A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)

Wed Mar 30 23:24:43 UTC 2005

Everything I write appears to be written from the left as well, unless I'm doing boustrophedon.

Oh, I see. Political left.

JL

Wilson Gray <wilson.gray at RCN.COM> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Wilson Gray
Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Mar 30, 2005, at 5:26 PM, Jerome Foster wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Jerome Foster
> Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> That was "Ballard for Americans" which Bing Crosby recorded, though the
> original version was recorded by the great Paul Robeson. I'm sure Mr
> Gray
> can provide the details of its provenance which I don't remember
> except that
> it was written from the left...
>
> Jerome Foster.

"'Ballard'"? Is "... written from the left ..." punning on Robeson's
involvement with the CPUSA?

-Mr Gray

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Fitzke"
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 4:46 PM
> Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail
>> header -----------------------
>> Sender: American Dialect Society
>> Poster: Robert Fitzke
>> Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ---------
>>
>> My folks used to have some of Bing's stuff. I don't remember ever
>> hearing
>> him do "Shine" but I do have a recollection of a multiple 78 disc set
>> that
>> was some kind of historical/patriotic thing in which he sings/talks
>> about
>> "We are endowed by our Creator wioth certain inalienable rights and
>> among
>> these rights ate LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS". I can
>> still
>> hear it my head. Also there were references to Chaim (?) Solomon and
>> other
>> Revolutionary figures. Stirring stuff to a kid in his single digits. I
>> used
>> to think Bing was somewhat square until I heard him do some stuff with
>> Louis
>> and then Ella. That changed my views. I also suspect he recognized the
>> in-your-face lyrics of Shine when he did his version.
>>
>> Bob
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Wilson Gray"
>> To:
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 12:36 PM
>> Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>>
>>
>>> On Mar 30, 2005, at 9:18 PM, Robert Fitzke wrote:
>>>
>>>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>>> -----------------------
>>>> Sender: American Dialect Society
>>>> Poster: Robert Fitzke
>>>> 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"
>>>> To:
>>>> 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
>>>>>> Poster: Robert Fitzke
>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

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