For some reason I spent several days trying to remember a song - just kept niggling at my brain. All I could remember was a mother and gibberish response. I asked a couple of "worldly" folks in choir and they couldn't help. When it FINALLY hit me, neither they nor Sharon had ever heard of it. So, now I'm asking you... has anyone else heard it, or is it just me? The song is Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by that classic UK band "Middle of the Road". It spent four weeks at the top of the UK chart in 1971, but didn't chart at all in US. Here's a You-Tube version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPThE4tBARQ
Youtube is an amazing thing. I can see Chris playing in the GT band or hear the Danny Kaye performance of Tubby the Tuba. And most everything in between - all from my iPhone whenever I want.
As kids, we had some unusual music in the house. We grew up singing protest songs that I didn't understand - recordings by Pete Seeger's and Peter, Paul & Mary. We had several kids records like the aforementioned Danny Kaye in Hans Christian Anderson, storybook records ("Perry the Little Girl Squirrel" - to this day, I'm still frightened of "The Martin"). But then we had a couple of oddball 45s. Now later in life, I wonder how Nancy Sinatra singing "These Boots are Made for Walking" slipped into the collection. And one that I haven't quite got my arms around called "The Nightingale who sang Off Key"
It was almost twelve o'clock, time for bed
I fluffed up my pillow for my sleepy head
I went to the window and opened it wide,
and guess what I saw outside?
There were ten little whippoorwills, sitting in the moonlight
singing a lullaby
led by a nightingale who couldn't get the tune right,
now matter how he tried
(insert non-remembered lyrics involving crickets)
I had never heard of a nightingale who sang off key
Even youtube doesn't remember this one.
So - at least for today - I'm committed to having a Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep day! You should too!
Try: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Oldies-2943/Nightingale-song.htm
ReplyDeleteAnd here's where you can by a 45 record with this song on the flip side (assuming you can still play vinyl): http://www.cdandlp.com/item/2/0-181101-0-1-0/1043028543/eileen-rodgers-wait-til-tomorrow-the-nightingale-who-sang-off-key.html
ReplyDeleteI do recall some of the other lyrics, though not all and not in the correct order:
ReplyDeleteHis feathers were ruffled and his eyes were wet.
And the mockingbird laughed with glee.
At the lonely little nightingale who sang off key.
He tried and he tried
And I listened all night but he just couldn’t get it right.
Well they all few away and I never will forget
If I live to be ninety-three
The lonely little nightingale who sang off key
It was almost twelve oclock..time for bed.. I fluffed up the pillow for my sleepy head..I went to the window and opened it wide and guess what I saw outside...there were ten little whipporwills sitting in the moonlight...singing a lullaby..led by a nightingale who couldn't get the tune right...no matter how he tried...well he sang and he sang while the crickets held their ears and the mockingbird luaghed with glee.. they'd never heard of a nightingale who sang off key. well the little nightingale got upset.. his feathers were ruffled and his eyes were wet..he tried and he tried and I listened all night but he just couldn't get it right...there were ten little whipporwills sitting in the moonlight singing a lullaby...led by a nightingale who couldn't get the tune right no matter how he tried... well they all flew away and I never will forget if I live to be ninety three... that lonely little nightingale who sang off key
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks WebGodsess and anonymous for the lyrics update - sorry that I didn't notice until now. And that song still rattles thru my brain from time to time.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Mike
Found and bought the 45 on EBAY. Sounds so different from what I remember.
ReplyDelete