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L - If a query has come in to which there is no answer, as yet, that
songtitle will appear in _boldface, _and in red.
LAC (LAKE) ST. CLAIRE
LAY THAT PISTOL DOWN BABE
LILAC TREE (see also TYING APPLES ON A LILAC TREE on “T” page)
LITTLE BOXES
LITTLE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM
LITTLE PIG JOE
LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE
LITTLE REDWING (PRETTY REDWING)
LOVIN’ YOU IS MAKING ME BANANAS
LAC (LAKE) ST. CLAIRE
song about THE WRECK OF THE 'JULIE PLANTE' A LEGEND OF LAC ST. PIERRE
From: Diane B: Browsed your website, and you seem like the best bet to
identify this song! I've searched google quite a bit but my info is too
limited I guess.
My grandfather used to sing it in the early 1900s. He was 4th generation in
the Detroit area, and French. I only know a few phrases: "the wind he blow
like a hurricane, the sou' wind she blow too" and the song ended with "you
can't be drowned on the Lac St. Claire, so long's you stay ashore"
Sounds like you know something of this area--Lake Saint Clair is local to
the Michigan/Ontario area, so it must be a local song I believe I heard it
years ago on some radio program.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your time. Diane B.
Diane would really like to know more about this song.
_A.: _Cindy sent in all the lyrics with this note: I don't know about it
being turned into a song, but it is originally a poem by William Henry
Drummond called "The Wreck of the Julie Plante". The
lake in question is Lac St. Pierre.
[Ed. NoteAnd here’s what I found. I must confess that your quest has been
bugging me, and a search of some of the phrases turned up nothing. But, I
finally found a website that you ought to look at
It contains much information about a 19th C. Canadian doctor and poet named
William Henry Drummond (1854-1907). I think you'll find that the long poem
quoted there titled The Wreck of the 'Julie Plante,' A Legend of Lac St.
Pierre is what you've been looking for. "Pierre" and "Claire" being good
rhymes perhaps your grandfather just swapped one for the other, or as a
child you did the same. And here it is:]
THE WRECK OF THE 'JULIE PLANTE' : A LEGEND OF LAC ST. PIERRE
ON wan dark night on Lac St. Pierre,
De win' she blow, blow, blow,
An' de crew of de wood scow "Julie Plante"
Got scar't an' run below–
For de win' she blow lak hurricane,
Bimeby she blow some more,
An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre
Wan arpent from de shore.
De captinne walk on de fronte deck,
An' walk de hin' deck too–
He call de crew from up de hole,
He call de cook also.
De cook she's name was Rosie,
She come from Montreal,
Was chambre maid on lumber barge,
On de Grande Lachine Canal.
De win' she blow from nor'-eas'-wes',–
De sout' win' she blow too,
W'en Rosie cry, "Mon cher captinne,
Mon cher, w'at I shall do?"
Den de captinne t'row de beeg ankerre,
But still de scow she dreef,
De crew he can't pass on de shore,
Becos' he los' hees skeef.
De night was dark lak wan black cat,
De wave run high an' fas',
W'en de captinne tak' de Rosie girl
An' tie her to de mas'.
Den he also tak' de life preserve,
An' jomp off on de lak',
An' say, "Good-bye, ma Rosie dear,
I go drown for your sak'."
Nex' morning very early
'Bout ha'f-pas' two–t'ree–four–
De captinne–scow–an' de poor Rosie
Was corpses on de shore,
For de win' she blow lak hurricane,
Bimeby she blow some more,
An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre,
Wan arpent from de shore.
MORAL
Now all good wood scow sailor man
Tak' warning by dat storm
An' go an' marry some nice French girl
An' leev on wan beeg farm.
De win' can blow lak hurricane
An' s'pose she blow some more,
You can't get drown on Lac St. Pierre
So long you stay on shore.
