Ben! but for … |
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31 Jul 08 - 12:03 PM (#2402326) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU From: GUEST,Bob Coltman FOR GOODNESS' SAKE, DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU Words by M.E.. Published Church & John, Cincinnati, 1883. I'm going to whisper some words in your ear, but for … Whatever I say, and whatever you hear, for … I think you'll acknowledge before you depart That I've unreservedly opened my heart, And whatever I know I to you will impart, but for … The mashers are getting too thick on the street, but for … In gorgeous apparel (unpaid-for) complete, but for … With eyeglass and cane, quite cutting a swell, In front of the Grand, or the Palace Hotel, But what they are good for nobody can tell, … The political pool's in a curious state, but for … Both parties are watching and cutting their bait, but for … For a new party some people think there is room, And when it once starts it will go with a boom, And send all the old ones away up the flume, but for … For matters have got in such terrible shape, but for … With Uncivil Service and legal red tape, but for … That honest Pub Funcs are a thing of the past, So everyone says that the worst are the last, And the end of the world is approaching us fast, but for … The really great singers are nearly all dead, but for … And those that are not are the same, for they're wed, but for … It makes me feel lonesome to see them all go, And one by one dropping like bricks in a row, But music still lives while I do, you know, but for … A great fault in singers you all will admit, but for … Is failing to catch on, the moment to quit, but for … They spin out their ditty so horribly long, That more than a sermon it is than a song, So I'll spin out of sight where perhaps I belong, but for … Encore verse Well, what's the difficulty now with you folks, Ain't you suited with what I have told you? I've got to the end of my budget of jokes, But for goodness sake, don't say I told you, Now a tale that's twice told is as good as no tale, And the best of good jokes grow rapidly stale, So Ta-ta, my friends, this time without fail, But for goodness sake, don't say I told you. |
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31 Jul 08 - 12:06 PM (#2402329) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU From: GUEST,Bob Coltman The Kate Castleton version swept San Francisco in the same year. There were at least two. I include what I think is probably the first, and a few representative verses of the second, which goes deep into local politics. If you want to pursue it further, it is in the Levy Collection. FOR GOODNESS' SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU As sung by Miss Kate Castleton. By Charlie Reed and Wm. Emerson, of Emerson's Minstrels, Standard Theatre. Published Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, 1883. I'm going to whisper some words in your ear, but for … Whatever I say, and whatever you hear, for … I think you'll acknowledge before you depart That I've unreservedly opened my heart, And whatever I know, I will to you impart, but for … They say that your boys are quite fond of us girls, but … That when we smile on you, your head fairly whirls, but for … That at us you are constantly making sheep's eyes, That your bosoms are constantly heaving with sighs, For my part I think you are awfully nice, but for … I'm awfully modest, and awfully shy, but for … But in spite of it all, I like fun on the sly, but for … I'm sorry, so sorry for hearts that I break, I know it ain't right, but I certainly take In that line what is commonly known as the cake, but … They're tearing the lampposts out just by the score, but for… But now I don't think they'll tear up any more, but … For returning from lodge on a cold winter night The gents who are tired can't do without light, And they''ll sing a grand chorus of "Now that's not right," but … Of doggerel verse I've exhausted my store, but for … My muse has declared she won't do so some more, but for … From further demands, then, I pray you refrain, My song breathes its last, and there let it remain, Excuse these few words till I see you again, but for … Verse lyrics beginning with verse 3 in another Kate Castleton sheet. Verses 4-8 are credited to Sam Booth and are devoted to local politics: the water supply, politicians, supervisors, the Temple and its deacons, and a Democrat sweep of Republicans in City Hall. Samples: 3. San Francisco has need of a charter, they say, but for … They've printed a copy of one every day, but for … Some people approve it because it is new, But to tell what it's like is what no one can do! For life is too short to read the thing through! But for … 5. Politicians are growing more honest, they say, but for … They never accept any more than their pay, but for … Civil Service reform they will preach when they're out, But when they get in, it's a matter of doubt, And the more they want office, the louder they shout, but for … 8. Our politics made many changes last fall, but for … They say they played hob in the new City Hall, but for … Republicans trembled in view of their fate, The Democrats swept them clean out of the state, And left not a grease spot their fall to relate, but for … |
