A GROUP OF SWELLS

Recently four of us (3 singers inclusive of wife and self) plus the pianist who entertains on a regular basis, gave a small concert to some of the residents of an aged care centre. The above number was one performed by my wife and self.

The full program inclusive of lyrics was:

It’s a long way to Tipperary  -

Up to mighty London

Came an Irishman one day.
As the streets are paved with gold
Sure, everyone was gay,
Singing songs of Piccadilly,
Strand and Leicester Square,
Till Paddy got excited,
Then he shouted to them there:
Chorus
It's a long way to Tipperary,
t's a long way to go.
It's a long way to little Mary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.

Paddy wrote a letter

To his Irish Molly-O,
Saying, "Should you not receive it,
Write and let me know!"
"If I make mistakes in spelling,
Molly, dear," said he,
"Remember, it's the pen that's bad,
Don't lay the blame on me!
Chorus
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to little Mary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.

Molly wrote a neat reply

To Irish Paddy-O,
Saying "Mike Maloney
Wants to marry me, and so
Leave the Strand and Piccadilly
Or you'll be to blame,
For love has fairly drove me silly:
Hoping you're the same!"
Chorus
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
0It's a long way to little Mary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.

When Irish eyes are smiling –

There's a tear in your eye, And I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow'r in your smile, Sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

Mountains of Mourne -

Oh Molly this London's a beautiful sight
where the people are workin' by day and by night
They don't sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat
but there's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street
At least when I asked them that's what I was told
so I took up my hand at this diggin' for gold
but for all that I found there I might as well be
where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea

I believe that when writing one wish you'd expressed
as to how the fine ladies of London are dressed
well if you believe me when asked to the ball
faith, they don't wear no tops to their dresses at all
Oh, I've seen it myself and I tell you in truth
I can't tell if they're bound for a ball or a bath
don't go startin' those fashions now Molly Machree
where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea

You remember young Peter O'Laughlin of course
well now he is here at the head of the force
I saw him one day I was crossing the strand
and he stopped the whole street with one wave of his hand
And there we stood talking of days long gone
while the whole population of London looked on
But for all his great power he's wishin' like me
to be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea
I saw England's King from the top of a bus
still I don't know him still he claims to know us
and though by the Saxon's we once were oppressed
still I cheered God forgive me I cheered with the rest
and since that he's visited Erin's green shore
we've been much better friends than we've been heretofore
when we get what we want we're as quiet as can be
where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea

There are beautiful girls here-Oh, never you mind
With beautiful shapes nature never designed
And lovely complexions all roses and cream
but O'Laughlin remarked with regard to the same
That if at those roses you venture to sip
the colours might all come away on your lip
So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea

 

I’ll walk with GOD –

I'll walk with god
From this day on
His helping hand I'll lean upon
This is my prayer my humble plea
May the lord be ever with me

There is no death though eyes grow dim
There is no fear when I'm near to him
I'll lean on him forever
And he'll forsake me never

He will not fail me as long as my faith is strong
whatever road I may walk alone

I'll walk with god
I'll take his hand
I'll talk with god he'll understand
I'll pray to him
Each day to him

And he'll hear the words that I say
His hand will guide my throne and rod
And I'll never walk alone
while I walk with god.

We’re a couple of swells –

We're a couple of swells

We stop at the best hotels
But we prefer the country far away from the city smells
We're a couple of sports
The pride of the tennis courts
In June, July and August we look cute when we're dressed in shorts
The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea
We don't know how to get there, no sirree
No sirree...

We would ride up the avenue

but we haven't got the price
We would skate up the avenue
but there isn't any ice
We would ride on a bicycle
but we haven't got a bike
So we'll walk up the avenue
Yes we'll walk up the avenue
and to walk up the avenue's what we like

Wall Street bankers are we

With plenty of currency
We'd open up the safe but we forgot where we put the key
We're the favourite lads
Of girls in the picture ads
We'd like to tell who we kissed last night but we can't be cads
The Vanderbilts are waiting at the club
But how are we to get there, that's the rub
That's the rub...

