I'd go down on my knees, but nobody's to blame

[sovay]

From the Department of Seriously, Who Knew: Tom Courtenay originated "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter."

I can find no other information about The Lads (1963) except that it produced at least three other songs (also written by Trevor Peacock) which don't seem to have become famous at all and hey, there's Ronald Harwood again. (And again!) I'm guessing it was about a band? Anyway, I like him better than Herman's Hermits.

I am off to the Coolidge Corner Theatre to try for Mahler auf der Couch (Mahler on the Couch, 2010). Chances of me not returning with Tom Lehrer stuck in my head: probably close to nil.

Comments

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

I used to have a copy of that song on (I want to say "on vinyl" which is technically correct, but weird) a children's novelty song album themed for the Red Baron. (started with "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron") I wonder if that album still exists anywhere.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

Tom Lehrer stuck in my head

I used to walk through a small quad to get to work, and it had its resident population of pigeons... so, you know what song I would be humming...

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I learned Mrs. Brown from Herman's Hermits, which was my 'Hmm, I don't want to listen to the Beatles right now' British invasion band.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. I'd no idea the song had a pre-Herman's Hermits history, although I do seem to vaguely remember having thought at one time or another that it had a somewhat older sound to it, not music hall, really, but as if it'd been written by somebody under the influence of such.

I hope you've enjoyed the film. And I can think of far worse songwriters to be stuck in one's head than Tom Lehrer.