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20 Dec 09 - 12:18 AM (#2792560) Subject: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Ross Campbell Anybody have any info about this song? Ken Kershaw sang it at the Moorbrook (Preston, Lancs) session on Friday night last, but I neglected to get any more details from him, and it may be some time before our visits there coincide again. The song went to the tune (more or less) of The Volga Boatmen, first verse went like this:- We are from Omsk We make best bombs Best bombs come from Omsk Omsk bombs are best bombs (not sure if there should be two more lines here? Possibly Omsk bombs are best bombs Best bombs come from Omsk) We make best bombs We are from Omsk The song continued in similar vein for:- Murmansk (best tanks) Muscovites (best Satellites) Irkutsk (best haircuts) Vladivostok (best bloody ballcocks) and probably a couple of other cities I've forgotten. Any info (author? date ['60s?] further cities?) appreciated. Ross |
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20 Dec 09 - 02:28 AM (#2792587) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Jon Bartlett Slightly different: We are from Omsk We make the best best bombsk Omsk bombsk are the very best bombsk The very best bomsk are Omsk bomsk. Also Leningrad (dates the song, doesn't it?) = best men-in-bed Vladivostok = woolly bed-socks Gdansk = tanks (I know, it's Poland) A fuller set is in the VMM [Vancouver Morris Men] Songbook which is not here right now, so I can't quote it. Jon Bartlett |
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20 Dec 09 - 03:53 AM (#2792597) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: My guru always said Yes Jon, yours is the way I know it, especially 'woolly bed-socks', though I've heard Murmansk. Haven't heard the 'men-in-bed' verse though *grin* Hil |
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20 Dec 09 - 03:58 AM (#2792598) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: My guru always said Acually, now you've been kind enough to put this ear-worm in my head, the way I've heard it sung is: We are from Omsk, we make the best bombs All the best bombs are coming from Omsk In Omsk we make the best bombs The very best bombs are Omsk bombs All the very best bombs are coming from Omsk I'm sure there are loads of versions, but now I can't stop humming it *grin* |
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20 Dec 09 - 04:46 AM (#2792618) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Kevin Sheils It was certainly being sung by someone at the Cellar CSH when I started to go there in Jack and Margaret King's days, mid 60's so dates before then. The person who sang it then may have been the "author" but my grey matter can't dig out a name/gender. |
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20 Dec 09 - 07:11 AM (#2792655) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Ross Campbell Guru - that seems to work with the way the tune goes in my head - and ear-worm is very apt! Jon - "Vladivostok....best wooly bedsocks" may indeed be what Ken sang - the "ballcocks" rhyme may have been suggested by the two hours I spent in the loft last night trying to trace a leak from the cold-water tank. I think I've seen a reference to the Vancouver Morris Men Song Book before, but Google comes up with nothing - except an ad in the sidebar for "IncomesI", site for modern mummer's plays from the pen of - Jon Bartlett! Small world. Thanks, all. Ross |
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20 Dec 09 - 08:54 AM (#2792702) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Herga Kitty Elizabeth Rimmington sings this, and I think she learnt it from Capella... (Tony and Lesley). Kitty |
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20 Dec 09 - 01:06 PM (#2792887) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Girl Friday This song was written for Orpington Friday Folk's Children In Need Night some years ago, if not written for it, I am sure it was its firs outing. The song was written by one Tony Smith, late of Kick The Cat. Kick The Cat performed as Catapella, with tony and Lesley. Tony left South London for Manchester, which is why the song has surfaced in Lancashire. Here's another bit: We are from Yrkutz, we give best haircuts Best haircuts are coming from Yrkutz. We are Muscovites, we make the best satelites etc. etc. Not sure of spelling there, but you get the picture. |
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21 Dec 09 - 02:38 AM (#2793357) Subject: Lyr Add: WE ARE FROM OMSK From: GUEST WE ARE FROM OMSK We are from Omsk We make bombsk All the best bombsk are made in Omsk Omsk bombsk are best bombsk The best bombsk are Omsk bombsk We are from Omsk and we make bombsk. We are from Mansk We make tanks All the best tanks are made in Mansk Mansk tanks are best tanks The best tanks are Mansk tanks We are from Mansk and we make tanks. We are Muscovites We make satellites All the best satellites are made by Muscovites Muscovites satellites are best satellites The best satellites are Muscovites satellites We are Muscovites and we make satellites. We are from Vladivostok We make woolly bedsocks All the best woolly bedsocks are made in Vladivostok Vladivostok woolly bedsocks are best woolly bedsocks The best woolly bedsocks are Vladivostok woolly bedsocks We are from Vladivostok and we make woolly bedsocks. We are from Hankow We write thoughts of Mao All the best thoughts of Mao are written in Hankow Hankow thoughts of Mao are the best thoughts of Mao The best thoughts of Mao are Hankow thoughts of Mao We are from Hankow and we write thoughts of Mao. We are from Kiev And we are radioactive. from http://silverghost.dyndns.org/wwsongs/we_are_from_omsk.htm |
