What is it about the bathroom that causes my mind to wander into tidbits that you would think I should have forgotten more than five decades ago? I never know what will pop into my head when I am brushing my teeth or showering or . . .
Mind you, the way my mind works, which I admit to not actually working too well, this phenomenon can occur anywhere at any time: driving the car, grocery shopping, peeling potatoes, or watching a less than gripping tv program. I might very well even lose concentration and go off into space while writing a post.
. . . Now, where was I?
However, this time I was, indeed, in the bathroom when the lines and music of a song from 1959 popped into my head. as you will read below, it did well enough on the charts for a time, but I don't imagine that I've heard it much since then. The fact that it faded from society quickly is probably not a bad thing.
I speak of the states song, Delaware, by Perry Como.
"Delaware" is a popular song, written by Irving Gordon. The song was published in 1959 and has references to 15 states of the United States. The states were portrayed, in the form of puns, as: Della wear, new jersey, Calla 'phone ya, how ar' ya, Missus sip, mini-soda, Ora gone, I'll ask 'er, taxes, Wiscon sin, new brass key, Arkan saw, Tenne see, Flora die and misery . . .The hit version of the song was recorded by Perry Como on December 28, 1959. Wikipedia
Apparently, one is not permitted to post the lyrics although people do. I shall spare you the whole song, but you can read the entire lyrics here if you so desire. If not, you can hear them in the subsequent clip, below, which is not a long one. Meanwhile, I present you with a few of the puns.
Oh, where as ore gone, boy ...
She went to pay her taxes,
Oh, what did della wear boy ...
She wore a bran' new jerseyOh, how did wiscon sin, boy,
She stole a new brass key,
Too bad that arkan saw, boy,
As poorly as they read, they do come off better in the actual song by Perry Como. It's not a very long clip, thank goodness.
Sounds vaguely familiar. Hope I don't get an ear worm from listening to the clip.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of that song. It sounds like a groaner.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fun, and don't remember it from my childhood, though Perry Como was an entertainer who we heard some.
ReplyDeleteOh, that ear worm song, arghgh, save me!
ReplyDeleteI hadn’t heard that song. Interesting! Thank you for an amusing start to the day, AC.
ReplyDeleteI remember it from long ago, and I will spare myself hearing it again to spare myself from getting an earworm. It is clever, though, I admit. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like puns, too. You certainly don't have dementia!
ReplyDeleteI remember singing that song in my elementary music class.
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ReplyDeleteDrat you, AC. I had, mercifully, forgotten this.
ReplyDeleteYes, word play. Game of choice.
A clever punny song. I've never heard of it before! But then I'm a "spring chicken" of 65. :)
ReplyDeleteI never heard that song before. Thanks for sharing. Bathrooms have a special ability to make the mind wander, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall that song at all and I liked Perry como.
ReplyDeleteI would have been 11 then too, and I do have a vague recollection....
ReplyDeleteI remember that song from elementary school .
ReplyDeletePipeTobacco
Never heard of that song. But last Monday I was in Antique store and they were playing some older country western songs my parents listen to. And one of the tune got stuck in my mind.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
I like puns too but the song is brand new to me. In 1959 I was a senior in high school and my ears were full of The Drifters, The Platters and The Everly Brothers. I will have to share this with a friend of mine who is a true Pun Queen. She will love it.
ReplyDeleteNever heard this one.
ReplyDeleteMy dad would have loved it with his delight in word play. :)
This is delightful. I hope I remember this when the Bigger Grand (he's nearly 5) gets old enough to get the jokes and understand the states! It's very clever and they must have had fun writing it! Never heard it before so thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI remember this. On my little red transistor.
ReplyDelete