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Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House

14 Jan 02 - 01:26 PM (#627742)
Subject: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,dick greenhaus (who forgot to set his cookie

Back in the 40's or 50's, there was a song circulating about "The man who comes to our house, almost every day.." wehen "father is away."

Someone's asked me for it and memory faileth. Any help available (the tune, as I vaguely recall, was similar to "We Shall Not Be Moved"; the sentiment was considerably less lofty.

14 Jan 02 - 01:57 PM (#627770)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: MMario

recorded by the prairie rangers - but I can't find the lyrics.

14 Jan 02 - 02:03 PM (#627773)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Mrrzy

I know a totally different one, by Shel Silverstein...

A man came to our house, our house, our house
A man came to our house to sell some brooms
So we asked him to come in, and we chopped him into pieces and we sealed them up inside the new spare room

But you're always welcome at our house!
Any time of the day!
Yes you're always welcome at our house
And we hope you will stay.

A boy came to our house... to get his ball
So we .... fed him some poisoned lemonade and (can't recall how they disposed of that body... anybody?)

CHO

A lady came to our house... to see why we weren't in school
So we... and we hit her with a hammer and we put her in the freezer where it's nice and cool...

Wonder if it's even the same tune, anybody know?

Click for alternate lyrics in the Digital Tradition

14 Jan 02 - 02:26 PM (#627798)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Sorcha

I couldn't find lyrics either. Patsy Montana recorded it (yes, probably with the Prairie Ramblers, Mario) Actual title is "There's a Man That Comes to Our House". No helpful info, sorry.

14 Jan 02 - 02:45 PM (#627815)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Don Firth

Not much help, but I do remember the song. I think it's called The Man Who Comes Around.

". . . and when papa comes home, the man goes away. . ."

and winds up with the "narrator" (fairly obviously an observant young boy) saying that when he grows up, he wants to be "the man who comes around." Almost talked rather than sung, like a slow talking blues. I heard it in the early Sixties when a folksinger from New York, Lionel Kilberg, came through Seattle and spent a few weeks here. A friend of mine named Mike Lieb learned it from him and he used to do it. Last I heard, Mike was a disk jockey at a small radio station in southwest Washington State. I'll see if I can get in touch with him.

Good song. Funny, in a mild-manner, slightly raunchy sort of way.

Don Firth

14 Jan 02 - 02:49 PM (#627818)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Don Firth

"There's a Man That Comes to Our House." Yup. I think that's the same one.

Don Firth

14 Jan 02 - 03:10 PM (#627831)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Don Firth

Just remembered: Lionel Kilberg, Mike Cohen, and Roger Sprung were "The Shanty Boys." At least one record for Elektra, circa 1958.

Don Firth

14 Jan 02 - 03:26 PM (#627842)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Deckman

This was one of John Dywers favorite songs also. Perhaps Maggy will remember it. bob

14 Jan 02 - 07:49 PM (#628007)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Louie Roy

The Man who comes around I believe is the correct title and all I can remember now is

A man he comes to our house
He comes to bring the milk
He walks right in the kitchen
And he talks as smooth as silk

This man who comes to our house
He comes most every day
But he always comes to our house
When daddys gone away

Not much help but that's all I can remember and I believe this song came out in the 1930s Louie Roy

14 Jan 02 - 08:48 PM (#628041)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: RangerSteve

Dick, I have a recording somewhere, a reissue by the Prairie Ramblers. I'll check for it tomorrow (Tuesday) and add it to this thread.

16 Jan 02 - 11:32 AM (#629005)
Subject: Lyr Add: YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME AT OUR HOUSE^^^
From: Jim Dixon

Found at the official Shel Silverstein web site:

YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME AT OUR HOUSE
(Shel Silverstein)

Well, a man came to our house, our house, our house.
A man came to our house to sell some brooms.
So we asked him to come in, and we hit him with a hammer,
And we hid him in the closet in my father's room.

CHO: But you're always welcome at our house any time of the day.
Yes, you're always welcome at our house, and we hope you will stay.

Then a lady came to our house, our house, our house.
A lady came to find out why I wasn't in school.
So we asked her to come in, and we gave her some poisoned lemonade,
And hid her in the freezer where it's nice and cool. CHO.

Then a kid came into our yard, our yard, our yard.
A kid came into our yard to get his ball.
We asked him to come in, and we took in the basement,
And we sealed him up inside the basement wall. CHO.

So when you come to our house, our house, our house,
When you come to our house, we'll have some fun.
We'll ask you to come in, and we'll take you in the kitchen,
And we'll put you in the oven until you're done. CHO.

And we know you will stay. ^^^

16 Jan 02 - 12:33 PM (#629047)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Jim Dixon

"The Man Who Comes Around" was written by Tommy Tucker, John Lair & Bud Green in 1939 or 40. A recording by Billy Cotton is available on the album "Things I Love About the 40's," which was released in 1998. A version recorded by the Sweet Violet Boys has been played on Dr. Demento's radio show. It has also been recorded by Johnny Bond, Chad Morgan, the Nat Gonella Georgians, Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, and Les Brown & His Orchestra. There was also a sequel song called "The Man Don't Come to Our House Anymore."

