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14 May 01 - 04:11 AM (#461804) Subject: Don't fence me in From: karen jonason I would like the lyrics of a version of "Don't fence me in" which pre-dated the one sung by Bing Crosby. From what I have heard, the sentiments were similar to "This land is my land". Anyone know what I mean? |
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14 May 01 - 04:20 AM (#461810) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: SeanM PRE dating the Bing version? Haven't heard about that. The only one that pre-dates it that I'm aware of would be the original version that I believe Roy Rogers used. Actually, I'm blanking right now... I don't think it was Rogers, but it's definitely one of the Singing Cowboys. Now I'd say it's entirely possible that the song has been rewritten for the purposes you name. The original is fairly anti-development if you care to take it that way to begin with... M |
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14 May 01 - 06:16 AM (#461831) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: Gary T Hmmm. Yes, Roy Rogers sang it in a movie. I have seen an old piece of sheet music with no indication of a verse as described above. There is a verse about the singer's girlfriend wanting to marry him, his reply being "Don't fence me in." |
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14 May 01 - 07:42 AM (#461861) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: Dahlin Gene Autry recorded "Don't Fence Me In". |
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14 May 01 - 08:31 AM (#461883) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: karen jonason It's possible my original informant about the song was wrong. Maybe the version I am seeking is post-Bing Crosby. Any versions with political meaning would be welcome (I already have the Seattle one) |
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14 May 01 - 08:36 AM (#461887) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: Gary T Apparently Roy Rogers sang it in two movies, "Hollywood Canteen" and "Don't Fence Me In." Details here. Gene Autry had the chart hit. Bing Crosby recorded it with the Andrews Sisters (also in "Hollywood Canteen"). I've seen a tape of Bing singing it solo on a TV show, but I don't know if he released a solo recording. The above link refers to a poem written by Robert Fletcher as the source for the song's lyrics. I haven't found the actual poem yet to see if it might have the verse karen asked about. |
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14 May 01 - 08:39 AM (#461891) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: Gary T karen, go to www.google.com and type in "don't fence me in." You'll get thousands of hits (including anything with just the word "don't," just the word "fence," etc.) and might find what you're looking for. |
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14 May 01 - 08:39 AM (#461893) Subject: ADD: Don't fence me in From: Allan C. Dinah Shore and hundreds of others recorded it as well. Although Bing and the Andrews Sisters had the main hit in 1944, I didn't hear it until years later when I heard it done by Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers. But perhaps it should be pointed out to those who aren't familiar with the song that this is not a trad song. It was written by (are you ready?) Cole Porter.
DON'T FENCE ME IN
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences In the Roy Rogers version, (which I believe was closer to the original text,) the intro lines were:
Wildcat Kelly was lookin' mighty pale Oh give me land, lots of land...etc. |
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14 May 01 - 09:28 AM (#461920) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: GUEST,Gary T (lost my cookie--Netscape actin weird The sources I found gave Robert Fletcher at least partial credit for the words. I think it's questionable whether Cole Porter actually wrote any of the lyrics, although it seems he did write the tune. The second verse I mentioned above is actually a second intro, all the lyrics that follow it are a repeat of the above. The whole thing can be found here. |
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14 May 01 - 01:58 PM (#462087) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: DougR THREAD CREEP TRIVIA! I attended a rodeo in Dublin, Texas with my dad and a couple of friends in the mid-forties. The stock for the rodeo was owned by Gene Autry and Everett Colburn, who owned a ranch near Dublin. Gene Autry was the featured performer with the Cass County Boys. He announced that he was going to sing a song and dedicate it to TOJO, Japan's military leader during WW II. He was dressed in his Warrant Officer's uniform, as he sang "Don't Fence Me In." The crowd loved it. DougR |