LAY THAT PISTOL DOWN BABE, LAY THAT PISTOL DOWN
From Ivadean H. I am looking for the lyrics to several songs (includes Mares
Eat Oats, and Davy Crockett , which see)
(Aka) PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA
(Al Dexter)
Country singer Al Dexter wrote and then sang this song to the top of the pop
charts in the summer of 1943. Bing and the Andrews Sisters recorded the song
Sept. 27, 1943, and proved there were still a few bullets left in Ma's
pistol. Their version landed for 4 weeks in the No. 2 position of the pop
charts and sold more than a million copies, earning Bing yet another gold
record. Bing's recording also had the distinction of being the first song to
top the first Billboard country music chart when it was introduced Jan. 8,
1944.
CHORUS: Lay that pistol down, Babe.
Lay that pistol down.
Pistol packin mama
Lay that pistol down.
Oh, drinkin beer in a cabaret
Was I havin fun!
Until one night she caught me right
And now I'm on the run. CHO.
Oh, I'll sing you every night Bing
And I'll woo you every day.
I'll be your regular mama
And I'll put that gun away. CHO.
Oh, she kicked out my windshield
And she hit me over the head.
She cussed and cried and said I lied
And she wished that I was dead. CHO.
We're 3 tough gals
From deep down Texas way.
We got no pals
They don't like the way we play.
We're a rough rootin tootin shootin trio
But you ought to see my sister Cleo
She's a terror make no error
But there ain't no nicer terror
Here's what we tell her: CHO
Pappy made a batch of corn
The revenuers came.
The draugh was slow
So now they know
You can't do that to Mame. CHO
Oh, singing songs in a cabaret
Was I havin fun!
Until one night it didn't seem right
And now I'm on the run. CHO
THE LILAC TREE (see also TYING APPLES ON A LILAC TREE)
Q from Eapok: I am looking for the lyrics to the song "The Lilac
Tree" in which a little girl first rejects a little boy and then ties apples
on the lilac tree. Thanks.
A1. from Anne E. There was a request for the words to the song
about tying apples on a lilac tree. I can give the words as I heard them
sung, but I do not know the author or composer:
A little boy and a little girl, in an ecstasy of bliss;
Said the little boy to the little girl, "Pray, give me just one kiss."
The girl drew back in great surprise; "You're a stranger, sir," said
she,
"And I will give you just one kiss when apples grow on a lilac tree."
The boy felt very sad at heart; she was the only one.
And the girl felt quite remorseful at the terrible wrong she'd done.
So bright and early on the very next morn, he was quite surprised to see
His little sweetheart standing in the garden,
Tying apples on a lilac tree.
A2 an exchange from Glenda G. My cousin, Louzane below gives her
recollection of the words that
she asked me to confirm on the Internet, but I only found the title on a
50's album without the lyrics (see below)
Louzane W. wrote: Glenda, if you get tired of looking up old songs, just
say so. Here is another song Mama use to sing.
APPLES ON THE LILAC TREE
A little girl and a little boy in the midst of sea of bliss,
said the little boy to the little girl,
"Please give me just one kiss."
The girl drew back in great surprise,
"You're a stranger, sir," said she,
"and I will give you just one kiss,
when apples grow on the lilac tree."
The boy was very sad at heart.
She was the only one,
and the girl was very sorry for the terrible wrong she had done.
So bright and early on the very next morn,
he was much surprised to see,
his little sweetheart standing in the garden,
tieing apples on the lilac tree." Love, Louzane
*************
Dear Louzane
I didn't recognize this song till the very last line. I couldn't confirm
the lyrics, but found it on a 50's record album by Patience & Prudence at
http://www.ccmusic.com/item.cfm?itemid=CCM04442
PR: Thanks very much to both of you for sharing this exchange [:>)!
Q A LITTLE BLACK SHEEP
From: Barbara - My siblings and I are trying to remember a song that is way
out there on the periphery of all our memories....It begins something like
this: a little black sheep was playing one day, in a meadow so far away. Any
help?
_A_ From: CONNIE H
Hi! In answer to Barbara's request to "The Little Black Sheep" ... My twin
sister and I sang this song when we were little. Mama and Daddy would let us
sing in bed for awhile, before we went to sleep. This is one of the songs we
sang....
THE LITTLE BLACK SHEEP
The little black sheep
was playing one day;
in the meadows
where wild flowers grooow...
The sun went down
was then he got lost;
and he didn't know
how to get home.