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21 Dec 09 - 03:50 AM (#2793379) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: GUEST,Alison Scott The person who believes this was new for 'Children in Need' a few years ago -- why do you think this? Various people have told me that particular people wrote it, but with no supporting data. I learnt it from Phil Allcock sometime between 1986 and 1988, and have been trying to track down its origin ever since. Phil had no idea and had learnt it in the oral tradition; he tacked on the title "On the Specialisation of Industrial Sites in the Glorious Soviet Union". I sang it to my mother who said she knew it from the sixties, but with no more information -- of course she could have been mistaken. |
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21 Dec 09 - 03:53 AM (#2793380) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: GUEST,Alison Scott But having read the thread more closely I see that Kevin also remembers it from CSH in the 60s. |
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21 Dec 09 - 09:03 AM (#2793500) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Girl Friday I stand corrected. The style is so typical of Kick The Cat, I thought it was theirs. |
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22 Dec 09 - 03:43 AM (#2794090) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Kevin Sheils There was a phase for "Russian" songs at the time in CSH IIRC. One I recall had the lines Sonya Sonya the law is at the door (repeated twice) Prussic Acid's in the wine! And someone, possibly the Omsk song singer, use to introduce a song claiming it was called "The Russsian Steppes are cold and bare, they have no escalators". Possible performers/writers of such items from names in my memory at that time include Curly Goss and a couple who sang at the Cellar called (I think) Zelda and Plonk! I wouldn't exclude Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan from involvement either. |
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22 Dec 09 - 08:58 PM (#2794721) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We are from Omsk; We make best bombs From: Ross Campbell Thanks, all, for contributions and memories. Ross |
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19 Jan 10 - 06:07 PM (#2816298) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,Shard I heard it sung in the Youth Hostels in Scotland in the mid to late 1950s, or possibly early 1960s. The singers were generally English - not making a point about that other than I don't think it was known in Scotland. One of of the verses, as I remember, had a line about now being the Commissar or Omsk, or, possibly, Tomsk, and therefore no longer in the business of making bombsk. |
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19 Jan 10 - 06:47 PM (#2816323) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Joe_F I heard (long ago) Me 'n' my brother Tomsk Used to live in Omsk. We spend our time making nuclear bombsk. |
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06 Jan 11 - 04:55 PM (#3068765) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST "Sonya, Sonya, the law is at the door (repeat X3, third repeat with obbligato on last word)/Prussic acid's in the wine (Hey!)" was the chorus to the, "When were were back in our homesk, we went to school at Omsk....etc" song. I can confirm that Martin and Redd were certainly guilty of producing this 'can't get it out of my head' song. The lovely Zeldy, she being the cousin of a school chum of mine and who later became a white witch who taught that subject at evening classes, was an innocent bystander and sitting in the audience with me. |
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20 Jan 13 - 12:53 PM (#3469025) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Janet Elizabeth This has been interesting to read. The version I sing is below. Chief characteristics are that the second line repeats the name of the town, Murmask in the town for Tanksk (note the extra k) Vee are from Omsk In Omsk vee make Bombsk All ze best bomsk are commink from Omsk In Omsk vee make ze best bombsk Ze best bombsk are Omsk Bombsk Over all the vorreld, ze very best bombsk are Omsk Bomsk. Murmansk - Tanksk (are)) Moscovites , Mocsovites make Satellites Irkutsk - 'aircuts Vladivostock - voolley bedsocks. Ibelieve it was written by Dom Benedict in the 60's to highlight the absurdity of the fear that fuelled the Cold War. |
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20 Jan 13 - 01:24 PM (#3469042) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Valmai Goodyear Thanks for singing this at the All-Day Sussex Singaround yesterday - it always floors me. Your delivery with the Cossack folded arms and deadly serious expression is a treat. Valmai (Lewes) |
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21 Jan 13 - 10:05 AM (#3469450) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Tattie Bogle Yes, it's a Middle Bar (Sidmouth) favourite from Janet Elizabeth. There were so many serious songs written about bombsk in the 50s and 60s, I can see that some light relief might have been necessary! |
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17 Apr 14 - 11:42 PM (#3619936) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,triphazard Don't think they Tony Smith did write it, also you forgot to mention the other half of Kick the Cat my dad John, I will ask him for info on this and post it |