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14 May 01 - 04:48 PM (#462240) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: GUEST,Les B. Allan C., et al: Cole Porter didn't write "Don't Fence Me In," he just knew a good song when he heard it and paid a rather naive Bob Fletcher a paltry sum for the song !! Fletcher worked for the Montana Department of Highways, here in Helena, for several years. He's the one who's famous for writing the verbally colorful 'roadside history' plaques that dotted Montana highways for many years. (Until they were mostly removed in the 1980's because they were not all "politically correct" in reference to American Indians.) When I worked at the MT Dept. of Highways about 16 years ago, I found several references to Fletcher's career, including his writing of "Don't Fence Me In" in old files. He apparently sold the song to Porter (I believe in the 1930's) and since Porter "owned" it, he took credit for it. Later, after the song became a hit, Fletcher sought legal advice, and, after some negotiation with Porter's lawyers, he was co-credited with Porter as the song's creator. The Montana Arts Council used to have an old, poor quality, home recorded tape of Fletcher performing an early version of the song, accompanied by an organ ! It certainly doesn't have the Pizazz that later versions do, but it was recognizable as "Don't Fence Me In" ! So it is Cole Porter via Bob Fletcher ! |
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14 May 01 - 05:34 PM (#462280) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: SeanM I've always been partial to the version David Byrne did for the 'Red Hot + Blue' benefit album... But that gets us away from the original question. Anyone have the 'political' version around that was asked for? Barring that, anyone willing to write one? M |
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15 May 01 - 02:40 AM (#462556) Subject: ADD: Don't fence me in (Porter & Fletcher) From: Joe Offer Well, I dunno. sounds like Fletcher made a significant contribution to the lyrics, but the finished product seems to be Porter's work. I'm repeating part of what Allan posted above, so the whole song is in proper order. -Joe Offer- (from The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter, Robert Kimball, 1983) "Don't Fence Me In" (Cole Porter & Bob Fletcher) Published October 1944. After the triumphant launching of Anything Goes at the Colonial Theatre in Boston on November 5, 1934, Porter signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox to provide songs for a film tentatively titled Adios, Argentina. The plot concerned the decision of an orphan girl who had inherited a big cattle spread in Texas to ship her four polo-playing cowboy tutors East to challenge the winner of a polo match between teams from the United States and Argentina. At one point the cowhands, unable to find anyone to accept their challenge, were supposed to burst into song to express their loneliness for the life back on the ranch. Hired presumably for his exceptional talent at writing songs with a distinct Latin flavor, Porter was also expected to write the cowboy song required by producer Lou Brock for this nostalgic moment in the film. A month earlier Brock had received a book of verse from his friend Bob Fletcher, then employed in Helena, Montana, as Plans and Traffic Engineer for the Montana State Highway Department. In response, Brock wrote of the fancy he had taken to having a song entitled "Don't Fence Me In" in Adios, Argentina and added, "If I use this, will probably have you write or collaborate on the lyrics for the tune, in which event I would want the chorus to start with the words `Don't Fence Me In.'" Fletcher promptly wrote a song. On November 3, Brock wired Fletcher asking him to send a copy of the song care of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, where Brock was staying in his ultimately successful quest to persuade Porter to write the score for the film. Porter signed with Fox on November 14. One week later, Brock asked Fletcher to send a copy of his song to Porter, whom he described as "one of our very best composers, who is rated as high as anyone on Broadway at the present time. Unlike most of the others, he also writes his own lyrics and does not as a rule have anyone collaborating with him. However, he was very much interested in your stuff, and what kind of a deal I can work out with him I do not know as these are matters to press somewhat delicately with a man of his standing." On November 24, Fletcher sent Porter the lyrics and music for the refrain of "Don't Fence Me In" and some lyrics for a verse. On December 1, Brock wired Fletcher that "Cole Porter wants to buy right to use title and some characteristic words and phrases from your lyrics. Suggest you quote him price two hundred fifty dollars outright. Account Porter's reputation for always doing his own lyrics, believe impractical for him to give you credit. In any event, please wire him your proposition direct immediately and write me what you have done." Fletcher complied with Brock's request, and Porter accepted the offer, perhaps for the simple reason that his producer had asked him to do so. Whether Porter was unable to write a satisfactory cowboy song is impossible to know. The primary center of musical-comedy production, however, had shifted from Broadway to Hollywood and the opportunities and money were incomparably greater at the Hollywood sound studios. Porter was hopeful that, should he prove to be a "cooperative" creator, the initial assignment from Fox would lead to more exciting and more lucrative offers from the film capital in the future. The agreement, dated December 11 and signed by both Porter and Fletcher, gave Porter all of Fletcher's rights to the title and lyrics of "Don't Fence Me In" for the sum of $250. The agreement did not apply to Fletcher's music, which Porter did not use in any way. Porter also promised Fletcher that he would do all in his power to see that Fletcher received recognition for the material he sold to Porter. On January 7, 1935, Porter, acknowledging Fletcher's Christmas gift of a book of