Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady

08 Oct 98 - 09:23 PM (#40976)
Subject: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Tim Jaques [e-mail]

There is a version of this in the database but it doesn't seem to be complete. I distinctly remember Lydia having ships tattooed on her thighs, and marrying an admiral who ends up being "in command of the fleet, for he's gone and married Lydia!" Also, somebody, a ballet dancer IIRC, dancing the rhumba (which rhymes with "social security numbah") and chorus that goes La la la, la la la.

Haven't viewed the scene where Groucho sings this in some years, so I don't know if these verses were in the original movie or something someone else wrote.

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08 Oct 98 - 09:32 PM (#40979)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Joe Offer

Click here for the previous thread on this song, which didn't produce any new lyrics. Didn't find sheet music for Tiger, either. Maybe we ain't as good as we'd like to think we are.
-Joe Offer-

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08 Oct 98 - 10:21 PM (#40991)
Subject: Lyr Add: LYDIA, THE TATTOOED LADY
From: John in Brisbane

From Dr Demento:

From: Unclejack

APOLOGY/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT What follows is a transcript of the lyrics of E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen's classic comic song, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," as sung by his royal majesty Julian (Groucho) Marx at Carnegie Hall in 1971. It is being presented because loyal, earnest fans who either cannot locate the sheet music nor a copy of "At the Circus" (which film is distinguished primarily by the introduction of this song) desparately wish to learn the lyrics. If anyone is upset with me for printing the lyrics without compensating the publishers, please reply by EMail and I will do what (little) I can to make up for the slight. Remember, the Internet is an educational device; now, you've learned your lesson!

Now join Marvin Hamlisch in the background vocals!

(la la la la la la)

Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia?
Lydia the tattooed lady
She has eyes that men adore so
And a torso even more so
Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclopedia
Lydia, the queen of tattoo
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus, too
And proudly above waves the red, white and blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia

(la la la la la la)

When her robe is unfurled, she will show you the world
If you step up and tell her where
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paree
Or Washington crossing the Delaware

(la la la la la la)
(la la la la la la)

Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia?
Lydia the tattooed lady
When her muscles start relaxin'
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson
Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclopedia
Lydia, the queen of tattoo
For two bits she will do a mazurka in jazz
With a view of Niagara that nobody has
And on a clear day, you can see Alcatraz
You can learn a lot from Lydia

(la la la la la la)
(la la la la la la)

Come along and see Buffalo Bill with his lasso
Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso
Here's Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon
Here's Godiva but with her pajamas on

(la la la la la la)
(la la la la la la)

Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclopedia
Lydia, the queen of them all
She once swept an admiral clean off his feet
The ships on her hips made her heart skip a beat
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet
For he went and married Lydia

I said Lydia
He said Lydia
I said Lydia
He said Lydia
Ole!

Rest in peace, Grouch! Your ever-devoted, ever-lovin' Unclejack!

Regards
John

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09 Oct 98 - 08:25 AM (#41040)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Allan C.

What about that other Tattooed Lady? The only words I can recall are:

And over her left Kidney was a bird's eye view of Sidney
But what we liked best was upon her chest: a little home in Waikiki

Anybody know the rest?

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09 Oct 98 - 01:02 PM (#41047)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Bert

Talking of tattoos, my Dad sings one about a tattood man.

All over me, all over me,
ships of war, easter eggs, Indian Ink all down me legs
I'm just like a picture gallery
you ought to see the sights of London
all over me.

I don't know any more to it, it sounds like a music hall song to me.

Bert.

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09 Oct 98 - 02:23 PM (#41058)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Jaxon

Allan, I can remember the Kingston Trio doing this. I can't remember all of the lyrics but the opening verse started this way.
We went to town to see, the great tattooed lady
She was a sight to see, tattooed from head to knee
My uncle Ned was there, he took us round the fair...