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17 Apr 14 - 11:58 PM (#3619940) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,Jon Bartlett Kevin Shiels notes "And someone, possibly the Omsk song singer, use to introduce a song claiming it was called "The Russian Steppes are cold and bare, they have no escalators" This is a line from Vera Johnson's "The Minsk from Pinsk", and probably on one of her LPs (either "Bald Eagle" or "That's What I Believe". Jon Bartlett |
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18 Apr 14 - 08:51 AM (#3620001) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,SqueezeMe Definitely on Vera's Bald Eagle LP, Jon. What a brilliant songwriter and entertainer she was. Don't think the OP's song was hers though.... |
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18 Apr 14 - 09:08 AM (#3620012) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Jim Carroll I knew it as: When Serge and I were young We used to live in Omsk, And there we spent our time Making great big beautiful bomsk. Then Serge and I grew up And went to live in Tomsk And there we spent more time Making great big beautiful bomsk. Then Serge and I were caught And exiled to Murmansk And there we spent our time Making revolutionary plansk But we shall not forget Our revolutionary plotsk And we shall not forget Our exiled Comrade Trotskeeeeeee. (tune The Volga Boatmen) Used to have half a dozen of these at one time Jim Carroll |
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18 Apr 14 - 03:49 PM (#3620136) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Charmion Volga Boatmen doesn't fit at all, Jim. A Life on the Ocean Wave does, however. |
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28 Apr 14 - 11:55 AM (#3622750) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Herga Kitty Janet Elizabeth's version definitely goes to the tune of the Volga Boatmen! Kitty |
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28 Apr 14 - 12:08 PM (#3622755) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Jim Carroll "Volga Boatmen doesn't fit at all, Jim." Charmion The tune I know to V.B. does; the one that begins , "Yo, heave ho"... Do I have that wrong? What I forgot to add was that each verse ends V1 ...... great big beautiful bomb -ski, ski Repeat line.... ski, Ski. Etc Jim Carroll |
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28 Apr 14 - 05:47 PM (#3622806) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST Another verse to Jim's version was: We were sent to jail; But when we were set free, We used our beautiful bomsk To blast the bourgeoisie. |
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29 Apr 14 - 02:53 AM (#3622858) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Jim Carroll Thanks for that Guest - every little helps. Does anybody remember any of these songs made to the tune, 'The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo'? I have a number of disconnected verses, but have never been able to disentangle them ie As I walk around the Kremlin with an independent air, You can hear them all declare, "He's at least a Commissar". Oh the things they'd do if they only knew Of the wicked things I plan to do. I'm the man who does the dirty work Trotsky. Jim Carroll |
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29 Apr 14 - 08:04 PM (#3622982) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST http://silverghost.dyndns.org/wwsongs/we_are_from_omsk.htm |
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30 Apr 14 - 07:50 AM (#3623094) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,leeneia "...written by Dom Benedict in the 60's to highlight the absurdity of the fear that fuelled the Cold War" When you really think about it, there's nothing funny about bombs. |
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26 Jul 16 - 06:35 AM (#3802075) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,mo cohen i definitely heard redd and martin sing sonya in the troubador in the mid 60's |
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26 Jul 16 - 09:07 AM (#3802095) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Mrrzy I am reminded of "and the copskies all know Dad" |
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29 Jun 21 - 07:37 AM (#4111796) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GUEST,Ormonde Waters I remember Jamie Stewart from Glasgow used to sing this at the Bunbury Folk Club in the 70s. His version was: We are from Omsk and we make bombsk Omsk bombsk is the best bombsk Best bombsk comes from Omsk Then “We are Muscovites and we take delights...” Then “we are from Vladivostok/we make warm woolly bed socks...” Tune was the Volga Boatmen |
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08 Nov 21 - 07:48 PM (#4125594) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: Joe Offer Joe - do cleanup |
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09 Nov 21 - 05:07 PM (#4125663) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: We Are from Omsk (We make best bombsk) From: GerryM Utterly unrelated, but I am reminded of a chunk of Tom Lehrer's Lobachevsky: I have a friend in Minsk, Who has a friend in Pinsk, Whose friend in Omsk Has friend in Tomsk With friend in Akmolinsk. His friend in Alexandrovsk Has friend in Petropavlovsk, Whose friend somehow Is solving now The problem in Dnepropetrovsk. And when his work is done ––– Haha! ––– begins the fun: From Dnepropetrovsk to Petropavlovsk, By way of Iliysk and Novorossiysk, To Alexandrovsk to Akmolinsk To Tomsk to Omsk to Pinsk to Minsk To me the news will run.... |