One Meatball - words
Abby Sale
> David Briggs (dbr...@crl.com) wrote:
> 'One : Meat ball' of the song's refrain. Desperately hungry, he asks
JK> This song is on one of the Josh White records from the late 50's,
It was, as far as I know, White's only actual hit & was a big play back
then.
Most of the following is from _The Josh White Song Book._
Yes, it's on _Josh White Sings_ (Stinson) AND _Josh at Midnight_
(Elektra).
It was written/arranged by Hy Zaret & Lou Singer in 1944 but based on an
older song. The original, "The Lay of One Fishball" (same general
story) was written by a Harvard prof in 1850. In 1862 Child, himself,
wrote a mock opera around it, "Il Pesceballo." The poet James Russell
Lowell translated it back to English.
Quite a history.
The words, mocking as they were, nevertheless reminded 1944 people of
the depression then & wouldn't hurt to consider now.
Well, the little man walked up and down
To find an eating place in town
He read the menu through and through
To see what fifteen cents could do
Cho: One meatball________, One meatball_________
He could afford but one one meatball.
He told the waiter near at hand
The simple dinner he had planned
The guests were startled one and all
To hear the waiter loudly call
Cho: One meatball________, One meatball_________
Hey, this here gent wants one meatball.
You know the little man felt ill at ease
He said, "Some bread, sir, if you please"
The waiter hollered down the hall
"You gets no bread with one meatball."
Cho: One meatball________, One meatball_________
Well, you gets no bread with one meatball.
The little man felt very bad
One meatball was all he had
And in his dream he hears that call
"You gets no bread with one meatball."
Cho: One meatball (and no spaghetti), One meatball (and no spaghetti)
or sometimes: (and that is all)
Well, you gets no bread with one meatball.
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