The chorus went something like this (it's been too long)
And on her jaw, was a royal flying claw
And on her back was a Union Jack, now could you ask for more
All up and down her spine ran different colored lines
And all around her hips sailed a fleet of battleships.
And over her left Kidney, etc.
Good luck with the rest.
Jack Murray

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09 Oct 98 - 08:45 PM (#41086)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE TATTOOED LADY (from Kingston Trio)
From: Ralph Butts

OK - Here it is. Talk about misunderstood lyrics!....Tiger

THE TATTOOED LADY - Kingston Trio

We came to town to see
That old tattooed lady,
She was a sight to see,
Tattooed from head to knee.

My Uncle Ned was there,
He came to gape and stare.
"I've never," he declared,
"Seen such a freak so fair!"

And on her jaw
Was the Royal Flying Corps,
And on her back was a Union Jack,
Now could you ask for more?

All up and down her spine
Marched the Queen's own guards in line,
And all around her hips,
Sailed a fleet of battleships.

And over her left kidney,
Was a bird's-eye view of Sydney,
But what we liked best
Was upon her chest,
My little home in Waikiki.

(What did you say?)

REPEAT

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09 Oct 98 - 08:51 PM (#41087)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Joe Offer

Hey, Tiger, what's the tune? It's real familiar, but I'm not quite sure. It's almost like ta-ra-ra-doom-di-ay at the beginning, but then it changes. Darn it! I just can't remember the name of that tune.
-Joe Offer-

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10 Oct 98 - 02:06 PM (#41140)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Barbara

The second part, as I recall, Joe, sounds a lot like Sipping Cider thru a Straw. Actually the two tunes are quite similar, now that I sing them thru. The second part is just missing the tonic note, stays on the 3 instead. (Do you know what I'm talking about?)
I heard Michael Cooney do this years ago.
Blessings,
Barbara

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10 Oct 98 - 09:25 PM (#41177)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Rich "Guitarzan" Mondak

I don't recall Groucho singing it in a particular film...(must have been the part I fell asleep), however, he did perform it on the premier of the first Bill Cosby Show in the mid to late 60's. I remember this as it was the first television performance of "Noah!"... I was sitting with my younger siblings and remember beingblown away by the tune and trying to remember the lyrics and write them in school the next day...

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11 Oct 98 - 02:44 AM (#41190)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Joe Offer

OK, Barbara - that's why it sounds so familiar. I've listened to the Kingston Trio recording several times, and I just couldn't figure out what the tune was. I'm not completely clear on your "tonic," but I get the idea. Thanks.
-Joe-

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12 Oct 98 - 08:14 AM (#41322)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Allan C.

Thanks Ralph, et. al. The tune I recall sounds quite a bit like "Ta Ra Ra Boom De A". As for the tonic, I prefer it with a twist of lime.

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03 Nov 98 - 07:07 PM (#44074)
Subject: Tune Add: LYDIA, THE TATTOOED LADY
From: John in Brisbane

Here's the tune for Lydia:

