Supporters' Club

[thereallynicelady]

It helps to offload sometimes, to know that there are others in the same boat. You are not the only one who is suffering supporting your loved one. Just talking about it may help. I'd like to post today about tunes that go round and round in your head, tunes that bring back certain memories, tunes that affect other people in your lives. One tune stands out for me and that is -

Whistling Rufus

I knew this tune and the words to the chorus before it was practised by my OH. I liked the bit where you had to whistle but after a few weeks I got a little fed up with whistling and listening to the tune. So did our neighbour, who still talks about it 30+ years on.

These are the words I know and they are probably not accurate.

Whistle a song like Whistling Rufus,

Doo, doo, doody, doo day (This is the whistling bit.)

Whistle along like Whistling Rufus,

Doo, doo, doody, doo day (Another whistling bit.)

When things go wrong think of old man Rufus

He's always happy and gay.

He whistles - doo doo 

Doo di doo doo doody doody (whistle-y bit)

Whistles his worries away.

There are other tunes but this is the one which stands out for me.

[Trevor Boyd]

Excellent! I have heard the tune many times and played it on various instruments but never knew it had words.   You'll be telling me next that "Teddy Bear's Picnic" also has a lyric :-)

[thereallynicelady]

Trapdoor, I did google to find the lyrics and none on the web were my version. The others I dare not show here!

Trevor - you don't know the lyrics to Teddy Bear's Picnic - I don't believe you!

[Trapdoor2]

Third try...I keep finding errors in my lyrics transcription. "Angles" is [sic]

 

Unexpurgated original lyrics

 

Whistling Rufus, or The One Man Band by Kerry Mills, lyrics by W. Murdoch Lind:

 

Down in de south whar de sly ole possum

Hides in de sycamore tree

Dar lived a coon name o’ Rufus Blossom

Black as a nigger could be

Rufe had a head like a big sledge hammer

Mouth like a terrible scar

But nuthin’ could touch him in Alabama

When he played on his old guitar.

 

Chorus:

 

Don’t make no blunder, You couldn’t lose him

A perfect wonder, they had to choose him

A great musician, of high position

Was Whist’ling Rufus the One Man Band.

 

Verse:

 

Miles he would tramp to a ball or party

In rainy weather or fine

When he arrived he was welcomed hearty

Out came the chicken and wine

When he was froo wid de wine an’ chicken

He’d play and whistle so grand

You’d think dat de angles on harps was pickin

And dey called him the One Man Band.

[Steve Harrison]

I have an mp3 recording of this song, remastered from an Edison record and performed  by Dan.W.Quin. I can't remember from which website I obtained it but the words are the same as those listed.

[Trevor Boyd]

Actually I do remember the Henry Hall recording of Teddy Bears' Picnic :-)

[Trapdoor2]

A few people still sing this...but with appropriately altered lyrics. Even then, the lyrics are not all that good...so most simply play it as an instrumental. It was published concurrently in 1899 as both a "March" and a "Song".

What I find interesting is that it is one of the few CB pieces to escape into the old-time fiddle/banjo tradition here in the states. The trio gets left behind but the A and B parts survive (although simplified considerably).

[Alan Sims]

there is atune i whiste often called i cant believe that your still in love with me . its on an lp i bought in 1957 by danish guitarist Jorgen Ingman .from guitar in hifi