He cried and he cried
for he had been bad;
and he wish he had
never done wrooong;
But then, he thought to himself,
"I'm just a black sheep,
they won't even care
that I'm gone."
"Here sheeep, Here sheeep!"
"Listen Little Sheep,
Poor little black sheep;
Someone is calling to yooou.
Listen Little Sheep,
Poor little black sheep.
Someone is searching
for you."
The master's big dog
found the little black sheep;
and down beside him
lay down on the grounnnd.
He barked and he barked
and he cried and he cried
so glad that the lost
had been found...
Sometimes boys and girls
like the little black sheep;
Get in trouble
when they disobeeey.
But if they'll always do
what they're told to do;
They'll always be happy and gay.
Connie H (and her twin sister Bonnie H)
LITTLE BOXES
_Q _From: James B: I have looked through your songs, and I like them... Did
I miss this one or where may I find it. He was talking about the houses and
"they are all made out of ticky tacky and they all stand in a row." Harry
Belafonte put it on a record a long time ago and I can not find it. Sorry,
but I do not remember any more of the words. Please help me find it. I would
like to have it for my grandchildren.
Thank you for your time. I always related this to "Real Estate" and
subdivisions.
I am sure my grandchildren will enjoy it as much as I did.
James B.
_A._ We remember it sung by Pete Seeger
[found on [2]]
Words and music by Malvina Reynolds
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there's doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
Words and music by Malvina Reynolds.
Copyright 1962, Schroder Music Company
(THE) LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE
Q. from Erin Millus: I have been searching for info about this song all
over the internet. I do know some things about it. Tell me about this sight
and how I can embellish about some lyrics and history?
A1 from Jan Horner: Here are the words to The Little Red Schoolhouse. My
dad taught it to us as we watched him shave!
In the little red school house with my book and slate.
In the little red school house where I was always late.
Remember how we listened for the four o'clock bell?
The minute we would hear it we would run like mad-
O gee! I wanna be in the little red school house.
I don't know if there is more to it or not.
A2 from Eileen H. Our dad entertained his 6 children with this song.
The words as I remember are as follows:
In a little red school house
With my book and slate
In a little red school house
I was always late
I re-mem-ber well (do not remember this exact line so just murmur & drag it
out)
In those days of yore
I used to stand right up there and holler
TWO AND TWO ARE FOUR
When we shoulda been learnin'
About the golden rule
Our little hearts were yearnin'
for the swimmin' pool
We could hardly wait for the four o'clock bell
The minute we would hear it we would run like.....MAD
Oh gee, I wanna be
In a Little Red School House
Ten o'clock spelling lesson just begun
Johnny throws an inkball just for fun
Hits the teacher's ear with an awful SPLAT
She turns around and says "Who did that?"
Purty little Percy on the very front row
Raises up his hand and says "Teacher, I know"
Little Johnny whispers to the teacher's pride
"You just wait till I get you outside"
Oh gee, I wanna be
In a Little Red School House
Johnny's told to stand with his face to the wall
He says "I don't wanna" and he tries to stall
"If I stand up there I take an awful chance,
I got a great big hole in the seat of my pants!"
Teacher sends you home to wash your face and then
You say "Oh what's the use, it just gets dirty again!"
Oh gee, I wanna be
In a Little Red School House!
A3 A variant from Lynne W. Hi There! I have more lyrics for The Little Red
School House. My mother taught it to me when I was little, and we always
sang it while traveling.
Sometimes I think I was a little fool
Back in those days when I used to go to school.
Now when I was a kid, gee, how I hated
The little place where I was educated.
Even though I didn't know it then
I wish that I was back again
In the Little Red School House
with my book and slate.
In the Little Red School House
We were always late.
Oh, now what I would give to be a scholar
In those days of yore.
How I'd stand right up there and hollar,
"Two and two is four!"
When we shoulda been learnin'
About the golden rule,
Our little hearts were yearnin'
For the swimmin' pool.
Now we could hardly wait for the four o'clock bell.
The moment that it rang we would run like......mad!
Oh gee, I wanna be-e-e in the Little Red School House.
Ten o'clock spelling lesson just begun.
Johnny throws an inkball just for fun.
Hits the teacher's ear with an awful splat!
Teacher turns around and says "Who did that?"
