ADD/Origins: The Sheik of Araby

13 Oct 12 - 01:10 AM (#3418972)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

"What are your thought about racial stereotypes in recordings from the 20s and 30s?"

Part of the time. I love The Sheik Of Araby.

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Morwen - combined the "Sheik Of Araby" messages into one thread. Otherwise, it just gets too confusing.
-Joe Offer-

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13 Oct 12 - 01:12 AM (#3418973)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

And you can't get more stereotypical than "At night when you're asleep/Into your tent I'll creep."

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13 Oct 12 - 06:26 PM (#3419371)
Subject: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

I've been searching YouTube for sung versions of the song "The Sheik of Araby." Most of the versions I've listened to which include vocals, leave out the verses and just do the chorus. The only versions I've heard with the verses are done by classically-trained singers. Does anyone have an explanation for this? There seems to be a pattern. Maybe because in the jazz versions there's more of an emphasis on the instrumentation.

(Note: I'm recording the song (several times before posting a public soundfile). With the verses, of course. And I pronounce it like "shake." It's so catchy. What can I say?

Ms. Morwen Edhelwen

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14 Oct 12 - 05:25 AM (#3419523)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Refresh

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14 Oct 12 - 05:50 AM (#3419531)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: Will Fly

Most popular songs up until the 1950s had a fairly traditional verse/chorus structure. The introductory verse might be stated once only and then followed by several choruses of the main tune. In the world of jazz bands - and I played in a 'mainstream' outfit for many years - it was more common to omit the introductory verse completely and just concentrate on the main refrain, whether sung or or not. Most recordings of "The Sheik of Araby" follow this pattern.

One of the few modern-ish singers who tends to dig out these introductory verses and put them into his recordings is Leon Redbone. His version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight", for example, is one of the very few which includes the verse - and the verse is actually important because it sets the scene for the better-known main chorus.

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14 Oct 12 - 06:01 AM (#3419536)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Thanks for that explanation, Will. Personally, I love the verses.

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14 Oct 12 - 06:22 AM (#3419546)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: s&r

Stereotypical of what Morwen? Is it not just another night visiting song?

Stu

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14 Oct 12 - 06:53 AM (#3419560)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Of straight Arab Muslim men?

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14 Oct 12 - 10:44 AM (#3419644)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: GUEST,Hootenanny

Re the lyrics posted above by Gargoyle, in place of those shown in brackets we used to sing "With your boots on kikcking up a dust".

Hoot

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14 Oct 12 - 10:54 AM (#3419647)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MGM·Lion

My late sister-in-law would always sing "Widout no pants on" at those points.

~M~

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14 Oct 12 - 11:05 AM (#3419652)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: Will Fly

And the pop singer Joe Brown used to sing, "Without his boots on". Lots of variations on this one...

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14 Oct 12 - 11:29 AM (#3419659)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: Stringsinger

It should read: "Without no pants on."

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14 Oct 12 - 11:42 AM (#3419667)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MGM·Lion

Who said so, Stringie? It was my sis-in-law who sang it, dashitall, not yours...

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14 Oct 12 - 05:28 PM (#3419823)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: s&r

Lovely bit of trad from Chris Barber. Lyrics trivial and of the time. Try as I might I can't see the implications that worry you.

But I do love Chris Barber

Stu

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14 Oct 12 - 05:30 PM (#3419825)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: s&r

Should have put the link in.

Stu

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14 Oct 12 - 06:08 PM (#3419847)
Subject: RE: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Have you ever had the version with both verses... and nothing inserted in?

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14 Oct 12 - 06:15 PM (#3419851)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

When did people start doing that sort of thing? What was the reason for it? The song already has a sexual element. Why make it more obvious?

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14 Oct 12 - 06:41 PM (#3419865)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: Will Fly

Because it was a joke - a joke that caught on and spread - like folk music spreads and changes in the process. One of the funniest and most ironic versions is by Fats Waller, who managed to take the piss out of tunes yet, at the same time, invest them with great musicality. Have a listen to his version - after which no-one could take the song seriously. It's a bit of 1920s rubbish - but great fun to play.

