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11 Apr 10 - 05:19 AM (#2884079) Subject: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: Louise Blyton Hi all, My Dad used to sing a little ditty back in the 50s--probably much older--whose chorus went" He's not all there/ There's something missing." Unfortunately there's a lot missing for me, because that's all I recall. Just wondering if anyone remembers anything more? I'd like to place it as it is part of a project I've landed myself with, to recall and trace all the songs my Dad used to sing. This is certainly not one of the better songs in his repetoire, but I'd like to track it down anyway--if poss. Any clues gratefully accepted :) Louise |
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11 Apr 10 - 09:44 AM (#2884199) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: Dave Roberts I can recall, many years ago, someone singing a song called 'Not All There' on the BBC's music hall show 'The Good Old Days' and using that old bit of stage business where the performer has special shoes which fit into clips on the stage so that he can lean over the footlights from his ankles in an unexpected and bizarre fashion, which this chap did every time he sang the line 'Not All There'. The only other thing I can remember is that the pay-off line was something like, 'but I'm not supposed to be all there'. Sorry, this is just a fragment of a memory, but at least it may confirm that the song (if it's the same one) comes from music hall days, which could be a starting point for research. |
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11 Apr 10 - 04:44 PM (#2884386) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: bill\sables I remember my dad singing this in the 50's but I can only remember a few lines I'm not all there There's something missing. I'm not all there, so the folks declare. They call me Looy,Looby nothing but a great big booby They think I'm ??????????????? Let them think let them think I don't care ? ? ? Bill |
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12 Apr 10 - 05:38 AM (#2884676) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: Louise Blyton Hi Dave and Bill Thanks for the further clues! Quite a few of the songs Dad sang (or sometimes just dropped into the conversation as peculiar little soundbytes) were music hall era, so that part fits. And the third person shift might also reflect the way he was using the song quote. Now I think about the further portion of the lyrics you've given me, I might have even heard the song sung on early Aussie TV (The Captain Fortune Show) by a clownish old entertainer called Reg Quartley. Funny how each bit of new info sparks a new recollection! All the best to you both, Louise |
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12 Apr 10 - 06:27 AM (#2884701) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: bill\sables Louise you will find more info at www.weirdwildrealm.com The song was sung by male impersonator Ella Shields in 1930 The title seems to be They call me Looby Looby. Bill |
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12 Apr 10 - 06:36 AM (#2884706) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: bill\sables There is a CD available called Burlington Berty from Bow by Ella Shields CDR12 from Windyridge Music Hall CDs Bill |
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13 Apr 10 - 08:39 PM (#2886011) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: Jim Dixon The song title is I'M NOT ALL THERE. I believe it is mistakenly called I'M NOT THERE AT ALL at the Windyridge web site. It was recorded by Ella Shields. That recording is on a various-artists album called "Masculine Women and Feminine Men" (Pearl CD 7072, 1995). From a sample: But being quite like other folks I found it didn't pay So I simply take no notice when they say: [CHORUS?] I'm not all there There's something missing I'm not all there So the folks declare They call me looby(?).... Chas & Dave also sing it on their album "Double Bubble" (Crimson Productions CD 303, 2005) and on "Chas and Dave's Knees up Jamboree Bag No. 2" (Cleveland International CD 1026, 2001. From a sample: ... There's something missing I'm not all there So folks declare They call me looby, looby Nothing but a great big booby When ... And that's ... I know they think I'm slow. Let 'em think, let 'em think, I don't care Sometimes I run errands for the ... ... they trust me. P'rhaps you think that's strange. But they never call a p'liceman when I say I ... It was written by Harry Carlton, copyright 1924. The National Library of Australia and the British Library both have the sheet music, but it is not viewable online. |
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14 Apr 10 - 07:06 AM (#2886282) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: he's/she's not all there From: bill\sables The more bits we get the more I remember. Sometimes I run errands for the folk at The Grange They trust me with their money p'rhaps you think that is strange But they never call the policeman when I say I've lost the change 'Cos I'm not supposed to be all there |