his verse, sent Fletcher a copy of "Don't Fence Me In." Advising Fletcher "to keep it carefully under your hat as the music will not be released until next autumn," Porter also wrote, "I have given you credit under the title. Hope you will be pleased with it. Certainly, I am very grateful to you." A week earlier Porter had gone to the Brunswick studios, where, with the assistance of baritone Edward Nell, pianist Victor Piemonte, and the Anything Goes Foursome Quartet, he had participated as a pianist in recording a complete set of demonstration discs of the six songs he had written for the film: "Adios, Argentina," "The Chinpah," "Don't Fence Me In," "If You Could Love Me," "The Side Car," and "Singing in the Saddle." The records were sent to Lou Brock at the Fox studio in Hollywood, but the picture was never filmed and the score went into the trunk. Ten years later, "Don't Fence Me In" was pulled off the shelves of Harms, Inc., then owned by Warner Brothers, and used in Hollywood Canteen, where it was sung by Roy Rogers. A best-selling record by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters sent it to the top of the Hit Parade. The song, then published, sold over one million copies and a like number of records. The published version did not acknowledge Bob Fletcher. Porter later stated that this was an "oversight" committed without his knowledge, as he was in the hospital at the time. A story in the January 22, 1945, issue of Newsweek implied that Fletcher's contribution ("nothing but the title and a couple of words remained at the finish") was minor indeed. This impression has been reiterated by virtually every Porter biographer and almost every article that has appeared about the song. The story was further confused by the rash statements of Fletcher's friends. One of them, a Montana newspaper publisher, printed an editorial accusing Porter of stealing Fletcher's song. Walter Winchell picked up the item, and his version led to people calling Fletcher an "antediluvian cowboy" trying to cash in on Porter's good fortune. Fletcher, of course, had sold the song to Porter outright and had no further claim to it. Nevertheless, Fletcher was quite justified in his disappointment over not receiving credit in the published copies of the song. Porter later made amends for the oversight of his publishers by signing over a portion of the royalties on the song to Fletcher even though he didn't have to. Still at issue after thirty-five years is the extent of Fletcher's contribution to Porter's lyric. That question can now be answered. Here is Fletcher's original lyric for the refrain of "Don't Fence Me In": [Fletcher's title not shown] And here is Cole Porters' lyric. DON'T FENCE ME IN
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15 May 01 - 04:04 AM (#462578) Subject: Lyr Add: THE WTO SONG (DON'T FENCE ME IN - PARODY) From: karen jonason The Seattle version is as follows, called THE WTO SONG. The second verse was written by my choir leader to make it relevant to the UK: Oh give me land lots of land lots of cash and lots of power Don't fence me in Don't you say I can't pay workers 20 cents an hour Don't fence me in I think it's cute to pollute and so if your nation Bans my toxic product without compensation I can turn and sue you for expropriation Don't fence me in Just turn me loose don't you question an investments that I make in any land Don't introduce any laws I have to follow but the laws they call supply and demand The world's a big casino and I want to play so Leave me here to speculate because I say so I don't care if it crashes like the peso Don't fence me in Oh give me GATS becasue that's what I need for full control Don't fence me in I'll be made if I can trade all the services you've sold Don't fence me in I want your trains and your drains and privatisation Of health care, of prisons and of education It's all in the cause of globalisation Don't fence me in Double you tee oh, these 3 letters spell unfettered trade and ought to be your pride When folks say no to your decisions your can tell them that it really isn't there's to decide So hand me command just the way I've stated I can make your job a lot less complicated Don't you think democracy is overrated Don't fence me in |
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15 May 01 - 04:50 PM (#463051) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: DougR Interesting, Joe, thanks for posting the whole story. DougR |
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16 May 01 - 03:40 AM (#463535) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Fascinating. It may not be folk but it's the Mudcat at its best. RtS |
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26 Jul 01 - 09:12 AM (#514833) Subject: RE: Words for '...Don't fence me in' please From: Alice The song was actually first written by a man in Montana, and tweaked by Cole Porter, who reaped the fame and fortune for it. |
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30 Jul 01 - 10:24 PM (#518098) Subject: RE: Words for '...Don't fence me in' please From: Alice If you search the internet for "Bob Fletcher" or "Robert H. Fletcher", you will find several music sites or Cole Porter sites that note Bob Fletcher's poem being the basis of the song Don't Fence Me In. As my mother related the story to me, a man she referred to as a "song buyer" came through the Roundup, Montana area, and bought the rights to the poem from Bob Fletcher for $20. I have no other confirmation of the amount paid or how the deal was done, just my mom's memory of it. I recently saw an article in a local paper regarding a highway roadside marker with the poem, commemorating the author, Bob Fletcher. I have been looking through old issues of the paper to find it... I should have clipped it out. I think it included the original version that Fletcher wrote. I contacted the paper, but they don't recall writing it locally - may have been something they picked up on the news wire of local interest. If I find it, I'll add it here. Alice in Montana |
