Today we're posting Shticks and Stones from Sherman's record My Son, The Folksinger (1962). It's hard to believe this album is 50 years old.. The references are so outdated, yet somehow still so hilariously clever.
It's a collection of eleven partial songs that could have been a whole new album, but instead, Sherman combined them into a five minute long medley. In his prime, Sherman was bursting with puns and ideas for song parodies. In his world view, Jews tended to be in the garment business, manufacturing, retailing, or sales, either as owners or workers, and his songs reflect the seasonal nature of those businesses.
His timing was impeccable, and his delivery was always timed to make a direct hit on the funnybone.
This medley includes two of our favorites, I Gave My Love a Cherry, a takeoff on The Riddle Song, one of the oldest English folksongs, and I'm Melvin Rose of Texas, a takeoff on The Yellow Rose of Texas. Here are some of the lyrics:
I gave my love a chicken; it had no bone.
I gave my love a cherry; it had no stone.
I gave my love a baby, and then you see, my love got very angry and she said to me:
I didn't mind the chicken without the bone.
I didn't mind the cherry without the stone.
But when you give a baby there's just one thing...
You ought to give at least an engagement ring.
Oh I'm Melvin Rose of Texas, and my friends all call me Tex.
When I lived in old New Mexico, they used to call me Mex.
When I lived in old Kentucky, they called me old Kentuck.
I was born in old Shamokin, which is why they called me Melvin Rose.
Thanks to Jerry Funk for posting this gem on YouTube.
Enjoy!
(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS: THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS. YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)
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OMG.....I can almost "taste" the time as a young kid listening to Allen with my family! Oh the laughs we had! THANKS SO MUCH! M.A.
ReplyDeleteAllan Sherman was a creative and comic genius. I grew up in Brooklyn in the late 40s and 50s and appreciate all the nuances of his work. The vinyl albums "You Don't Have to be Jewish" and "When You are in Love the Whole World is Jewish" are total gems along with Mel Brooks "2000 year old man"
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember a 'shtick' about a tribe of Native American Indians planning an uprising to protect their homes, however having difficulty setting a date due to the numerous Jewish Holidays? I can't seem to find it anywhere on the internet...yet.