And it's not really a sexual element - it's just a silly phrase which actually parodies the song.

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14 Oct 12 - 07:50 PM (#3419912)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHEIK OF ARABY (Smith,Wheeler,Snyder)
From: Jim Dixon

From the sheet music at UCLA:


THE SHEIK OF ARABY
(Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler, Ted Snyder)

1. Over the desert wild and free
Rides the bold Sheik of Araby.
His Arab band
At his command
Follows his love's caravan.
Under the shadow of the palms,
He sings to call her to his arms:

CHORUS:
"I'm the Sheik of Araby.
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep,
Into your tent I'll creep.
The stars that shine above
Will light our way to love.
You'll rule this land with me,
The Sheik of Araby."

2. While stars are fading in the dawn,
Over the desert they'll be gone.
His captured bride
Close by his side,
Swift as the wind they will ride.
Proudly he scorns her smile or tear.
Soon he will conquer love by fear.


Words by Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler, music by Ted Snyder
New York: Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co., ©1921.

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14 Oct 12 - 08:06 PM (#3419918)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Not exclusively male. The verses are written in third-person, which is common in songs, even traditional ones.

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14 Oct 12 - 11:43 PM (#3419986)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

I meant the verses not the chorus.
How do you guess I'm not 19? I was born in 1993.

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14 Oct 12 - 11:45 PM (#3419987)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

And it's 2012 now.

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15 Oct 12 - 12:01 AM (#3419991)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: Joe Offer

GutBucketeer posted a jug band version in this message:

From the Jug Band Rag

THE SHEIK OF ARABY
Smith, Snyder & Wheeler, from TIN PAN ALLEY (1940)
on Kweskin: GARDEN OF JOY, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS...

[NOTE:  The italicized lyrics are sung in the background by a second voice.  On Garden of Joy, Kweskin sang the lead and Maria Muldaur was the second voice.]

I'm the Sheik of Araby.
He's the Sheik of Araby, A very talented fella.
Your love belongs to me.
He plays piano in any key. You should hear him with the Dardenella.
At night while you're asleep,
His crescendo is tremendo. What a tune he can blow on a jug.
Into your tent I'll creep.
His obbligato is sweet and hot-o. Oh my, he even does the bunny hug.
Oh, the stars that shine above
He knows the latest ragtime songs. He plays Sheherezad-ee.
Will light our way to love.
And that is why my heart belongs, My heart belongs to Baghdad Daddy.
You'll rule this land with me,
Vo doedly-o doe, Vo doedly-o dee.
'Cause I'm the Sheik of Araby!
Sheik of Araby!

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15 Oct 12 - 12:07 AM (#3419992)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

These are the verses:

Over the desert wild and free,
Rides the bold Sheik of Araby,
His Arab band at his command,
Follow his love's caravan.

Under the shadow of the palms,
He sings to call her to his arms.

When stars are fading in the dawn,
Over the desert they'll be gone.
His captured bride close by his side,
Swift as the wind they will ride.

Proudly he scorns her smile or tear,
Soon he will conquer love by fear

"He," 'his", 'They'll", yup definitely in third-person these verses. Now if the whole song were like the chorus you'd have a point. But do you see what I mean?
The verses are sung by a third-person narrator who describes what the Sheik is saying/doing. The perspective shifts to the Sheik in the chorus.

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15 Oct 12 - 12:09 AM (#3419993)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Something makes me think Gargoyle doesn't really read my posts...

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15 Oct 12 - 12:24 AM (#3419998)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MGM·Lion

Up to a point I share Morwen's exasperation at what has happened to this perfectly inoffensive and quite catchy and attractive song. I would cite, mutatis mutandis, the fate of Pleasant & Delightful, which has been ruined by the Spinners' silly popping SFX and gestures. I once made this point on a thread expecting to be shot down for lack of SOH but was surprised by the support I got. The similarity lies in the often baleful effect of parody, catching on to the extent of making a perfectly acceptable song no longer listenable to. "While Shepherds Watched" another frinstance. I am sure my point will be understood.

