A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)

[Wilson Gray]

On Mar 30, 2005, at 9:18 PM, Robert Fitzke wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Robert Fitzke <fitzke at MICHCOM.NET>
> Subject:      Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> The Verse seems to support the notion the author was turning lemons
> into
> lemonade. Laine's version changes "Takes trouble...." to "Always take
> my
> troubles with a great big smile" then "Just 'cause I'm always handy,
> Always
> feelin' fine and dandy, That is...."
>
> Did you get anything about the author?
>
Damn! I didn't think about that at all. Hm. I'll see what I can find
out. BTW, if I remember what I read correctly, way, way back when, Bing
Crosby did a version of this in which he was backed up by the Mills
Brothers. Der Bingle sang the "dirty" version, with the Brothers
backgrounding him with a cleaned-up version. Weird, even if not true.
*Really* weird, if true.

-Wilson Gray
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wilson Gray" <wilson.gray at RCN.COM>
> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 7:50 PM
> Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>
>
>> 1910 version of "Shine"
>>>
>>> VERSE
>>> When I was born they christened me plain Samuel Johnson Brown.
>>> But I hadn't grown so very tall, 'fore some folks in this town
>>> Had changed it 'round to "Sambo." I was "Rastus" to a few.
>>> Then "Chocolate Drop" was added by some others that I knew.
>>> And then, to cap the climax, I was strolling down the line
>>> When someone shouted, "Fellas, hey! Come on and pipe the shine!"
>>> But I don't care a bit.
>>> Here's how I figure it:
>>>
>>> CHORUS
>>>
>>> Well, just because my hair is curly,
>>> And just because my teeth is pearly,
>>> Just because I always wears a smile,
>>> Likes to dress up in the latest style.
>>> Just because I'm glad I'm livin',
>>> Takes trouble smilin', never whine.
>>> Just because my color's shady,
>>> Slightly different, maybe.
>>> That is why they call me shine.
>>
>>
>> On Mar 27, 2005, at 3:14 PM, Robert Fitzke wrote:
>>
>>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> -----------------------
>>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>> Poster:       Robert Fitzke <fitzke at MICHCOM.NET>
>>> Subject:      Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> --
>>> --------
>>>
>>> Dear Mr. Gray:
>>>
>>> I'm a 79 year old semi-retired lawyer and long-time ADS lurker. I'm
>>> also a
>>> long-time collector of jazz  records (since age 12) with something
>>> more than
>>> 1,000 albums. I recently bought a CD of Frankie Laine hits (he was
>>> big
>>> in my
>>> late teens/early twenties) that includes a cut of "Shine". In
>>> listening to
>>> it I think I really heard the lyrics for the first time. The thought
>>> ocurred
>>> that there must be something more behind these lyrics than it appears
>>> from a
>>> casual listen. Specifically it seems as if the lyricist has taken a
>>> collection of derogatory racial comments and turned them into
>>> compliments.
>>>
>>> You seem to have an interest in music and a knowledge of these
>>> matters. Do
>>> you happen to know anything about the background behind this song or
>>> if my
>>> impression is on or off target?
>>>
>>> Will appreciate your comments.
>>>
>>> Bob Fitzke
>>>
>>
>