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M - If a query has come in to which there is no answer, as yet, that
songtitle will appear in boldface, and in red.
MARES EAT OATS AND DOES EAT OATS
MOTHER'S LAMENT: (BABY DOWN THE PLUG HOLE)
MR. FLY
MR. MOON
MY GET UP HAS GOT UP AND WENT
MY ROOF'S GOT A HOLE IN IT AND I MIGHT DROUND
MARES EAT OATS AND DOES EAT OATS
Ivadean H. I am looking for the lyrics to several songs (includes LAY THAT
PISTOL DOWN see L page, and DAVY CROCKETT see D page)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Mares Eat Oats" is a nursery rhyme.
One of the writers, Milton Drake, had been familiar with the phrase "mares
eat oats, does eat oats," from a very old childhood nursery rhyme. The three
writers then got together and came up with a tune for the nursery rhyme.
While they tried to publish the song, no one would take it because it
sounded so silly. After a year, the writers gave Al Trace, a bandleader of
"Silly Symphonists," a shot. He liked the song and completed it. After it
was produced it became a huge hit. Even the American troops sang it in World
War II marching off ships at foreign ports. Soldiers also used the lyrics as
passwords. It was then spread around the world. After many years it was also
used in movies and TV shows.
Lyrics: Mares Eat Oats Words and Music by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman and Jerry
Livingston. This song was produced in Al Trace's 1943 record.
Mares-eat oats and does eat oats,
And little lambs eat ivy,
A kid will eat ivy too,
Wouldn't you?
Sung quicky, it sounds like this:
Maresy-doats and dozy-doats,
And liddle lamzy divey,
A kiddley divey too,
Wouldn't you-oo?
Q: From Fern W.& Jan S. MOTHER'S LAMENT: (BABY DOWN THE PLUG HOLE),
OH DEAR, WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE ( see “O” page)
We are trying to find some old songs that my Dad used to sing . One was
something about my baby has gone down the plug hole. about a mom who has a
tiny baby that disappears down the drain while being bathed .
The other has a chorus that goes
Oh dear what can the matter be, seven old ladies got locked in the lavatory,
they were there from Sunday till Saturday, nobody knew they were there.
Obviously they were very silly songs but now that our Dad has passed away
they are lost to us . Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
MOTHER'S LAMENT: (BABY DOWN THE PLUG HOLE)
A mother was washing her baby one night;
The youngest of ten and a delicate mite.
The mother was poor and the baby was thin;
'Twas naught but a skeleton covered with skin.
The mother turned 'round for a soap off the rack.
She was only a moment but when she turned back
Her baby had gone, and in anguish she cried,
"Oh, where has my baby gone?" The angels replied:
Oh, your baby has gone down the plug hole.
Oh, your baby has gone down the plug.
The poor little thing was so skinny and thin,
He should have been washed in a jug, in a jug.
Your baby is perfectly happy;
He won't need a bath anymore.
He's a-muckin' about with the angels above,
Not lost but gone before.
MR. FLY
Q. From RR: Hi - I am looking for a song that my daughter used to sing.
The first verse was: Mr Fly climbed up a tree, climbed as high as high could
be. Lost his grip, came tumbling down. Fell to pieces on the ground. We
cannot remember anymore of the song and I have been trying to find it on the
web. I am new at the computer, so would appreciate any hints that you might
have.
A. Thanks to Wendy who contacted us to say that she knew the missing lyrics
of Mr. Fly. . .
BUT, hear JULIE T. on the subject of Mr. Fly:
I've been looking for the words to the song "Mr. Fly" for a long time and
finally hooked into them on your website. But it seems to me there are two
lines missing before the words "where his tombstone bears his scrawl, 'He
who climbs too high must fall.'" It doesn't work with the tune I learned
without the missing two lines, but I can't remember them for the life of me.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Julie
So, can anyone fill in the missing lines?
Mr. Fly climbed up a tree, climbed as high as high can be
Lost his grip came crashing down,
Fell to pieces on the ground
When the insects heard the sound, echoing for miles around
They began to buzz and cry
"Quick, first aid for Mr. Fly,
"Where's the bandage, where's the splint
"Get some liniment and lint,
"Should we give him aspirin,
Or should we call a doctor in"
Then a wise ole flea spoke out
"You don't know what you're about
"He's beyond the reach of aid, get a pick and get a spade
"Where his tombstone bears his scrawl
"'He who climbs too high must fall'".
At last---the solution from Jeanne O'B.:
What a fantastic site! I am remembering that I've forgotten many things. I
was trying to remember the lyrics to the song Mr Fly...found them, on your
site. But, there was a line missing.
It goes like this...