Johnny's told to stand with his face to the wall.
He says "Oh I don' wanna" and he starts to bawl.
If I stood up there I'd take an awful chance:
I got a great big tear in the seat of my pants!
Teacher sends you home to wash yer face, and then
You say, "Oh what's the use, it jus' gets dirty again?"
Oh gee, I wanna be-e-e in the Little Red School House.
A4, a variant, and a question from Amy M.J. But where I can get a copy
of the music?
Here's the rest of "In the Little Red Schoolhouse"
4 o' clock a spelling lesson just begun.
Zeke through an inkball just for fun.
Hit the teacher's ear with an awful splat.
She turned around and said "Who did that?"
Pretty little Heathcliff in the very front row
Raised up his hand and said "Teacher, I know.
Little Zeke whispered to the "teacher's pride"
"You just wait till I get you outside."
Zeke was told to stand up with his face to the wall.
He said "I don't wanna," and he tried to stall.
"If I stand up there I'll take an awful chance.
I gotta great big rip in the seat of my pants."
From Koop,
In a Little Red School house
With my book and slate
In a little red school house
Where I was always late.
How I yearn to be back there
When I was a scholar in the days of yore
When I got up and hollered that
Two and Two make Four!
When we shoulda been learnin
About the Golden Rule
Are little hearts were yearnin'
For the old swimming pool
Why we could hardly wait for the four o'clock bell
The moment it would ring we would run like HECK
O Gee I wanna be - in the little red school house!
BREAK
Ten O'clock the spelling lesson just begun
Johnny threw a inkball just for fun
It his the teacher's ear with an awful spat
She turned around and said "who did that!"
Little Percy Pickle in the very first row
Raised his hand and said, "Teacher I know"
Then Johnny whispered to the teacher's pride
"Just you Wait until I get you outside!"
Johnny's told to stand with his face to the wall
He sayd, "I don' wanna" and he tries to stall!
His says, "If I do I take an awful chance,
Cause I got a great big hole in the seat of my pants!"
LITTLE REDWING (PRETTY REDWING)
Q. From L.W.D. . . . my Mother is looking for the music for "Little Red
Wing" --any ideas
A.Here are the lyrics to "Redwing," at least the original, clean
version. This seems to be one of those songs that lends itself to all kinds
of parodies, few of them repeatable on a family website!
RED WING (from the Mudcat Cafe website): Words Thurland Chattaway; music
Kerry Mills
There once was an Indian maid,
A shy little prairie maid,
Who sang a lay, a love song gay,
As on the plain she'd while away the day;
She loved a warrior bold,
This shy little maid of old,
But brave and gay, he rode one day
To battle far away.
CHORUS: Now, the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing
The breeze is sighing, the night bird's crying,
For afar 'neath his star her brave is sleeping,
While Red Wing's weeping her heart away.
She watched for him day and night,
She kept all the campfires bright,
And under the sky, each night she would lie,
And dream about his coming by and by;
But when all the braves returned,
The heart of Red Wing yearned,
For far, far away, her warrior gay,
Fell bravely in the fray. Repeat Chorus
LOVIN’ YOU IS MAKING ME BANANAS
Q from S.: Looking for the lyrics to a song called "LOVIN YOU IS MAKING
ME BANANAS"... or something very close to that... if you can help out, I'd
appreciate it
A1 from -“the Panda” (And many thanks for solving this little mystery!)
Loving You is...
Oh your red scarf matches your eyes,
You closed your cover before striking,
Your father had the ship-fitter blues,
Loving you is making me bananas. (Repeat this, then: )
You burned your finger that evening
When my back was turned,
I asked the waiter for iodine
But I dined all alone. (Then repeat the first part.) I love this song!
A2 From Becky G. who says that it's a phrase from the song Winchester
Cathedral:
". . . and the line is ‘your red scarf matches your eyes and loving you has
made me bananas’. Don't know if that's the song. It's silly and fun and I
remember it well from the 60's.
Last revised: 28 October 2016. Conditions of Use.
Copyright © 2001-2016 by The Jack Horntip Collection.
1: http://www.horntip.com
2: http://www.sisterschoice.com/eartogroundlyrics.html