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Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:4/4
Q:1/4=201
K:C
G5GG2|G2GFE2F2|G2G2G2GF|E2F2GGG2|G2G/4e7/4c2E2|
G2F6|-F4A4|B2c4G2|A4B2c2|-c2G2A4|G2A4G2|A4G2A2|
-A2G2GGG2|G2GFE2F2|G2G2G2GF|E2F2GGG2|G2G2A2c2|
d8|c2c2d2d2|c2d2d2c2|d4c2d2|-d2G2A2A2|G2A2A2G2|
A2A2G2A2|-A2G2c3B|c2G2E2C2|F2G2A2c2|c2d2e4|
c2d4c2|edc6|-c8|G8|-G2^G2^A2G2|^G2^A2G2^G2|
^A2G2^G2^A2|G2^G2^A4|-^A2c4^A2|^GGF6|F2G2^G2F2|
G2^G2F2G2|^G2F2G2^G2|-^G2F2^G2^G2|^G2^A2^A3^G|
GF^D6|-^D8|^D4G4|-G8|G8|-GGG2G2GF|E2F2G2G2|
G2GFE2F2|GGG2G2G/4e7/4|c2E2G2F2|-F8|A8|-A4B2c2|
-c2G2A4|B2c4G2|A4G2A2|-A2G2A4|G2A4G2|GGG2G2GF|
E2F2G2G2|G2GFE2F2|GGG2G2G2|A2c2d4|-d4c2c2|
d2d2c2d2|d2c2d2d2|c2d4GG|A2A2G2A2|A2G2A2A2|
G2A4G2|c3Bc2G2|E2C2F2G2|A2c2c2d2|e4c2d2|-d2c2edc2|
-c8|c8|G8|-G8|G^G7|-^G2^Ac^A2G2|-G^D^A2G3^D|
^A2G6|G^G^Ac^A2G2|-G^D^A2G3^D|^A2^G6|FG^GA^A2f2|
f2f2f2f2|f^A^A6|G2^G2^A2^A2|^A2^A2^A2^G2|
GF^D6|-^D8|G8|-G^G^Ac^A2G2|-G^D^A2G3^D|^A2G6|
G^G^Ac^A2G2|-G^D^A2G3^D|^A2^G6|G2^G2^A2f2|
f2f2f3f|f2^A6|G2^G2^A2^A2|^A2^A2^A2^G2|G2^D6|
-^D8|^D4G4|-G5GG2|G2GFE2F2|G2G2G2GF|E2F2GGG2|
G2G2A2c2|d8|-d2c2d2d2|c2d2d2c2|d2d2c2d2|-d2G2A2A2|
G2A2A2G2|A2A2G2A2|-A2G2c3B|c2G2E2C2|F2G2A2c2|
c2d2e4|c2d4c2|edc4c2|-c8|c15/2||

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04 Nov 98 - 01:02 AM (#44140)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: elwood

If you want to get really obscure, The Muppets actually covered "Lydia" on one of their albums. Kermit was the performer. Pretty darn fascinating huh/

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04 Nov 98 - 09:41 AM (#44185)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: [e-mail]

John in Brisbane: Just a quick correction - Groucho's given name was Julius, not Julian. A small distinction, but one worth noting.

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01 Aug 00 - 06:45 PM (#269801)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Mrrzy

Anybody know the other Lydia song, about the Ve-ge-table compound?

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01 Aug 00 - 07:26 PM (#269834)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Bill Hahn//\\

John---the Groucho concert was in 1980. Carnegie Hall. His last appearance in NYC--then his last in San Francisco.

THe new bio by Kanfer is an amazing piece of writing. If you are a Groucho afficianado--a must.

I saw the concert---farewell to an idol.

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01 Aug 00 - 07:28 PM (#269837)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny

This song was sung by a little girl in "Philadelphia Story" with Kathryn Hepburn.

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01 Aug 00 - 07:55 PM (#269865)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: bflat

Here's to Groucho! He was a funny guy! As for tattoes, I wonder if Lydia of Donal and Lydia from John Prine had her own tattoe. It would have been a broken heart I expect.

bflat

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02 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM (#270402)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: bobby's girl

Not only did Kermit sing the song on the Muppet Show, but one of the pigs (I don't think it was Miss Piggy sadly) acted the part of Lydia - very entertaining if a little surreal!

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02 Aug 00 - 06:02 PM (#270587)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Tiger

Lydia, the Tattooed Lady, from Groucho Marx in "At the Circus" - OLD!!!
(Lydia, Oh, Lydia, Oh, Have you met Lydia....)

The Tattooed Lady, from the Kinston Trio, late '50s
(We came to town to see, that old tattooed lady...)

Lydia Pinkham, Oscar Brand & others
(She invented a vegetable compound, and the papers published her face)

I've got 'em all - what's your pleasure?

.....Tiger

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22 Aug 01 - 02:28 AM (#533013)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Genie

I understand that Harburg's original lyrics written for Groucho were too bawdy for the blue noses that ran the motion picture industry at the time, so that the lyrics we usually hear are quite diluted. Does anyone know the original ones? (I'll bet Michael Feinstein does, but he may not be a Catter.)

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22 Aug 01 - 02:42 AM (#533021)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Sourdough

My uncle was a long-time friend of Yip Harburg. I was trying to get some informatin on the Internet and found a Harburg site. It is run by harburg's son. I sent him an e-mail message and he was kind enough to reply.