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06 Nov 01 - 07:09 AM (#586604) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: don't fence me in From: masato sakurai I heard Roy Rogers sing this song in a movie clip in a video (possibly America's Music: the Roots of Country). By the way, there's a parody on this song (quoted from HERE):
"If you're a Bing Crosby (or Roy Rogers) fan, or a student of 1940's popular music, you might be familiar with the song "Don't Fence Me In." It's a catchy Cole Porter tune with some pretty corny lyrics. Supposing (tongue in cheek) you wanted to update these lyrics for the new millenium, the subject of intranet webs might be just the place to start:
"Oh, give me links, lots of links under banner ads above, ~Masato
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06 Nov 01 - 09:41 AM (#586675) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: don't fence me in From: Gary T This song was based on a poem/song by (I forget the name, but an internet search will turn it up (click)), with whom Cole Porter was willing to share the songwriting credit. Porter did rework it significantly. His record company nixed the idea, giving rise in later years to the notion that Porter stole the song. |
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06 Nov 01 - 10:22 PM (#587149) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: don't fence me in From: DougR I saw Gene Autry sing this song at the Dublin, Texas, rodeo in about 1944 (just a guess). He was a Warrant Officer in the Airforce at the time. He and Everett Colburn owned a ranch outside of Dublin that supplied rodeo stock to other rodeos. I got him to autograph his picture in uniform in the program, and he began by dedicating the song to Tojo. The Cass County Boys accompanied him. This song was recorded by a lot of recording artists. DougR |
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17 Nov 07 - 11:34 AM (#2195998) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: GUEST,Sheila Near the end of this song comes "Can't look at hobbles..." but so often I see "hovels". Is this just auditory error? "Hobbles" certainly makes more sense in the context. Thanks for input. |
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17 Nov 07 - 12:08 PM (#2196029) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca It's hobbles. The other is a good example of a mondegreen |
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17 Nov 07 - 12:21 PM (#2196045) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: van lingle Ella Fitzgerald clearly uses hobbles in her version. |
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17 Nov 07 - 03:17 PM (#2196144) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: harpmolly All I know is, it's WAY too much fun to play on the ukulele (& sing of course!) :D Molly |
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17 Nov 07 - 04:14 PM (#2196182) Subject: RE: Don't fence me in From: John on the Sunset Coast It's 'hobbles' as in hobbling a horse to keep it from wandering...or putting leg irons on a prisoner. At least that's the way I heerd it way out yonder. |
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18 Apr 09 - 08:25 PM (#2614145) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: Alice I had heard the story of Fletcher's poem for Don't Fence Me In ever since I was a child. A lot of people in Montana knew his contribution to the song. I have an interesting story about this. Larry King's radio show used to be on a daytime radio station that I listened to here in Montana. One day Arlo Guthrie was his guest, and they started the interview with Arlo singing "Don't Fence Me In". I called in to talk about it and as soon as I began talking about Fletcher and the lyrics, they cut me off and both King and Guthrie ridiculed me on the air for being such a crackpot. Now I can't think of that song without remembering that experience. Funny, but the manager of the airport was a friend of mine, and he said, Gee, I heard you on the radio today... they were very rude to you! Genie even referred to Fletcher not getting credit for his contribution to Don't Fence Me In in the thread we had on the composer of Isle Of Innisfree, considering there are so many people who don't get credit where credit is due. I have since found a reference to where Cole Porter tried to rectify the lack of acknowledgment to Bob Fletcher, not just monetarily. |
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20 Apr 09 - 02:26 PM (#2614995) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: Genie Here's the YouTube link I tried to post earlier: guitarguru88 - Don't Fence Me In (with verses) BTW, It's "... lose my senses," not "...loose my ..." and the original © date is earlier than 1944. I have sheet music with a 1942 copyright date, and it may go back to 1940. Genie |