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31 Jul 08 - 12:10 PM (#2402333) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU From: GUEST,Bob Coltman By now, you may be a-wearyin'. But here is an 1883 Chicago version, followed by one more New York version, and then I'll let it alone for a while. FOR GOODNESS' SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU Uncredited lyricist, pub. Chicago, Richard A. Saalfield, 1883. ... first verse same as the original, then: I'm awfully modest, and awfully shy … But in spite of it all, I like fun on the sly … I'm sorry, so sorry, the hearts that I break, I know it is not right, I certainly take In that line what is commonly known as the cake, but for … The policeman's pot hat is a big thing, you bet … When the summertime comes it will make the cops sweat … All courage and soldierlike see they appear, they'll charge on the leads without pity or fear, And never, oh! never go back on their beer, but … FOR GOODNESS' SAKE DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU Uncredited lyricist. Published S. T. Gordon, New York, 1883. I beg you to listen to what I will say, For goodness sake, don't say I told you, And I'll speak of events that happen each day, But for goodness sake don't say I told you, I think you'll acknowledge before you depart That I've fully and freely opened my heart, And whatever I know, I to you will impart, But for goodness sake, don't say I told you. Salmi Morse's new church is finished at last, for … In despite of the fierce evangelical blast, but for … And when he produces the famed Passion Play, Brothers Beecher and Talmadge will two dollars pay, To hear their dear friend Bob Ingersoll pray, but, for … The War for sweet milk has ended at last, for ... And the Dealers' monopoly a thing of the past, but for … The Spiller's brief reign has been cut very short, And the farmers determined to hold their own fort, We can buy lacteal fluid for five cents a quart, but for … A new fashion prevails in this curious age, for … The collection of plaques seems to be all the rage, but for … The mother, the sister, the aunt and the niece Buy bundles of dry goods like so many geese, And receive in exchange cards for two cents apiece, but for … The Dublin excitement is going to close, for … And Carey is hooted wherever he goes, but for … And the truth will prevail just as sure as the sun, And detectives declare before they have done That the Elephant Jimbo is the famed Number One! but for … The predictions of Wiggins have caused great alarm, for … He said 'twould be cold and it proved very warm, but for … They should send this false prophet to sea in a bowl, Without any pay, provision or coal, To build a new station at the famous North Pole, but for … Now I'll bid you goodbye, or you'll think I'm a bore, for … To tell you the truth, I don't know any more, but for … So before I depart I kindly ask all Who are fond of round dancing upon me to call In Vanderbilt's mansion at our next Fancy Ball, but for … |
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31 Jul 08 - 12:21 PM (#2402341) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: For Goodness Sake Don't Say I T From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Errata: there are several, but the big one is: in the previous message, 3rd verse from the end, last line: that's "Jumbo" the elephant of course. Bob |
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31 Jul 08 - 12:35 PM (#2402356) Subject: Lyr Add: FOR GOODNESS SAKES, DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Oops, back again. But I couldn't very well leave out the piece de resistance. FOR GOODNESS SAKES, DON'T SAY I TOLD YOU As sung by Uncle Dave Macon and Sid Harkreader,Vocalion 5374, recorded in Chicago c. January 1930. Lyrics assumed to be composed by Macon, though it's possible he may have learned them from an earlier stage version. Something odd happens in the next to last verse -- sounds as if he may have forgotten the right lyrics and made up a different rhyme on the spur of the moment. -- Bob For a topical song your indulgence I seek, For goodness sakes, don't say I told you, And if you are patient, I'll get through this week, For goodness sakes, don't say I told you, I've taken great trouble this song to rehearse, But I do not improve, I'm afraid I get worse, So if you don't like it, I'll sing you another verse! For goodness sakes, don't say I told you. For acting when young I had a terrible rage, for ... And determined to go on the regular stage, for ... With my talents I thought that I'd make a star, I was sure the first night the whole world would be thar, And I opened the door to a rush of cold air, for ... I went to the club with three dollars in cash, for ... At the game of faro I cut quite a dash, for ... I won all three thousand and seventy bets, I made up my mind how to pay off my debts, When I left I had my nightie and two cigarettes, for ... You see that young lady that sits over there, for ... She's got on a switch of her grandmother's hair, for ... Her cheeks are as red as a red, red rose, And her hair is a beautiful brown, She's the sweetest girl I've seen in your town, for ... A dude loved a maiden for ever so long, for ... One night 'neath her window he wobbled [warbled] his song, for ... But the old man got up and his window he rose, He soused the gay dude with a terrible dose, And the fume of his bath made him bury his clothes, for ... |
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31 Jul 08 - 02:24 PM (#2402460) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: For Goodness Sake Don't Say I Told You From: Joe Offer Good song, Bob. Are you going to record it? I hadn't noticed the Maine Music Box before. Looks like a good resource. -Joe (who fixed the thread title)- |
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02 Aug 08 - 10:55 AM (#2403617) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: For Goodness Sake Don't Say I Told You From: GUEST,Bob Coltman No ... no recording planned ... Yes, Maine Music Box is basically the Bagaduce Music Lending Library. I was a a customer for years. Though their bread and butter is their classical music, they have one of the most extensive archives in the country of pop songs (roughly 1870-1950), mostly American, but a small quantity of British as well. I'm always glad to give them a plug -- they more than deserve all the publicity they can get. Bob |