Anyone interested in the work of Hrburg shuold try to fond this site. It was a year or two ago so I can't remember the earl but since I found it using Google, I am sure that others will be able to do the same.

Hope this helps you find the "original" lyrics to a wonderful song.

Sourdough

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22 Aug 01 - 08:38 AM (#533139)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: SharonA

Sourdough: Cool! What's the name of the site you found?

I had an aunt whose middle name was "Lydia". She hated the name, and would never use it or divulge to anyone that that was what her middle initial "L" stood for, because of that song! Apparently, she must have been teased about it ad nauseum when the song was first introduced.

(Me, I've learned to live with all the people who sing "M-m-m-my Sharona!" at me, or start reciting the Abbott and Costello skit "Who's on First" [my last name is Abbott]. Just don't expect me to chime in!!!)

Sharon

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22 Aug 01 - 09:09 AM (#533156)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add:TATTOOED LADY-II (from Rudy Vallée)
From: Charley Noble

There's another 1930's song about a tattooed lady that Rudy Vallée used to sing, which has been passed down to me by my family to liven up a party during the wee hours.

THE TATTOOED LADY-II
(Sung by Rudy Vallée in the 1940's as recalled by Dahlov Ipcar, 1977; Key: D (C/2))

C-------------------G
Oh, I have a very sad tale to relate,
------------------G7-----C
'Tis the harrowing tale of a man and his mate,
----------C7--------F
A story of passion, of love and of hate,
--C------------------C
Of virtue corrupted by vice;
C
Mother Eve in the Garden of Eden (of Eden)
----------------------------G
Met a serpent the same as this lass,
--------Am
And she too might have turned from temptation
---------------------------------G------G7
Except for that horrible snake in the grass – Oh!

Chorus:

C------------------------G
Shame on the man that pursued her,
----G7------------------C
That villain who viciously wooed her;
------------C7-----F
She fell in a faint, he pulled out his paint,
--------G-----------------------G7---C
And the next thing she knew he tattooed her!

Her downfall began as an innocent thing,
Her husband went off to go fishing one spring,
So she and her girlfriends went off on a fling,
They all went to bathe at the beach;
When this artist came up with his paint pot (paint pot),
And started to toy with her calf,
She allowed him to tinker, he painted a fiend
Who was sawing a woman in half – (CHO)

This girl wasn't bright and the fellow was smart,
And now that he'd made such a favorable start,
He let her believe she was helping his art,
They met every day at the beach;
Never once did she think that he loved her (loved her)
Nor think that he'd do her some harm,
Till the day he tattooed in red, white and blue,
"I Love You!" on her arm – (CHO)

Her husband returned and the moment they kissed,
His eyes read the writing from elbow to wrist,
He foamed at the month and in fury he hissed,
His rage drove him utterly nuts;
She was hurt by his attitude deeply (deeply)
And hysterically started to laugh (ha, ha, haaaah)
Then she rolled up down her stocking and showed him the fiend
Who was sawing a woman in half – (CHO)

He threw her out in the wind and the rain,
Saying, "Never dampen my bath mat again!"
Now she gets tattooed whenever she can,
She works in the circus for pay;
And her fair epidermis is painted (painted)
With pictures of sailors and such,
And if you have a needle, you too can tattoo
On the skin that they all love to touch– (CHO)

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22 Aug 01 - 09:43 AM (#533181)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Amos

I'd always heard:

"..And up and down her spine Ran the Mason Dixon line!"

but I can't recall if it was the same song or not.

A

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22 Aug 01 - 10:07 AM (#533193)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: English Jon

Here's Najinsky (sp?) a doing the rumbha/Here's her social security number.

Najinsky was a prominent ballet star of the 20's. Worked with Diaghilev etc. Also Bolshoi? if memory serves.

Also, The previous two lines of the stanza end with "Treasure Island". - never have been able to make it out off the video.

EJ

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22 Aug 01 - 10:18 AM (#533202)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,scabby doug on the cookie-hungry pc

Here is Grover Whelan unveiling the Trilon Over on the West Coast we have Trasure I-lon ... then Nijinsky etc...