Mr. Fly climbed up a tree, climbed as high as high can be
Lost his grip came crashing down,
Smashed to pieces on the ground
When the insects heard the sound, echoing for miles around
They began to buzz and cry
"Quick, first aid for Mr. Fly,
"Get a bandage, get a splint
"Get the linty lintamint,
"Someone give him aspirin,
Someone call the doctor in"
Then the wise old flea spoke out
"You don't know what you're about
"He's beyond the reach of aid, get a pick and get a spade.
_Then the insects finally knew _
_ What it was they had to do. _
"On his tombstone bears this scrawl
"'He who climbs too high must fall'".
Thanks for helping me remember my version that I learned from my dad.
Jeanne O'B.
And, thank you, Jeanne for coming up with the missing words!
MR. MOON
From: MaryAnn: My father used to sing a song to me in the late 50s early
60s called Mr. Moon.
I am looking for the writer, singer and lyrics.
This is what I remember of the song:
Mr. Moon, Moon, bright and shiney moon, won't you please shine down on me.
Your life is in danger, you'd better run, here comes a
Johnnie with a kettle and gun.
Do you know it? Thanks
MaryAnn T
"MY GET UP AND GO GOT UP AND WENT"
Q.From: Marie H. Enjoyed your site. I am lookiing for the lyrics
to a song my Dad use to sing called MY GET UP AND GO GOT UP AND WENT
Can you help?
A I think you are looking for a Pete Seeger song. For a wealth of
information about this legendary folksinger and his songs go to
[2]
GET UP AND GO
Chorus (and after each verse):
How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get up and go has got up and went
But in spite of it all I'm able to grin
And think of the places my get up has been.
Old age is golden so I've heard said
But sometimes I wonder as I crawl into bed
With my ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup
My eyes on the table until I wake up.
As sleep dims my vision I say to myself:
Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?
But though nations are warring and business is vexed
I'll stick around to see what happens next.
When I was young my slippers were red,
I could kick up my heels right over my head.
When I was older my slippers were blue,
But still I could dance the whole night thru.
Now I am older my slippers are black,
I huff to the store and I puff my way back.
But never you laugh; I don't mind at all,
I'd rather be huffing than not puff at all.
I get up each morning and dust off my wits
Open the paper and read the obits
If I'm not there I know I'm not dead
So I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed.
Words collected, adapted and set to original music by Pete Seeger (1960)
TRO (c) 1964 (renewed) Melody Trails Inc., New York, NY
MUSICAL CLOCK LULLABYE
From Denelle S. When I was young, I had a wooden clock from Fisher Price
that played a lullabye. One is shown on the Language Nursery DVD by Baby
Einstein. Does anyone know the words to the music?
MY ROOF'S GOT A HOLE IN IT, or DON'T LET THE RAIN FALL DOWN
Q. We're trying to remember a song that's something about My Roof's got
a Hole In It. . .
A. From Meredith C (aka Miss Merry from Storytime): My Roof's Got a Hole
In It is a piece of lyric from a favourite 60's song called (maybe) Don't
Let the Rain Fall Down. Here's what I remember of it:
Aha, oh no, don't let the rain fall down, [repeated three times]
My roof's got a hole in it and I might drown,
Oh yes, my roof's got a hole in it and I might drown.
There was a crooked man with a crooked little smile
He had a crooked sixpence and he walked a crooked mile
. . . (something about his crooked little wife, and all living together for
a
crooked little life, maybe).
Obviously the 60's were a while back. I'm thinking maybe the New Christy
Minstrels sang this song.
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From: Maureen O'C.
Subject: "My Roof's Got A Hole In It And I Might Dround"
Who did that song in 1964?
Reply: Please see above and has anyone else any more information to add to
this?
Here’s a version that looks complete:
From: Pamela A: The Serendipity Singers performed this song (along with
MANY other folktrad
pieces).
The chorus:
Ah, ah, Oh, no, Don't let the rain come down,
Ah, ah, Oh, no, Don't let the rain come down,
Ah, ah, Oh, no, Don't let the rain come down,
My roof's got a hole in it and I might drown;
Oh yes my roof's got a hole in it and I might drown
There was a crooked man with a crooked little smile
He had a crooked sixpence and he walked a crooked mile;
Had a crooked cat and a crooked little mouse
And they all lived together in a crooked little house. CHORUS
Well, this crooked little man and his crooked little smile
Took his crooked sixpence and he walked a crooked mile
Bought some crooked nails and a crooked little patch
Tried to fix his roof with a rat-tat-tat-tat-tat
surface> CHORUS
Now this crooked little man and his crooked cat and mouse
They all live together in a crooked little house
Has a crooked door with a crooked little latch
Has a crooked roof with a crooked little patch CHORUS (Soft)
CHORUS (Loudly)
Change the last two lines of the chorus to:
"My roof's got a hole in it (my roof's got a hole in it)
My roof's got a hole in it and I...might...drown.
Last revised: 28 October 2016. Conditions of Use.
Copyright © 2001-2016 by The Jack Horntip Collection.
1: http://www.horntip.com
2: http://www.peteseeger.net/