I have had no success finding lyrics or sound files.

16 Jan 02 - 12:57 PM (#629065)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Jim Dixon

"The Man That Comes to My House" is performed by Three Bits of Rhythm on the compilation CD "Knockout Blues: Early R&B, Vol. 2 -1940-52."

"There's a Man That Comes to Our House" appears on the 1984 album "Patsy Montana and the Prairie Ramblers," Columbia 38909. That version was recorded in 1937. BULLETIN: The Prairie Ramblers were also known as The Sweet Violet Boys! (See message above.) This song was also performed by the Yonder Mountain String Band at the Strawberry Music Festival in Camp Mather, CA on Sept 1, 2000, but it isn't clear whether there is a recording available of this performance.

So you can see we're talking about several different songs here…

17 Jan 02 - 09:22 AM (#629671)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Mrrzy

Thanks for the Shel version!

17 Jan 02 - 01:01 PM (#629718)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Deckman

MAGGIE ... HELP HELP HELP. For a week now I've has this stupid (funny really) song running through my head. And I only remember the first line of the first verse! Will you PLEASE post the song, it's driving me ... bride Judy ... two cats ... and 19 seagulls ... crazy! Thanx, Bob

18 Jan 02 - 03:17 AM (#630277)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Troll

Go to the top of the page. Type in the song title into "filter" and set it for 2 years. You'll find all the verses there. If not, PM me and I'll send them to you.

troll

18 Jan 02 - 05:41 PM (#630725)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Deckman

Thank you Troll ... I got it! Now if I can get the tune out of my head! CHEERS, Bob

18 Jan 02 - 08:26 PM (#630819)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: Sandy Paton

My memory contains only:

There's a man who comes to our house every single day.
Papa comes home and the man goes away.
Papa does the work and Mama gets the pay,
And the man comes around when Papa goes away.

No more, sorry.

Sandy

18 Jan 02 - 08:36 PM (#630828)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,Desdemona

Oh my God---my DAD used to sing that song!

I only remember:

There's a man that comes to our house every single day,
The man comes home when Papa goes away;
Papa comes home and the man goes away.
There's a man that comes to our house every single day.

I hadn't thought of that in YEARS--hilarious! I'd love to find a recording of it for him (I'm sure my Mum would be SO PLEASED!!).

18 Jan 02 - 08:54 PM (#630851)
Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A MAN WHO COMES TO OUR HOUSE
From: raredance

Here's a version from a recording by Jimmie Jenson (Yimmy Yenson)

THERE'S A MAN WHO COMES TO OUR HOUSE
(from the singing of Jimmie Jenson)

Chorus:
There's a man who comes to our house every single day,
Papa comes home and the man goes away.
Well papa does the work and mama gets the pay;
And there's a man that comes to our house every single day.

Now there's a man that comes to our house and he drives a Cadillac;
He drives around the corner, he parks it in the back.
He comes to the door, mama's always there to greet him;
"Open up my honey bunch, let me check your meter".

Chorus

Now there's a man that comes to our house and he gives my mama ice;
He puts it in the ice box, I think that's awful nice.
Before the man leaves the ice melts away,
And he has to come back later in the day.

Chorus
He likes to cut a carpet, he likes to cut a rug;
He beats if on the line, he beats it on the floor,
Papa comes home and he beats it out the door.

Chorus:

Now when I grow up I don't wanna be
A doctor or a lawyer, no siree!
I don't want an office way down town
I just wanna be a man that comes around.

Chorus.

rich r

18 Jan 02 - 08:57 PM (#630853)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,Desdemona

Yep, I'm sure that's the one---thanks!

22 Jan 02 - 07:20 AM (#632860)
Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A MAN WHO COMES TO OUR HOUSE
From: GUEST,MCP, Lyric Add

Here's a version from the singing of The Sweet Violet Boys available in Real Audio on the excellent The Beat Site: "http://24.25.20.4/novelty.asp?SortBy=Song&Page=5"> Novelty Song Section

Mick

^^
THERE'S A MAN WHO COMES TO OUR HOUSE

CHORUS: There's a man that comes to our house every single day.
Papa comes home and the man goes away.
Oh, papa does the work and mama gets the pay,
And the man comes around when papa goes away.

1. The man who comes to our house, he's very nice.
He comes in the summertime and brings mama ice,
Just a little teeny-weeny piece that soon melts away.
He has to come back again later in the day.

2. The man that comes to our house comes to sell a brush.
He comes in a hurry and he leaves in a rush,
And every time he goes away, mama's in a pet
If she didn't get everything she thought she ought to get.

3. The man that comes to our house drives a Cadillac.
He runs round the corner and he parks it in the back.
Mama goes to the door. he's always sure to greet her
With "Open up, honey bunch. Let me check your meter".

