I t'ought I t'aw a puddy-tat, a creeping up on me

[venta]

Oh, and while we're on with daft song-related issues, I'm just curious as to whether anyone will respond in a manner I'm expecting:

He's my brother, Sylveste!

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

(What's he got?)
He's got a row of 40 medals on his chest (big chest)
killed 40 indians in the West, he knows no rest
(bigger the man, bigger the punch
plenty of room for you and me
don't push, just shove)

[venta.livejournal.com]

Well, I was only expecting the "What's he got?" but I think that gets you a gold star :)

(Move along, down the bus!)

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

*grin*

My dad used to sing it.

[(Anonymous)]

The chorus starts:
"That's my brother,
Who?
Sylveste!
What's he got?
He's got a row of etc

[venta.livejournal.com]

Are you my mummy ?

[(Anonymous)]

No. Merely your friend.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Ah. Hello. You're posting from a different IP address to usual :)

[(Anonymous)]

See here.

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4099

Lots of opportunity for audience response. e.g. "he's got an arm, what's it like? it's like a leg, a ladies leg"

W

[venta.livejournal.com]

Also, according to certain seditious sources, a punch that could sink a battleship.

[(Anonymous)]

"BIG SHIP"
Takes all the army and the navy to put the wind up...
Who?
Sylveste!

[mr_magicfingers]

Oh now that takes me back, a long way. Nice to see I'm not the only one who remembers that. It was on an old tape of my mum's called Poems and Pints.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Our version was on a vinyl LP - can't remember what it was called, but it was a live recording of The Yetties in concert.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

He's got a row of fifty medals ([or some such number] on his chest?

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe I was exaggerating slightly about the medals. But it's still pretty impressive.

I only know the chorus (via my mum), not the verse. Wow, and looking at the full lyrics it seems to be American. I'd always assumed it was a London thing like most of her songs.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I've never really thought about its origins. I guess American is logical, though, since in the version I know Sylveste is clearly in NYC.

Jumped in the harbour in New York,
And he swam like a man made of cork.