Friday, March 19, 2010

Toon Music: "Steamboat Bill", "Turkey in the Straw"

This is the very song Mickey whistles in the debut cartoon Disney will never let you forget, 1928's Steamboat Willie. Words by Ren Shields, music by "Leighton Bros." (whoever they are), 1910 or 1911.

If you don't recognize this song, you probably don't exist.







Lyrics: http://dig.lib.niu.edu/twain/songs/bill.html

And of course, everybody knows this tune (it dates back to before recorded sound), but have you ever heard it with lyrics?







I'm not sure what to make of this version.

The same melody was also used for the rather racist tune "Zip Coon"- unfortunately (or perhaps not!) I can't find any version with the lyrics, if there are any.

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