Lyrics to old-time songs needed
John Litzenberg
I'm looking for the lyrics (and tab, if possible) for some old-time songs my
father and uncle used to sing. They kind of traverse the ground between
bluegrass, novelty and old-timey. Unfortunately, all relatives who knew all
the words are now gone, and the writers of the songs are also unknown - and
the titles are iffy. The era in which they probably learned most of them is
late 40's (when they had a radio show together in Ohio).
The songs are:
Old Zeke Perkins (chorus: Old Zeke Perkins had an automobile/Old Zeke
Perkins his whiskers they were red/Old Zeke Perkins forgot the
combination/and the doggone Ford she kept a chuggin' right ahead)
I'm My Own Grandpa
For I Had But Fifty Cents (the story of a young man who takes his date to a
restaurant for dinner, where she ends up eating one of everything on the
menu...it's kind of like "I've Been Everywhere" except instead of listing
locations, each verse contains "and this is what she et..." followed by a
long list of foods.)
Title Unknown (Verse: Like an old maid needs a fella/Like a hammer needs a
nail/Like a mop it needs a handle/Like a horse it needs a tail/Like a chair
it needs a table/Like a stamp it needs some glue/well I guess we all need
someone/But who in the heck needs you?)
Ain't We Crazy? (Verse: When I was travelin' in the west/With
Biffle-Buffle Bill/A thousand and one red indians came charging down the
hill/Well don't stop now, what happened next?/Well what do you expect?/They
shot us full of arrows, and they killed us, dead as heck - Chorus: Ain't we
crazy/ain't we crazy/this is the way we spend all night and daisy/Ain't we
crazy/ain't we crazy/this is the way we spend all night and day.)
Any help would be greatly appreciated - also, any information on other
comedy, old-time bluegrass feel songs.
Thanks.
John Litzenberg
litze...@geocities.com
icwis
John Litzenberg wrote in message <6ld9jr$eu7$1...@cletus.bright.net>...
>I'm looking for the lyrics (and tab, if possible) for some old-time songs
my
>father and uncle used to sing. They kind of traverse the ground between
>bluegrass, novelty and old-timey. Unfortunately, all relatives who knew
all
>the words are now gone, and the writers of the songs are also unknown - and
>the titles are iffy. The era in which they probably learned most of them
is
>late 40's (when they had a radio show together in Ohio).
>
>The songs are:
>
>I'm My Own Grandpa
>
Here is how I remember this one...it may not be 100% accurate, but it
should be a beginning
Many many years ago when I was twenty three
I got married to a widow who was pretty as could be
The widow had a grown up daughter
Who had hair of red
My father fell in love with her
And soon the two were wed
This made my dad my son-in-law
And changed my very life
My daughter was my mother
For she was my father's wife
To complicate the matter
Even though it brought me joy
I soon became the father
Of a bouncing baby boy
My little baby then became
The brother-in-law to dad
And so became my uncle
Though it made me very sad
For if he was my uncle
That also made him brother
To the widow's grown up daughter
Who of course was my step mother
My father's wife then had a child
Who kept him on the run
And he became my grand child
For he was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother
And it makes me blue
Because although she is my wife
She's my grandmother too
Now if my wife is my grandmother
Then I'm her grandchild
And every time I think of it
It nearly drives me wild
For I have just become
The strangest case you ever saw
As husband of my grandmother
I am my own grandpa
I'm my own grandpa
I'm my own grandpa
It sounds funny I know
But it really is so
For I'm my own grandpa
-Dan-
icwis
>I'm looking for the lyrics (and tab, if possible) for some old-time songs
my
>father and uncle used to sing. They kind of traverse the ground between
>bluegrass, novelty and old-timey. Unfortunately, all relatives who knew
all
>the words are now gone, and the writers of the songs are also unknown - and
>the titles are iffy. The era in which they probably learned most of them
is
>late 40's (when they had a radio show together in Ohio).
>
>The songs are:
>
>restaurant for dinner, where she ends up eating one of everything on the
>menu...it's kind of like "I've Been Everywhere" except instead of listing
>locations, each verse contains "and this is what she et..." followed by a
>long list of foods.)
>
I kind of know this one but not too well. I will give you what I know and
hope somebody else can fill in the blanks:
Pretty Little Dear
(For I Had But Fifty Cents)
She's a pretty little dear
And she lives uptown
Her daddy is a butcher
And his name is Brown
Her beauty is of a high renown
She's the girl for me
We're going to get married
Tomorrow night
I asked her daddy
And he said alright
??????????????
??????????????
Because her dad's
A swell old chap
He's the richest
Man in town
He's going to give me
A house and lot
Along with Betsy Brown
She's a pretty little dear
And she lives uptown
Her daddy is a butcher
And his name is Brown
Her beauty is of a high renown
She's the girl for me
I took her to a dance one night
It was a social hop
We danced until the lights went out
The music had to stop
I took her to a restaurant
The finest in the state
She said she wasn't hungry
But this is what she ate
A ???? raw
Plate of slaw
Chicken and a roast
Applesauce
Asparagus
Soft shelled crabs on toast
Two big stews
Cracker too
Her appetite was immense
When she asked for pie
I thought I'd die
For I had but fifty cents
She's a pretty little dear
And she lives uptown
Her daddy is a butcher
And his name is Brown
Her beauty is of a high renown
She's the girl for me
Sorry I couldn't remember any more, but this may spur some one else's memory
to fill in the rest.
