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09 Aug 98 - 11:07 PM (#34552) Subject: Chewing Gum Lyrics From: jabunch I am trying to learn the Carter Family Song "Chewing Gum" I can't make out from the recording the verse regarding the farmer. Can anyone help? The verse goes something like... I wouldn't have a farmer Tell you the reason why. He has so much food specially pumpkin pie. That's what I hear, but it doesn't make sense. Does anyone know more about the song? Who wrote it? Is there a published version? Thanks jabunch in Silver Spring Md.
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10 Aug 98 - 08:33 AM (#34578) Subject: RE: From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au What you hear is pretty close to what I hear
I wouldn't marry a farmer I assume the meaning is that she would wind up eating too much pumpkin pie compared to other things. Murray |
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10 Aug 98 - 10:16 AM (#34583) Subject: RE: From: I don't know who actually wrote the first two-three verses of the song but I do know that many of the verses, including that which is in question were penned by A.P. Carter. The entire song is copyrighted in his name. However, the Carter Family were not the first ones to record the song. Uncle Dave Macon, I believe was the first in 1925. Then came the Carter Family in 1927 with their rendition, the most memorable. Another good version comes from Asher Sizemore and Little Jimmie, stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the early thirties. My pick is the Carters. |
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10 Aug 98 - 11:58 AM (#34592) Subject: RE: chewing gum From: lingolucky I remember well hearing Uncle Dave Macon doing his Chewing Gum number on the Grand Old Opera on WLS Nashville. circa 1928 et seq. It seemed to be a novelty devised to let the banjo take over from vocals on the words "chewing Gum." I've never seen the words in print and am not familiar with the Carter Family version. Some of the words go:
"Well, I'm gonna tell you 'bout my pretty little miss
She had feathers and finery and she had a pretty little chum Lane goldsmith (lingolucky) |
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05 May 14 - 09:53 AM (#3624131) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chewing Gum (Carter Family) From: PHJim This reminds me of a verse to Old Joe Clark that always goes over well with kids: Don't go down to Old Joe's house, Tell you the reason why, He blows his nose on old corn bread And calls it pumpkin pie. (Usually pronounced "punkin pie") |
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05 May 14 - 10:09 AM (#3624138) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chewing Gum (Carter Family) From: GUEST,# Roud 3594. |
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10 May 14 - 03:40 PM (#3625345) Subject: Lyr Add: CHEWING GUM (Carter Family) From: Joe Offer The Traditional Ballad Index traces this song back to at least 1915. Looks like we have some more research to do. Here's the Ballad Index entry: Fond of Chewing GumDESCRIPTION: The singer "fell in love with a pretty little girl" who was "fond of chewing gum." He describes their courting, always recalling the gum. When they are to be wed, she cannot say "I do" because her mouth was full of gum. Now he avoids gum-chewersAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1915 (Pound) KEYWORDS: courting love marriage separation food humorous FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE,So) REFERENCES (5 citations): Randolph 368, "Fond of Chewing Gum" (2 texts, 2 tunes) Randolph/Cohen, pp. 297-299, "Fond of Chewing Gum" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 368A) Boswell/Wolfe 87, pp. 138-139, "Chewing Gum" (1 text, 1 tune) Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 158, "Chewing Gum" (1 text, 1 tune) Silber-FSWB, p. 239, "Chewing Gum" (1 text) Roud #3714 RECORDINGS: Carter Family, "Chewing Gum" (Victor 21517, 1928) Lake Howard, "Chewing Chewing Gum" (Perfect 13128/Melotone M-13355/Oriole 8449, 1935; on CrowTold02) New Lost City Ramblers, "Chewing Gum" (on NLCR10) (on NLCR12) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "A Railroader for Me (Soldier Boy for Me)" (floating verses) NOTES: The Carter Family version of this song includes a number of floating verses ("I wouldn't have a lawyer/Now here's the reason why/Every time he opens his mouth/He tells a great big lie"; "Mama don't 'low me to whistle/Papa don't 'low me to sing/They don't want me to marry/I'll marry just the same"). Their absence in the Randolph text implies that they are intrusions. - RBW, (PJS) Last updated in version 2.6 File: R368 Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2014 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. Here are the lyrics from the Digital Tradition. Any other verses or versions? CHEWING GUM (DT Version) (Carter Family) Mama sent me to the spring, she told me not to stay I fell in love with a pretty little girl, and could not get away Chawin' chewing gum, chewing chawin' gum Chawin' chewing gum, chewing chawin' gum First she give me peaches, next she give me pears Next she give me fifty cents, kissed me on the stairs Mommy don't 'low me to whistle, poppy don't 'low me to sing They don't 'low me to marry, I'll marry just the same I wouldn't have a lawyer, I'll tell you the reason why Every time he opens his mouth he tells a great big lie I wouldn't have a doctor, I'll tell you the reason why He rides all over the country and makes the people die I wouldn't have a farmer, I'll tell you the reason why Because he has so plenty to eat, 'specially pumpkin pie I took my girl to church last night. How do you reckon she done? She walked right up in the preacher's face and chewed her chewing gum Recorded by The Carter Family, also New Lost City Ramblers filename[ CHEWNGUM GED |
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10 May 14 - 07:06 PM (#3625357) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chewing Gum (Carter Family) From: Louie Roy I wouldn't marry an old man AND I'LL TELL YOU THE REASON WHY AN OLD MAN SPITS TOBBACCO JUICE AND HIS CHIN IS NEVER DRY GIRLS ALWAYS MARRY A YOUNG MAN AND I'LL TELL YOU THE REASON WHY A YOUNG MAN'S HEART IS FULL OF LOVE AND HE'LL NEVER MAKE YOU CRY THESE TWO VERSES WERE THEONES MY MOTHER SANG |
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08 Jun 23 - 04:55 PM (#4174169) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chewing Gum (Carter Family) From: and e GUM From Songs and Ballads: Folk Material and Old Favorites, Collected by [James] Kenneth Larson in McCammon, Idaho. Undated [c1933], typescript. Tune not indicated. See online here: https://archive.org/details/1933-1972jameskennethlarson/page/n15/mode/1up |