We would sail up the avenue

but we haven't got a yacht
We would ride up the avenue
but the horse we had was shot
We would go on a trolley car
but we haven't got the fare
So we'll walk up the avenue

Yes we'll walk up the avenue

And we'll walk up the avenue till we're there

 

 On the road to Mandalay   -

By the old Mulmein pagoda Lookin' eastward to the sea
There's a Burma girl a-setting, And I know she thinks of me.
For the wind is in the palm trees, And the temple bells they say
Come you back you British soldier, Come you back to Mandalay.

Come you back to Mandalay, where the old flotilla lay, Can't you hear those paddles chunking From Rangoon to Mandalay, on the road to Mandalay, Where the flying fishes play, and the dawn comes up like thunder, Out of China, cross the bay.

If there's something east of Suez, Where the best is like the worst, Where they're ain't no ten commandments, And a man can raise a thirst, For the temple bells are calling, And it's there that I will be, By the old Moulmein pagoda, Looking lazy at the sea, Looking lazy at the sea. 
Come you back to Mandalay, Where the old flotilla lay, Can't you hear their paddles chunking, From Rangoon to Mandalay, on the road to Mandalay, Where the fly in' fishes play, and the dawn comes up like thunder Out of China cross the bay.

With a little bit of luck -All

The Lord above gave man an arm of iron
So he could do his job and never shirk
The Lord above gave man an arm of iron
But, with a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck
Someone else will do the blink in' work
(With a little bit, with a little bit)
(With a little bit of luck you'll never work)

The Lord above made liquor for temptation
To see if man could turn away from sin
The Lord above made liquor for temptation
But, with a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck
When temptation comes you'll give right in
(With a little bit, with a little bit)
(With a little bit of luck you'll give right in)

Oh you can walk the straight and narrow
but with a little bit of luck you'll run amok
The gentle sex was made for man t'marry
To share his nest and see his food is cooked
The gentle sex was made for man t'marry
But, with a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck
You can have it all and not get hooked
(With a little bit, with a little bit)
(With a little bit of luck you won't get hooked)
(With a little bit, with a little bit)
(With a little bit of bloom in' luck)

You made me love you-

You made me love you
I didn't want to do it
I didn't want to do it
you made me want you
and all the time you knew it.
I guess you always knew it.

You made me happy sometimes
sometimes you made me glad
but there were times, dear
you made me feel so bad.

You made me sigh for
I didn't wanna tell you
I didn't want to tell you
I want some lovin', that's true.
Yes I do, indeed I do, you know I do.

Give me, give me, give me what I cry for
You know ya got the brand o' kisses that I'd die for
You know you made me love you.

You made me sigh for
I didn't want to tell you
I didn't wanna tell you
I want some lovin', that's true.
Yes I do, indeed I do, you know I do.

Give me, give me, give me what I cry for
You know ya got the brand o' kisses that I'd die for
You know you made me love you.

Familiar numbers for the future are as follows:  

        You are my hearts Delight – Franz Lehár

Girls were made to love and Kiss - - Franz Lehár

Pack up your troubles in your old Kit Bag – WW1 marching song

So in Love – Cole Porter from Kiss me Kate

Tea for 2- Vincent Youmans from No No Nanette 

My Blue Heaven – sold over five million copies.

It had to be you – from the films Melody and Melody Man

By By Blackbird – 1926 hit with numerous revisions

Yes sir that’s my baby – 1925 hit with numerous revisions.

Strange Music – Song of Norway.

I’ll be seeing you – popularized by Vera Lynn

The Desert Song- Sigmund Romberg.

Sing in’ in the Rain- centerpiece musical same name.

Baby Face – popularized by Al Jolson.

I whistle a happy tune – The King and I.

Try to Remember -The Fantasticks

Ah Sweet Mystery of Life – from Naughty Marietta.

Stranger in Paradise- Kismet

The Impossible Dream – Man of La Mancha.

The Rain in Spain – My Fair Lady

On the Street where you live – My Fair Lady.

You Raise Me Up.