“Some old SONGS, You never forget”

Just have to check out another old memory, since my son, Lee  was asking me about “Lambs”  – something in the BIBLE that he was reading – just to see,  if I knew the story – and before he could say too much, there I was singing this old song from the 1940′

 

 

 

Mairzy Doats: The Children’s Song

 

I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty,
others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:

Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?

If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing “Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy”

Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?

“Unforgettable memory – Aunt Irene…”

If you want small children to learn something “NEW” and “never – ever”  forget it  – be sure that they  are under the age of seven (7) years of age  – and make sure…you are having “FUN”  – – – since small children remember those times when they are having  more FUN …and the adults are having just as much FUN… with them!

During the early 1940s – – and WWII was also in full swing – that is when everybody was doing their part in trying to help … with the WAR effort – that is even our Aunt Irene  – – she was saving – since she would go to  the  downtown – Saint Louis  – department stores  – do her ordering and making arrangement for the merchandise to be sent out to her home.

Tuesday – that was the day – as Famous Barr stores gave double “Eagle Stamps” – and by saving on your purchases – well… everyone knows – you then have something for that “raining day” spending.

So… on Tuesdays – when getting on the BUS to come back home – Aunt Irene would be sure to get a “Transfer Ticket” so that she could catch the next BUS  – that is after having made a stop … at our house. Aunt Irene would be at our house before noon – and sometimes even had lunch with us. Then, she would always sit at my Mother’s sewing machine and either be making something for me or do some mending.

My two brothers and I would be standing around her as she would always have so much to say… but on this one occasion she taught us a “NEW SONG” that was very popular at the time on the radio. This “song” had words that – when you sang them a little fast and to the music as she did – you really didn’t know what you were singing – because it sure did sound “funny to your ears” and that was the whole idea of this song – – a play on the words – and as a little kid – I did not realize that then,  and not until I was working for the “Telephone Company” and I was working on the night shift.

We – that is – just a few workers – on the “night shift” and sometimes – so few calls coming through for assistance – that we “girls” had some spare time to talk about all kinds of silly stuff – which lead me to asking “Big MARY” – as she was a singer for some organizations on the side – I had ask her if she knew this old song and if she knew all the words???

A “Kid’s” Song

“Mares eat oats, and “Does” eat oats, and Little Lambs eat ivy – a Kid will eat ivy too, Wouldn’t you?  — If the words sound queer  and funny to your ears —  a little  bit Jumbly and Jivey,  sing – etc., —  you could go on with this forever.”

The words above are the correct words – but the way that I was singing them to “Big Mary” – well – she sure let me in on the whole song – the way – I should  say –  the correct way to sing this song  – and that with the correct words  – and sung fast … well that is where …the Jumbly and Jivey …do their thing.

I am guessing that this learning lesson came about when I was re-hired by the “Telephone Company” for the third or fourth time – as I had worked for them five (5) different times – Oh – almost forgot – I may have been in my 30’s … – took all that time to learn the correct and coolest words to an old song – that  our “Aunt Irene”… taught us three little kids… in maybe 1944???

Try singing those words and see if you don’t remember that old song – and then try to forget it – – That is one “old” song that just hangs on in the “memory bank” – forever!!! 


Posted in Childhood and tagged with no comments yet.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *