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| MUDDER AND ME. |
Many of us have memories of our mothers singing songs to us when we were children. My mother, The Dowager Duchess, still tends to burst into song at the drop of a hat (I mean the drop of a word). I inherited that trait. Just about everything makes me think of a song. And if you want me to remember something forever, just put it to music. The Duchess’s favorite songs for children were not those sweet little ditties most mothers sang to their kids. Hers were old vaudeville tunes or songs from films. I don’t know if Good Housekeeping would give their seal of approval to these songs being sung to a 2-year-old, but I sure enjoyed them and will remember them forever. And whatever damage they may have done to my emotional development… well, I’ve learned to live with it.
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THE DOWAGER DUCHESS AND THE ROYAL CONSORT (MY FATHER).
PRACTICING ONE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL LULLABIES.
(WITH THANKS TO MY COUSIN SHEREE FOR THIS CLASSIC PHOTO.)
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The first song is one of my all-time favorites. In trying to find it online today, I learned that it’s an old jumping-rope rhyme. I couldn’t find a video of it being performed so you’ll just have to imagine it being sung by the ever-surprising Dowager Duchess.
However, The Dowager Duchess apparently added her own personal twist to the last three lines. She didn’t sing them as above. Her lyrics were:
You should make videos of your Momma singing these. 🙂
Writer:
Now that is a great idea! I might try that the next time I visit. It sure would have been fun to have early ones, too.
that second photo is a hooteR!!
I love it
John:
I had never seen it until a few years ago when my cousin sent it to me (taken by her father). My mother had never even seen it. (And I haven't yet heard what she thinks of the whole world now having the opportunity to see it as well!)
Like John, I think that second photo is brilliant – it's pure frozen time!
The Owl Wood:
I love it too. She was 20. He was 21. And they had been married a very short time. Priceless.
My mom, La Gran Dama Eloi could sing and still can at age 97. Both her I sing to Savannah every day…not surprising since I was professional, card carrying AFTRA entertainer in my teens.
Neither one of us would sing the traditional Spanish lullabies like "Duermete mi niña"…we sing her stuff like Flamenco or love songs in Spanish. She is becoming used to French(Laurie's mom), Spanish and of course her mom being American -English.
Are you much into Flamenco?
saludos,
raulito
Raulito:
Savannah is very lucky to have you both. And oh how I would love to be a witness to one of your duets!
I enjoy Flamenco, but haven't learned much about it. Would love to start to recognize specific songs (and the right places to go in Sevilla).
Wow – I knew we had a lot in common. My mother used to sing to me all the time also, mostly Broadway tunes. And I also have that habit of a word or phrase causing me to break into song. In fact, I remember my mother saying, when I was a young teenager, "If you would remember your schoolwork the way you remember song lyrics, you would be brilliant!"
This made me smile (not an easy task these days)!
Carole:
I always remember you breaking into song when we were in our teens and 20s. You couldn't help yourself. I also remember you breaking into song when we were in the car with your father one time. It was a "Grateful Dead" tune… something to do with "Ridin' that train…" and I won't go any further than that. Needless to say, your father was not "well pleased," as they say.
I don't remember that particular incident, but I still love that song……..
Such nice memories Mitch. I am not sure how you can have such a keen memory for those things, I wish I did. There will come a day, very soon I fear that I will loose one of the people in my life who holds those memories. Your post brings home the fact that if you haven't already found a way to lock away all those good memories of your life, do it now.
Scott
Scott:
I used to say my head was filled with useless information. It's not so useless anymore. Great things to remember. And blogging really helps me preserve them.
This is so very cool…music especially these songs are so much fun and really easy to remember…your Mother was a Teacher…really she was….love old movies and musicals…Ginger and Fred…mmm!
Sophie/Ron:
My mother really did teach with her songs. I had a world history exam when I was in the 6th grade and the only reason I knew that Istanbul used to be Constantinople was because my mother loved to sing that song. A woman of so many talents.
I love that Constantinople song….guess what I'm humming right now!?Ron
Ron:
So am I… "Even old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why'd they change it? I can't say. People just liked it better that way… Nyah nya nyah nyah…" Oh god help me!!!
Now it ALL makes sense! No wonder you loved those songs, they are great and catchy!
I LOVE that second photo too! But for the coat your Mom is wearing…..Lambswool, right? They were so popular and I thought they were so neat!
A nod to your mother, Mitch, as I am sure she will read this!
Great post and how about a little tune Mitch by you! Come on!
Jim:
That coat is Persian lamb and The Duchess still has it.
In-person, I'm more than willing to break into song (it's hard to stop me), but you won't see me posting any singing videos!
Just today at work, a new employee, June, came in wearing a very lowcut dress, and I instantly began singing, ♪♫June is busting out all over♫♪
Bob:
Ha! I would have done the same thing.
I have a John Lithgow CD called "Singin' in the Bathtub" with a lot of those old songs. My favorite is "Codfish Ball". It's actually a kids CD, but I'm a huge fan of Lithgow (Third Rock from the Sun) and I just love the album. I'll bet you would too!
Ms Sparrow:
Oh, no. I had never heard of this John Lithgow CD. And now here it all is on YouTube. You might not hear from me for a while!
What a great story. My Mother was/is swell, but she sang no songs to us.
Ur-spo:
Mine can't help herself.
Oh that's a shame, the video isn't available any more. Songs and music do work brilliantly to lodge things in our memory – which is why I so easily recall songs about 'Two little men in a flying saucer' and the one about how a pink toothbrush met a blue toothbrush by the bathroom door……all nonsense, all lodged in my brain along with so many others. I am happy to say that at least one of my children has them lodged in her brain, too – I know this because we duetted them to Francesca only a couple of days ago! Fabulous photo of your parents.
I just found both your ditties on YouTube. It makes my nylon bristle!
Elaine:
I don't know if there ever was a video of "I won't go to Macy's…" since it was a jump-rope rhyme. Maybe I should get the Duchess to perform it for me — and my camera — (jump rope and all).
I'll have to see if I can find your ditties. Those are new to me. So glad they continue to travel down the generations.
Whatever the song or the words, as long as it comes from love, it's all good.
m.
You are so right, Mark. I'm trying to imagine what songs you sing to your kids.
We jumped rope as children and I would've loved to have skipped to these!
Pearl
Hi Pearl:
Thanks so much for visiting. I had never known anyone who had heard this rhyme… until this post. An old friend emailed to say she had grown up jumping rope to it in NY.
Love these funny old songs. Wish there was more of a trend for them nowadays too…
Jenny:
Maybe we'll have revive them and teach these two to the next generation!
I love that your mum used to sing you vaudeville songs! Very theatrical.
Jeff:
She used to grab my father and dance him around the house whenever a musical mood would strike her. He would pretend to go along grudgingly, but I know he loved every minute of it. Of course, when we were on a drive and she would invariably break into song, my sister and I would laughingly yell, "Dad, turn on the radio!"