Dan
JHollo5911
In article <6ld9jr$eu7$1...@cletus.bright.net>, "John Litzenberg"
<unde...@geocities.com> writes:
>I'm My Own Grandpa
>
>
I read the other posts but didn't compare the lyrics. These were sent to me
about a year ago by someone. Compare, they may be identical:
I'm My Own Grandpa
by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe
Many, many years ago when I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was pretty as could be
this widow had a grownup daughter who had hair of red
My father fell in love with her, and soon they, too, were wed.
This made my Dad my son-in-law and really changed my life
For now my daughter was my mother, 'cause she was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter, even though it brought me joy,
I soon became the father of a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became a brother-in-law to Dad
And so became my uncle, though it made me very sad
For if he were my uncle, then that also made him brother
Of the widow's grownup daughter, who of course was my stepmother.
Father's wife then had a son who kept them on the run
And he became my grandchild, for he was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother, and it makes me blue
Because although she is my wife, she's my grandmother too.
Now if my wife is my grandmother, then I'm her grandchild
And every time I think of it, it nearly drives me wild
'Cause now I have become the strangest case you ever saw
As husband of my grandmother, I am my own grandpa.
I'm my own grandpa,
I'm my own grandpa.
It sounds funny, I know
But it really is so,
Oh, I'm my own grandpa.
---Joel
Paul Tyler
John Litzenberg wrote:
>
> I'm looking for the lyrics (and tab, if possible) for some old-time songs my
> father and uncle used to sing. They kind of traverse the ground between
> bluegrass, novelty and old-timey. Unfortunately, all relatives who knew all
> the words are now gone, and the writers of the songs are also unknown - and
> the titles are iffy. The era in which they probably learned most of them is
> late 40's (when they had a radio show together in Ohio).
Tell us more. Where were they on the radio? What moniker did they
use? What did they play?
BTW. A good version of "If I Had But Fifty Cents" is on an early Volo
Bogtrotters tape. "Ain't We Crazy" sounds like some Harry "Haywire Mac"
McClintock recorded. It might be on the Rounder reissue of 20 years
ago. I'll check later when the rest of the household is up.
Later
Paul Tyler
Gail Gillespie
John Litzenberg (unde...@geocities.com) wrote:
: I'm looking for the lyrics (and tab, if possible) for some old-time songs my
: father and uncle used to sing. They kind of traverse the ground between
: bluegrass, novelty and old-timey. Unfortunately, all relatives who knew all
: the words are now gone, and the writers of the songs are also unknown - and
: the titles are iffy. The era in which they probably learned most of them is
: late 40's (when they had a radio show together in Ohio).
: The songs are:
: Old Zeke Perkins (chorus: Old Zeke Perkins had an automobile/Old Zeke
: Perkins his whiskers they were red/Old Zeke Perkins forgot the
: combination/and the doggone Ford she kept a chuggin' right ahead)
Hi John, Not sure about the others, but Old Zeke Perkins is one of my
favorites. It goes to the tune of Casey Jones. I got it from a Rounder (I
think) recording of Fields Ward years ago. I think there was a fiddle
on the recording, too (Wade?).
OLD ZEKE PERKINS as sung by Fields Ward
Old Zeke Perkins sold his hogs the other day
Well the gosh darn fool he throwed his money right away
He rode into town a sittin on a board
And he come a ridin home in a darn little Ford.
Got to the house and he got to the gate
He shut down the throttle and he pulled on the brake
He grabbed for the reins and got the throttle instead
But the gol durn Ford kept a chuggin right ahead.
CHORUS
Old Zeke Perkins, bought an automobile
Old Zeke PErkins, his whiskers am red
Old Zeke Perkins, he bought an automobile
But the gol durn Ford it kept a chuggin right ahead
Then he jerked on the lever and he cut off the gas
He kicked out he pedals and he broake out the glass
Then her jerked out his gun he shot the tires full of lead
But the gol durn Ford kept a chuggin right ahead
Then he jerked out his knife with a smile serene
He cut a hole in the tank he drained out he gasoline
He cut all the wires and he jerked off the top
But the gol dern Ford just wouldn't stop.
Out through the yard and up through the lane
Malinda saw him comin, she just went insane.
She ran out ahead and she stoppped to see
And the Ford struck her squarely where a bustle oughta be.
She run out ahead as she went in the air
As Zeke went by, she grabbed him by the hair
She leanded in the seat and she landed in the bed,
But the gol dern Ford kept chuggin right ahead.
Then he started to the woodhouse, he just missed the hole
And he struck an ole pig, you oughta see it roll
Down through the yard in a big muddy heap
In a big muddy pool about six feet deep.
Then he grabbed Malindy and they walked to the store
So glad that it stopped it wouldn't go no more.
Then he picked up his gun and he looked back and said
Well the gol dern Ford is a chuggin right ahead.