I'll post the full text later...

I never understood the "Mendel" (sic) Picasso line...

Cheers

SD

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22 Aug 01 - 10:45 AM (#533213)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,Scabby Cookieless Doug

this should be the links... lyrics

WAV file

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22 Aug 01 - 10:56 AM (#533226)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Robby

Her eyes were Siam
Her nose was Hindustan
And on her knees was Greece
Her back was Brazil
Her chest was Bunker Hill
Her hips were Constantino-ople.

Just then I saw my wife
And to avoid all future strife
I let the rest of the world go by

Performed by the Smothers Brothers

Enjoy
Robby

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22 Aug 01 - 12:25 PM (#533282)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,JohnB

While we are OFF the subject, here is one verse from the Rawtenstall Annual Fair, of Early 1900's Music Hall fame. Roll up Roll Up see the Tatooed Lady, Come and see the lady with the pictures on her skin In we went the lads, we all began to cheer For Tatooed on her back were all ther towns of Lancashire There was Ordsall Bottom, Manchester City with Albert standing in the square, there was Burnley, Bolton and Ashton under Lyne, the coalpit down at Barnsley was looking mighty fine, until someone shouted "DADDY" don't go down the mine. at the Rwtenstall Annual Fair. JohnB

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22 Aug 01 - 07:56 PM (#533619)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: BH

Well, as long as we are off the subject---there was a wonderful group many moons ago in Bermuda --The Talbot Bros. One of their songs had to do with a girl who tattoos her boy friend on her derriere; now-as the lyrics go---"....when she sits down she sits on me".

Sadly such local entertainment (along with the steel drum bands) left the scene there years ago to be replaced by the homogenized pop entertainment presented everywhere.

Many years ago on the bus to the airport I heard a couple remark how wonderful the entertainment was---"...just like NY". Sad!! What happened to travel broadens one?

Off topic Bill Hahn

On Topic---What a wonder SAINT GROUCHO was. May Mr Firefly rest in piece.

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23 Aug 01 - 05:39 PM (#534152)
Subject: Lydia Pinkham
From: Bennet Zurofsky

Reading this thread for the first time, I notice that a few weeks ago someone requested the "other Lydia song" about the "Ve-ge-ta-ble Compound" and no one replied. The song sought is is the jingle for "Lydia Punkham's Vegetable Compound," which was a real product manufactured by, I believe, a real person named Lydia Pinkham. The song some recall may or may not have been commissioned originally by the company, it certainly seems to have become widely-known and sung with a variety of verses. This was a pre-FDA product, and most of the verses I've heard make humorous reference to its obvious alcoholic content, usually in relating a testimonial about the product's wondrous effects upon some previously woebegone individual. Unfortunately, I only remember the chorus, which I've set forth below. If I'm not mistaken, someone fairly recently published a book about Ms. Pinkham and her Vegetable Compound. Here are the words I remember:

Oh we'll drink-a drink-a drink to Lydia Pinkham, And her love for the human race (human race)! Oh she makes-she bottles-she sells her vegetable compound, And the papers publish her face (publish her face)!

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24 Aug 01 - 04:39 AM (#534378)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Trevor

Has The Scaffold's song about 'Lily The Pink' and her medicinal compund got anything to do with this?

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24 Aug 01 - 04:46 AM (#534380)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: IanC

Bennet/Trevor. Loads of previous threads on this!

:-)
Ian

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Click for Lily the Pink/Lydia Pinkham

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24 Aug 01 - 11:29 AM (#534473)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Naemanson

Well, to throw in another tattooed lady I have a friend who sings one of a sailor rescued from drowning by a woman in a rowboat. She takes him to shore and strips off her own clothing. The song relates all the geographical tattoos and ends when her husband shows up. At that point the narrator lets the rest of the world go by.

I haven't seen my friend in a few years so cannot ask him about the song. Anyone know the lyrics?

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25 Aug 01 - 12:14 PM (#535111)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Charley Noble

With reference to "The Tattooed Lady" according to my venerable copy of REED 'EM AND WEEP:

There are variants which insist that "round about her jaw was a map of Canada" and mention also a porpoise, a "couple of spouting whales," and the Eddystone Light, besides naming a few public characters, flowers, etc.

