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Origins: The Century Plant ('Hobo' Jack Turner)

25 Sep 09 - 11:45 PM (#2731573)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE CENTURY PLANT ('Hobo' Jack Turner)
From: autoharper

The Century Plant

In the 1920s, a popular male vocal duet team, sponsored on radio by the Interwoven Sock Company, was Billy Jones and Ernest Hare, "The
Interwoven Pair". Thomas Ernest Hare (March 16, 1883 - March 9, 1939)
Born in Queens, NY. He was a baritone singer who, with his partner Billy Jones, recorded prolifically and appeared on radio during the 1920s and 1930s, as "The Happiness Boys".

As a soloist, Haree recorded under a bunch of pseudonyms, including
Wallace Daniels, Arthur Grant, Henry Jones, Robert Judson, Walter Lang, Walter Leslie, Roy Roberts, Bob Thomas, Bob Thompson, Frank Mann, AND 'Hobo' Jack Turner.

As 'Hobo' Jack Turner he recorded a 78 with a song called "The Century Plant."

Has this ever been reissued on CD? Is there sheet music for this song? Anybody have the complete lyric? Anyone know who wrote it or where it came from?

Thanks,
-Adam Miller

THE CENTURY PLANT

Spoken:
You know friends I had a sweetheart once,
and before I left her and went on the bum,
I gave her a little plant for remembrance and I said to her:

Sung:
I am leaving but before I go
Take this plant for remembrance and each day watch it grow.
For I'll be gone about as long as it takes this plant to bloom
So be patient oh my darling - and sweetheart have no fears
But she did not know twas a century plant, that it blooms every 100 years.

Patiently she waited for that plant to bloom
She watered it oh so gently each morning night and noon
Her golden locks have turned to gray and she still can hear me say
So be patient oh my darling and sweetheart have no fears
But she still don't know after thirty five years she has sixty five more to go


26 Sep 09 - 11:24 PM (#2732212)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Century Plant ('Hobo' Jack Turner
From: Joe Offer

This page discusses the song and includes the lyrics Adam posted, but I don't see anything new - are they saying the song was used in a movie?
-Joe-


27 Sep 09 - 12:24 AM (#2732236)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Century Plant ('Hobo' Jack Turner)
From: GUEST,DonMeixner

The flip side of The Century Plant is The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
I have had a copy of the 78 since 1958 at least. The teacher in my third grade class room would let us bring in records to play and I brought in The Century Plant. Mrs. Dorgan thought The Big Rock Candy Mountain was more appropriate so no one ever got to hear my favorite.

Don


09 May 10 - 04:24 PM (#2903262)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Century Plant ('Hobo' Jack Turner)
From: GUEST,H. Miller

I know this thread is a year old but I just ran into it. "The Century Plant" was co-written by my great uncle, Bob Miller. The actual title was " She Waits and Waits". as far as I know it was never released under the Century Plant title. I do have a copy of this 78rpm.
It has been released under a CD:
HOBO JACK TURNER Ernest Hare 20-cut BACM CD 1928-1932
Sorry Adam but you aren't related to Bob Miller