-Gail
Paul Mitchell
On 9 Jun 1998, Gail Gillespie wrote:
> Hi John, Not sure about the others, but Old Zeke Perkins is one of my
> favorites. It goes to the tune of Casey Jones. I got it from a Rounder (I
> think) recording of Fields Ward years ago. I think there was a fiddle
> on the recording, too (Wade?).
Hello Gail,
I'm pretty sure that it's Jerry Lundy who fiddles on this record.
Paul
Bill Dillof
I'm looking for the lyrics (and tab, if possible) for some old-time songs my
father and uncle used to sing. They kind of traverse the ground between
bluegrass, novelty and old-timey. Unfortunately, all relatives who knew all
the words are now gone, and the writers of the songs are also unknown - and
the titles are iffy. The era in which they probably learned most of them is
late 40's (when they had a radio show together in Ohio).
The songs are:
Old Zeke Perkins (chorus: Old Zeke Perkins had an automobile/Old Zeke
Perkins his whiskers they were red/Old Zeke Perkins forgot the
combination/and the doggone Ford she kept a chuggin' right ahead)
I'm My Own Grandpa
For I Had But Fifty Cents (the story of a young man who takes his date to a
restaurant for dinner, where she ends up eating one of everything on the
menu...it's kind of like "I've Been Everywhere" except instead of listing
locations, each verse contains "and this is what she et..." followed by a
long list of foods.)
Any help would be greatly appreciated - also, any information on other
comedy, old-time bluegrass feel songs.
Thanks.
John Litzenberg
litze...@geocities.com
I HAD BUT FIFTY CENTS
I took my girl to a fancy ball; it was a social hop
We stayed all night until the break of daylight, just waitinÕ for the music
to stop
We went into a restaurant, the finest on the street
She said she was not hungry, but this is what she eat:
Four dozen raw, a plate of slaw, a chicken and a roast
A pair of doves with apple sauce, a soft-shelled crab on toast
A big barbeque, with crackers too, her appetite was immense
When she called for pie, I thought I would die, for I had but fifty cents
You bet I wasnÕt hungry, I didnÕt care to eat
IÕve got money in my clothes to bet she canÕt be beat
I thought if she ate that way all the time, sheÕd surely break a bank
She said she was not thirsty, but this is what she drank:
Four glass of ale, a gin cocktail, it made me shake with fear
A ginger pop with rum on top, and then a schooner of beer
A whiskey skin, a glass of gin, she should have had more sense
When she called for more I fell on the floor, for I had but fifty cents
You bet I wasnÕt hungry, I didnÕt care to eat
Expecting any moment, to be kicked out on the street
She said sheÕd bring more friends around someday and weÕd have fun
I showed the man my fifty cents, and this is what he done:
He mashed my nose, he tore my clothes, he hit me on my jaw
He grabbed me by the collar then and slammed me out the door
He caught me where my clothes were loose, he kicked me through the fence
Take my advice, donÕt try it twice, when youÕve got but fifty cents
tomha...@gmail.com
I found sources for Old Zeke Perkins
https://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/hasm_a1116/
http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/ref/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/523
Collected by Merlin Mitchell Transcribed by Mary C. Parler Mr. Noah Mills Lampia, Mo. Sept. 11, 1950 Reel 73, Item 1
Old Zeke Perkins' Ford
(To the tune of Turkey in the Straw)
Old Zeke Perkins sold his hogs the other day,
Well the gosh darn fool throwed his money right away;
He went down town, a-sitting on a bull
He came home riding his darn little Ford.
When he came to the house and he got to the gate,
He closed up the throttle and he throwed on the brake,
He grabbed for the brake and got the throttle instead
But the darn little Ford kept chuggin' right ahead.
Chorus:
Old Zeke Perkins, he lost the combination
But the darn little Ford kept chuggin' right ahead.
He went through the yard and down the lane
Melindy seen him comin' and she like to went insane
She run out in front and she stopped to see
And the Ford hit here squarely where the bustle ought to be.
She throwed up her hands and waved 'em in the air,
And as Zeke came by she grabbed him by the hair,
As they went through the yard she landed in a heap
In a big pud muddle about six feet deep.
He grabbed Melindy and he made for the shore,
He was glad the thing had stopped and couldn’t run no more.
He pricked up his ears, and he looked back and said,
"Well the darn little Ford's just a-chuggin' right ahead."
He grabbed the lever and he shut off the gas,
He broke off the pedals and he kicked out the glass,
He broke all the wires and ripped off the top,
But the darn little Ford it just wouldn't stop.
He got out his knife and he looked so mean,
Cut a hole in the tank, let out the gasoline,
Well he got out his gun and shot the tires full of lead,
But the darn little Ford kept a-chuggin' right ahead.
Chorus: -
He steered for the shed but, missing the hole,
He hit an old pig and you'd outer see him roll,
He went through the yard and he landed in a heap
In a big pud muddle 'bout six feet deep.
He grabbed Melindy and he made for the shore
Saying, he tried to stop and he couldn't go no more,
And he pricked up his ears and he looked back and said
"Well, the darn little Ford's just a-chuggin' right ahead."