Clearly this was a song that was greatly appreciated and was widely adapted as it made its way around the world.

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03 Sep 01 - 09:59 PM (#541180)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,Genie

Thanks to all who responded to this thread and added lyrics or links.

There is another "tattooed lady" song I heard last year, but all I can remembember is the "hook" line, "...every time she sits, she sits on me."

Anyone know the song or who wrote it?

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04 Sep 01 - 12:24 AM (#541261)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,genie

Re: "Najinski"

I usually see it spelled, "Nijinski," but since Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet [with which I'm only vaguely familiar], I don't know if there is one and only one English spelling.

[The movie, "Nijinski" had it spelled like that.]

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04 Sep 01 - 12:27 AM (#541264)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,genie

Sourdough, Thanks for your info about the Harburg site. I will try to find it.

Genie

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04 Sep 01 - 12:32 AM (#541269)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,guest

Charlie Noble, Thanks for posting the Rudy Vallee song. By the way, it is "Vallee," not "Vally."

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04 Sep 01 - 12:38 AM (#541274)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,Genie

BH, You mentioned a Talbot Bros. song, which is one I posted an inquiry about -- the one that has the hook, "Every time she sits, she sits on me."

I hope someone can post the lyrics or direct me to a CD that has it, or both.

Genie

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04 Sep 01 - 12:43 AM (#541278)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,genie

One verse of the Groucho Marx (Harburg and Arlen) "Lydia" song that hasn't been mentioned here is:

"Lydia, oh, Lydia, oh have you met Lydia, Lydia the tattooed lady? When she stands the world gets littler, When she sits, she sits on Hitler."

This is followed by the final verse, about the admiral who is now "in command of the fleet ... ."

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04 Sep 01 - 07:01 PM (#541955)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: BH

Genie: If you give me a mailing address I will be happy to send you a copy (once I dig it up---if I can) of the Talbot Bros doing that song. Or anything left on the damged album I have of these artists.

Bill Hahn

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04 Sep 01 - 09:34 PM (#542062)
Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: GUEST,Genie

Bill, send me an email at [e-mail] and I will send you a mailing address. I don't know if and how I can post it to you in Mudcat without broadcasting it.

Thanks, Genie

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23 Feb 05 - 08:58 AM (#1418590)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Charley Noble

I just did some more web research on Rudy Vallée and it appears he sang at least two tattooed lady songs. The first was recorded in 1934 with His Connecticut Yankees; that's the version I learned from my family which features a tattoo artist who shamefully seduces a lonely wife on the beach. The other version is "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" which he recorded in 1941 and which Groucho Marx's later picked up.

I still don't know where Rudy got the first version. That same recording had a version of "The Tavern in the Town" in which Rudy breaks up in uncontrollable laughter, the first record I ever heard where I realized that real people were singing and having fun! Alas, our copy of this record got broken. Maybe I should see if I can find one for sale on e-Bay.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

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23 Feb 05 - 11:56 PM (#1419237)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Stephen L. Rich

Grouch sang it in "At The Circus".

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24 Feb 05 - 02:39 AM (#1419302)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Gurney

Just to add a little confusion: Paddy Roberts also wrote a 'Tattooed Lady' song, which starts;

Oh, I was a bit of a lad, I admit,
My past is a trifle shady.
But then in the end, I went right round the bend,
and married a tattoed lady.

All goes well until he finds

A caricature of her mother!
For this was much more than a man could endure.
It was ta-ta, tattoo, forever.