~M~

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15 Oct 12 - 12:29 AM (#3419999)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

MtheGM: It's like the Pants Game, where you take a quote and replace a word or two with "pants." Or the variation where you take a quote and add "in bed" to it. If those jokes are repeated too often, they aren't funny any more.

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15 Oct 12 - 12:47 AM (#3420002)
Subject: RE: The Sheik Of Araby-- verses left out?
From: Joe Offer

Yeah, but gargoyle.....is gargoyle. He could be worse - he could be Spaw.
[grin]
-Joe-

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15 Oct 12 - 01:48 AM (#3420011)
Subject: ADD: The Sheik Of Araby (Spike Jones version)
From: Joe Offer

You'll find a Spike Jones recording on YouTube.
And here's a more typical Spike Jones recording of the song: (click).

THE SHEIK OF ARABY
Songwriters: SMITH, HARRY / WHEELER, FRANCIS / SNYDER, TED

I'm the Sheik of Araby,
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
And the stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll roam this land with me,
I'm the Sheik of Araby.
Oh, I'm the Sheik of Araby
And all the women worship me.
You should see them follow me around. Not bad.
Even wives of all the other sheiks,
They beg to kiss my rosy cheeks
And that ain't bad -- in fact, that's good, I've found. I'm a cad!
When I lay down to sleep
I'm counting girls instead of sheep
From my harem I can't scare 'em out. Why should I?
They're beauties from all races,
And some have pretty faces.
I'm the Sheik who knows what love is all about.

Source: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/spike+jones/sheik+of+araby_20213255.html

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I saw a number of sheiks when I visited Egypt in May. They wore clothing that was stereotypically Arab, with white headresses and robes that looked quite different from the traditional Egyptian turbans and galabiyas. Usually, you'd see sheiks in fancy restaurants, enjoying pleasures they might not be able to get in Arabia. No question about it - they looked like they had lots of money, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the pleasures they enjoyed were female. I think perhaps the stereotype has some truth to it - although perhaps not quite as stereotypical as Rudolph Valentino.

Arabs in thawbs
Egyptian galabiya (facebook)

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15 Oct 12 - 03:16 AM (#3420033)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: johncharles

Gargoyle talks good sense about the perils of the internet.
john

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15 Oct 12 - 03:54 AM (#3420044)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Just logged in to respond to Joe's comment: The sheik is especially popular in romance novels because he's the closest thing to a prince. He's rich and aristocratic and powerful, and the princess fantasy of the stereotypical knight on the white horse is why the Disneyfied fairy tales are popular.

And there are two ideas of a sheik. One is the horseman, the wild "barbaric" raider living in a tent, and the other one is the rich guy with a palace who often has ultiple wives.

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15 Oct 12 - 03:55 AM (#3420045)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

*multiple*

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15 Oct 12 - 04:15 AM (#3420051)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: MGM·Lion

Oh, don't spoil it, Morwen. I am sure that an ultiple wife would be a very interesting thing to have... Half of the ultimate couple, perhaps?

~M~

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15 Oct 12 - 06:10 AM (#3420087)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: bubblyrat

Royal Navy version , as follows ;

I'm the Sheikh of the lavatory ;

   All your pennies belong to me.

You drop one in the slot,

And then you drop your lot .

   I'm the man who polishes the brass ,

   Supplies the paper to wipe your arse,

   And if you want a wee-wee-wee ,

   I'm the Sheikh of the lavatory.

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15 Oct 12 - 06:15 AM (#3420089)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: Will Fly

LOL Roger!

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15 Oct 12 - 10:01 AM (#3420182)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: bubblyrat

Thanks , Mike ! Glad you like it !

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15 Oct 12 - 11:31 AM (#3420237)
Subject: RE: ADD/Origins: The Sheik Of Araby
From: MGM·Lion

Which Mike? It was Will who liked it.

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