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14 Apr 10 - 12:10 PM (#2886505) Subject: Lyr Add: I'M NOT ALL THERE (Harry Carlton) From: Louise Blyton Wow, thanks Jim and--once again--thanks Bill! With the new info from you both, I actually found a soundie of Ella Shields singing, or rather declaiming, it for British Pathe in 1937 (http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=36322). I think Dad liked Ella Shields--I do remember him telling me enthusiastically about some famous male impersonator in connection with Burlington Bertie, which might mean he'd seen the soundie of Ella Shields singing Burlington Bertie, so possibly the "Not All There" one of hers as well. The words follow as per the soundie. ATB, Louise I'M NOT ALL THERE I'm the smartest guy round the town People say I'm rocky in the crown Doin' odd jobs don't get folks a fortune in a hurry I've got my own ideas on that so I should worry? Just because I've never been to school I'm looked on as nothing but a fool But being wise like other folks, I found it didn't pay So I simply take no notice when they say.... I'm not all there, there's something missing I'm not all there, so the folks declare They call me looby ... looby ... Nothing but a great big booby Point and say "that's where you want it" Heh, that's just where I've got it! I know they think I'm slow Well let them think, let them think--I don't care! Sometimes I run errands for the folks up at the grange And with a five pound note they trust me--p'raps you think that's strange? But they never send for a policeman when I say "I've lost the change" 'Cos I'm not supposed to be all there (heheheh) All my folks are potty just like me They've retired and live in luxury Acting soft and foolish, they beat all the wise ones hollow So their example is the only thing to follow. Some folks gotta work to earn their dough I earn twice as much and never go That I've been barmy from my birth I'm willing to confess But there's a method in my madness nonetheless.... I'm not all there, there's something missing I'm not all there, so the folks declare (boogie boogie boogie) They call me looby ... looby ... Nothing but a great big booby Point and say "that's where you want it" Heh, that's just where I've got it! I know they think I'm slow Well let them think, let them think--I don't care! Sometimes fellas kissing other fellas' girls are in for it And ten to one there'll be a fight and somebody'll get hit But when I kiss other fellas' girls they never mind a bit 'Cos I'm not supposed to be all there.... All the local bookies say I'm up the chimbley stack If I back a winner they give me more than my whack But if I ever backed a loser they'd give me my money back 'Cos I'm not ... hahahahahahaha! 'Cos I'm not supposed to be all there. |
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03 Jul 10 - 06:38 AM (#2939059) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Not All There (from Ella Shields) From: GUEST,Steph Is this the song that Eric Morecambe used to sing when he was a boy? |
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29 Dec 10 - 03:58 AM (#3063105) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Not All There (from Ella Shields) From: GUEST,Stuart Brown Yes- under his real name Eric Bartholomew. Used to play it on organ at Potter's Holiday Camp backing a Pearly King called Eddie who sang it with "empathy". That was in 1970..... and it was an old song then!!! |
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20 Jul 11 - 07:24 AM (#3191284) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Not All There (from Ella Shields) From: GUEST I'm not all there, there's something missing I'm not all there, the folks declare. They call me loopy, loopy. Nothing but a great big boopy. They point and say that's where you want it. And that's just where I've got it. I know they think I'm slow, but let them think, let them think, I don't care. Now sometimes I go shopping for the folks up at the grange. With a five pound note they trust me, for it's all the same. And they never seem to bother when I say I've lost the change, 'Cos I'm not supposed to be all there. CHORUS Now courting couples in the park every night you'll find. When they see you, they run away 'cos love's not always blind. But they let me stand and watch them and they nec=ver seem to mind, 'Cos I'm not supposed to be all there. |
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08 May 18 - 11:49 AM (#3922968) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Not All There (from Ella Shields) From: GUEST,Laneyb The song was included on a chas n Dave al um I know all the words except for one line... He’s not all there’s something missing He’s not all there so folks declare They call him loopy loopy Nothing but a great big boopy When he’s....????????? I know they think I’m slow Let em think let em think I don’t care Sometimes I run errands for the folks Up at the Grange With a £5 note they trust me Perhaps you think that’s strange But they never call a p’liceman When I say I’ve lost the change Cos I’m not supposed to be all there |
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21 Dec 21 - 05:47 PM (#4129589) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Not All There (from Ella Shields) From: GUEST I've got the music (from just before war started) |