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26 Feb 05 - 02:37 AM (#1421285)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Joe Offer

Message from Charley Noble:

Subject: Lydia The Tattooed Lady
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25-Feb-05 - 02:25 PM

Could some kind Joe Clone correct this verse in a version of this song (The Tattooed Lady) sung by Rudy Vallee in 1934:

Her husband returned and the moment they kissed,
His eyes read the writing from elbow to wrist,
He foamed at the month and in fury he hissed,
His rage drove him utterly nuts;
She was hurt by his attitude deeply (deeply)
And hysterically started to laugh (ha, ha, haaaah)
Then she rolled up her stocking and showed him the fiend
Who was sawing a woman in half – (CHO)

The verse should read:

Her husband returned and the moment they kissed,
His eyes read the writing from elbow to wrist,
He foamed at the month and in fury he hissed,
His rage drove him utterly nuts;
She was hurt by his attitude deeply (deeply)
And hysterically started to laugh (ha, ha, haaaah)
Then she rolled DOWN her stocking and showed him the fiend
Who was sawing a woman in half – (CHO)

Makes much more sense.

Cheerily, Charley Noble

I don't know about these things, Charley. My wife doesn't wear stockings...
-Joe Offer-

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28 Feb 05 - 02:02 PM (#1423072)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

not too sure how to use this site, but we can remember "on the back of each knee was a small chimpanzee,on her thigh was a Knight of the Garter, and just for a laugh they had put on her calf eight bars of the moonlight Sonata. ... Some things I found out I just can't talk about I find they are inclined to embarass .... I loved all the ships on one side of her hips, the view in Peru on the other, but I was struck dumb when I found on her tum a caricature of her Mother. It ended Ta ta tattoo for ever, Ta ta tattoo for ever - can you remember any more?

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01 Jun 05 - 03:54 PM (#1497566)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: GUEST

After reading all of the references to Lydia, I have to ask:

Does no one remember the great performance of "Lydia" by Virginia Weidler in "The Philadelphia Story," accompanying herself on the piano? She was then only thirteen years old, but incredibly talented.

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01 Jun 05 - 05:53 PM (#1497644)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Jim Dixon

The short answer is no, I haven't seen it. But thanks for calling my attention to it. I'll make a point of watching "Philadelphia Story" next time it comes around on TV. Meanwhile, I looked up this biography of Virginia Weidler at imdb.com.

Here's another bio with pictures.

Child actors have always fascinated me.

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02 Jun 05 - 10:22 AM (#1498191)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Nigel Parsons

Guest: Scottlrc

If you return, the lyrics you quote are from the Paddy Roberts song, which was transcribed on the forum Here

CHEERS

Nigel (e-mail also sent to invite Scott back)

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06 Dec 06 - 07:31 AM (#1901430)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: GUEST,smiley

does anyone know where i can get this song. i loved it when i was a kid.

On her neck was Minnesota
On her shoulders was Tennessee
And tattooed on her back, was good old Hackensack
The place where I long to be
And on her (long whistle) was West Virginia
In those hills where I love to roam
And when the moon came up upon her Mississippi
That's when I recognized my home sweet home

you can email me at [e-mail]

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12 Jun 08 - 11:56 AM (#2364271)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: GUEST,Senior Senor

I seem to remember these words.

On her neck was Minnesota
On her shoulders was Tennessee
And tattooed on her back, was good old Hackensack
That's the place where I long to be
And on her (long whistle) was West Virginia
Through those hills I just love to roam
And when the moon shone down on her Wabash
That's when I recognized my Indiana home

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12 Jun 08 - 09:41 PM (#2364715)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Charley Noble

Well, it was a song that got around! ;~)

I used to think it was just the kind of song that would make a great introduction to Geography. But maybe not!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

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12 Jun 08 - 10:01 PM (#2364727)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Melissa

The Tattoed Lady--(McDonald) Johnny White and his Rhythm Riders with Skeets McDonald

"once I married a tattoed lady
it was on a cold and winter day
and tattoed all around her body
was the map of the good old USA
and every night before I'd go to sleep
I'd jerk down the quilt and have a peep

Upon her leg was Minnesota..."

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12 Jun 08 - 10:06 PM (#2364731)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
From: Melissa

Turnabout being fair play and all, does anybody have the words to these tattoed lady songs:

"The tattoed lady from the circus fell in love with me...

...she tattoed my poor face
in the most peculiar place
now whenever she sits down
she sits on me"

Or, the one where she has a rusty hinge tat that looks so real it squeaks when she bends her knee?

(apologies to Lydia for bringing other ladies into the room..)

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