4. When I grow to be a man, I'm not gonna be
A plumber or a janitor, no siree.
I won't be a doctor with an office downtown,
No, I'd rather be just a man that comes around.

22 Jan 02 - 02:39 PM (#633183)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: lamarca

Here is the earlier thread to which Troll referred...

22 Jan 02 - 03:20 PM (#633225)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,MCP

lamarca - Sorry hadn't realised the words were in the old thread. The link is still good for the recording which Guest Desdemona wanted though.

Mick

22 Jan 02 - 07:25 PM (#633406)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: dick greenhaus

Thanx much!

This is one of the things I love about Mudcat.

01 Apr 09 - 02:39 AM (#2601910)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,foolio

I've done a fair amount of looking for this song over the last few hours. I have a problem with paying for a public domain song when the artist is not receiving benefits from the sale. I was able to find a great version of this song and others by the aritist(s) by going to http://www.archive.org/index.php and searching.

This link will give you what you are looking for:
http://www.archive.org/details/SweetVioletBoys-21-30

06 Apr 09 - 01:52 PM (#2605753)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,sstrutma

i remember my mother playing this on an old Victrola record that my grandfather bought for my grandmother because of the song on the other side. My grandmother was incensed when she played this side of the recording and thought that this song was the one grandfather had purchased it for. The story was heard for generations and now that they are all gone, i am playing heck with trying to find that original version in all the old 78's.

06 Aug 09 - 10:20 AM (#2694712)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST

My mom has always sung this song that her dad used to sing to her mom. But it's definitely a toned down version of it. He must have thought she and her sisters shouldn't hear the real words! My grandpa sang,
"There's a man who comes to our house every single day. He washes the dishes, dries them, and puts them all away. When papa comes home, the man goes away. The man comes to our house every single day."

04 Mar 10 - 12:08 PM (#2855967)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Man comes to our house
From: GUEST,Lenore

Thanks for the words to this song. I remember my Dad singing this song and I have been looking for the words to it for over 20 years. You people are the best.Thanks Raredance.........Lenore

06 Mar 10 - 09:29 PM (#2858015)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: Gurney

Alternative title, in Jerry Silverman's book 62 Outrageous Songs, is 'The Man Who Comes Around.'
Nine verses in that variant, including some of the ones posted by Raredance and MCP above.

07 Mar 10 - 09:54 AM (#2858307)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: meself

I once heard a recorded version of The Man Who Comes Around that, if I remember correctly, concluded with the line, "He must have been the man who wasn't there" ....

21 Mar 10 - 12:25 AM (#2868430)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: GUEST

I recall a line

He always made me hold his horsey outside the gate
But he always takes so long the horse don't wana wait.

must have been an earlier version - I would love to find it!

08 Jun 10 - 07:38 PM (#2923493)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: GUEST,GUEST

My mother remembers the song as having been recorded by Alan Jenkins. As she remembers it, the verses and the end were spoken and the chorus was sung. She remembers the lyrics as being:

Chorus:
There's a man that comes to our house every single day;
Papa comes home, and the man goes away.
Papa does the work and Mama gets the pay,
And the man comes around when Papa goes away.

The man that comes to our house, he's very nice.
He comes in the morning to bring Mama ice.
But the teeny-weent little piece soon melts away,
so he has to come back again later in the day.

(Chorus)

The man that comes to our house, he comes to bring the milk.
He walks right in the kitchen and talks as smooth as silk.
I always have to hold his horsey down by the gate
'cause he always stays so awful long that horse don't want to wait.

(Chorus)

The man that comes to our house, he comes to get the trash,
in a little white jacket and a little black moustache.
Now, it's all very strange, but it always seems to me
He's a little more familiar than the trash man ought to be.

(Chorus)

When I grow up, I never want to be
A carpenter or doctor, no sirree.
Don't want to be a lawyer with an office downtown.
I just want to be the man that comes around.

(Possibly another chorus)

I hope that helps.

15 Jul 11 - 01:23 PM (#3188333)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: GUEST,1cavjimmy

There's a man that comes to our house from the telephone company
Ah yes, he's very nice to me.
But one think I think I ought to mention
He goes straight to mama's bedroom and fixes her extention!

26 Jan 13 - 08:00 PM (#3471867)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: GUEST

The one I remember is "The man that comes to our house every single day poppa comes home and the man goes away Oh! poppa does the work and momma gets the pay and the man comes to our house every single day. This has other verses but the last one goes when I grow up I don't want to be a dentist or a doctor downtown; I rather be the man that comes around"

20 Jun 19 - 02:08 PM (#3997165)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: GUEST,Guest

My mother in law had a recording of this song by ozzie Nelson's (that nelson rick's dad) band. The best I recall the lyrics were very similar to those offered by guest guest two entries above

24 Jun 19 - 06:15 PM (#3997696)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There's a Man Who Comes to Our House
From: Jim Dixon

You can hear Ozzie Nelson's 1940 recording at the Internet Archive.