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20 Apr 09 - 02:28 PM (#2614999) Subject: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter & Robert Fletcher) From: Genie Apparently, it was $250, not $20, but Fletcher did sell his poem. More details about this aspect of the song's history in the other threads listed up top. |
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20 Mar 12 - 09:13 PM (#3326020) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Porter, Fletcher) From: Genie I just noticed that, at least as of today, Wikipedia's article about Don't Fence Me In claims that the Bob Fletcher poem that Porter bought appears "to be 'Open Range', contained in his 1934 book Coral Dust" and that the only part of that poem that Cole Porter used was the line 'And turn me loose on my cayuse, But please don't fence me in', unless Porter somehow gleaned "other material from the book." I'd like to find references to the sources that cite Fletcher's full original poem, as well as the report that he signed his copyright over to Porter (and Porter's publishers) originally with the stipulation that the original title, "Don't Fence Me In," must be retained. Apparently, what is now written on the Wikipedia page is incorrect - not to mention that there is no mention whatsoever of the song having had verses, which have been seldom been recorded (at least by the big studios). |
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21 Mar 12 - 02:54 AM (#3326121) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: Joe Offer Genie, I thought Kimball's Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter did a pretty good job of telling the story. Were you looking for something beyond that? I notice that post says the song was published in 1944 - I'll have to check the original source when I get home next week. From the context, it seems the publication date must be 1934. -Joe- |
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21 Mar 12 - 04:31 AM (#3326136) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: Genie Mainly, I was looking for a citation I could use for Wikipedia beyond just the title of the book. Preferably some online page to refer people to, to see the cited paragraphs or pages, or at least page numbers. I was able to track down online the pages you quoted from, above, but I don't think a message board such as Mudcat meets Wikipedia's definition of "reliable source" simply because it IS a message board. Books and magazine articles get more respect. But I did give a link to your post above in conjuction with the reference to Kimball's book. Genie |
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21 Mar 12 - 06:33 AM (#3326186) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: Mick Pearce (MCP) The published poem seem to differe from the original version Joe gives above: Cowboy Songs - Open Range from Fletcher Corral Dust, 1936ed (first 1934). Mick |
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21 Mar 12 - 06:38 AM (#3326188) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Here's the LOC catalog entry for the book: Fletcher - Corral Dust - 1934 - LOC Catalog Mick |
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27 Mar 12 - 10:55 PM (#3329934) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Porter, Fletcher) From: Genie Mick, The Fletcher poem that Joe posted is from "The Complete Works Of Cole Porter," not from the sources you cited. From the narrative given in the "Complete Works" book, it sounds like Fletcher probably wrote "Open Range" first, and then when Lou Brock approached him about writing a song with the title "Don't Fence Me In" for the planned movie "Adios, Argentina," he expanded on that poem's theme to write a complete song -- lyrics and music - called "Don't Fence Me In." From Kimball's book: [[ On November 24, Fletcher sent Porter the lyrics and music for the refrain of "Don't Fence Me In" and some lyrics for a verse. On December 1, Brock wired Fletcher that "Cole Porter wants to buy right to use title and some characteristic words and phrases from your lyrics. ... "Fletcher complied with Brock's request, and Porter accepted the offer ... The agreement ... gave Porter all of Fletcher's rights to the title and lyrics of "Don't Fence Me In" ... . The agreement did not apply to Fletcher's music, which Porter did not use ... ."]] It's pretty clear from this that it was not the poem "Open Range" which Porter bought from Fletcher. That poem does not have the title that Brock wanted and that Porter bought and used. It also has hardly any lyrics or lyric phrases that Porter used, and it did was a poem - no music - not a song. |
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28 Mar 12 - 01:30 AM (#3329982) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: MGM·Lion I remember my father was much struck by this song when we heard Roy Rogers sing it in 1944 in 'Hollywood Canteen' (one of those 'composite' films much regarded at the time which really constituted a sort of divertissement of various artistes performing in some particular milieu, framed by somewhat feeble and jejune plots about people visiting the venues). He [my father] would always say that he thought the lines "I will ride to the ridge where the West commences, Gaze upon the moon until I lose my senses" fit to rank with the most beautiful of poetry. ~Michael~ |
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27 Jul 16 - 03:01 AM (#3802213) Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter) From: GUEST,grease I like west commences I lose my senses it rhymes |