Rudy Vallee - The Drunkard Song (There Is A Tavern In The Town) 1934 Laughing Version

Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees
This Song Reached #6 On US Music Charts In 1934.
This Is The Laughing Version.
Rudy Vallée (July 28, 1901 -- July 3, 1986) was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.
One of his record hits was "The Drunkard Song," popularly known as "There Is a Tavern in the Town." Vallée couldn't stop laughing during the first take, and managed a second take reasonably well. The "laughing" version was so infectious, however, that Victor released both takes. Song Written by William H. Hills.
Victor released two versions of this song. A "straight" version and one in which Rudy Valee cracks up laughing. The Laughing version was an instant hit.
There is a Tavern in the Town
Lyrics:
There is a tavern in the town, in the town
And there my true love sits him down, sits him down,
And drinks his wine as merry as can be,
And never, never thinks of me.
cho: Fare thee well, for I must leave thee,
Do not let this parting grieve thee,
And remember that the best of friends
Must part, must part.
Adieu, adieu kind friends, yes, adieu
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you,
I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree,
And may the world go well with thee.
He left me for a damsel dark, damsel dark,
Each Friday night they used to spark,
Used to spark,
And now my love who once was true to me
Takes this dark damsel on his knee.
And now I see him nevermore, nevermore;
He never knocks upon my door, on my door;
Oh, woe is me; he pinned a little note,
And these were all the words he wrote:
Oh, dig my grave both wide and deep, wide and deep;
Put tombstones at my head and feet, head and feet
And on my breast you may carve a turtle dove,
To signify I died of love.

[@anetttorok7512]

Ooofff... my Stucky feels.

[@asgard_reject4006]

fr😭😭

[@MickyMaus-jg2wn]

soo true

[@lotus4972]

So I came cause of Captain America and can I just say: listen to this song imagining Bucky's perspective about Captain America. You're welcome.

[@anetttorok7512]

After the EG this hit me harder than I'd want to admit.

[@kimberlyolson99]

this hurt so much

[@elyeliza8287]

Same here

[@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim]

I am not going to get depressed because of a movie, I'm not going to get depressed because of a movie, I'm n-

[@thantheerawawatrat9398]

**cry in the corner* I'm not okay 😭

[@briankillgore9260]

OMG, I haven't thought of this song in 50 years. When I was a kid in the '60s my dad gave me a ukulele for Christmas and taught me the songs he knew from his days in WWII. I still remember every word and every stanza of this song. I had no idea that Rudy sang it, though. Very nice memory. My dad would have turned 97 this month.

[@trackdusty]

Learned it in the Australian Boy Scouts. Alas they eventually expelled me.

[@danjohnson8170]

My father would be 102 this month. He sang this song from time to time, and it always made him happy.

[@MrAlcazar]

Heard this in Captain America. I never got this tune out of my head since.

[@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim]

The laughter combined with depressing lyrics sums up how I feel a lot of the time. :p

[@Redryeder]

When I was a very small boy in the late 40's, we had this recording on a 78 record. First time I have heard this in over 50 years. Thanks for the memories.

[@BillyDBunny]

The story is that the band started making faces at him and he got the laughies. It worked out so well that the laughing was included in the other performances in public.

[@jintzie1950jth]

Billy D. Bunny That is neat to know. What fun! Thank you.😄

[@BillyDBunny]

@@jintzie1950jth Well, ain't you a nice lady! Best of luck to you, stay safe. Adieu. Oh, check this out - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4fCfKKjprOngbs And you thought you knew what voice control meant!

[@michaelachhammer9600]

In an interview on the Dr. Demento Show, he said that he is a grammar purist and realized there was an error in grammar in the song which caused him to laugh. In those days, the recording was done on a wax cylinder that had to be taken from an oven at the precise temperature. After the fourth take they told him if he laughed, that is how it was going to be released.

[@BillyDBunny]

@@michaelachhammer9600 Good to hear from you, Sir. I am a big fan of Dr. Demento, he really made my teen years interesting. I do not believe for one second that this was recorded on a wax cylinder, the very last Edison recordings on such media were ended in November 1929. In addition cylinders could not be stamped out, they were yesterday's technology by 1934. As always, if you have info to the contrary I humbly beg for... re-education!

[@GoldwaterB]

@@BillyDBunny You are dead correct. Edison lost the battle of his cylinders vs. Berliner's flat disc, which lasted way longer than it should have because of his pride and stubborness, imo. "Cylinders could not be stamped out" -- literally, yes, whereas flat discs were easily stamped out from a mold. Did you mean figuratively, i.e., rendered obsolete?

[@dominicsanimatedreviews5966]

Anyone else had an old relative that sang this? A grandmother figure I had in life used to sing this song whenever "Head shoulders knees and toes" played.

[@janicekociol7702]

I have lived my entire life ( more than half a century) without realizing until about 10 minutes ago that this is the same tune as Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. It finally occurred to me when one earworm led to another.

[@sodamnlucky8]

Apparently Canadians sing it to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down

[@RAMROD4708]

Great version of the song and a credit to Vallee's professionalism when he continued to sing until the last chord! Under the same circumstances, I probably would have called it quits if I broke up on a hot mic!

[@user-ro9bl4oh7m]

Here because of Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) ;( Oh...Bucky...

[@huonggiangangtran2398]

宅兔 me too this song gives me too much feels

[@bridgetbrodie2332]

Same #DestroyMe

[@ririsasy]

宅兔 same !!! Bucky You unfortunate gay boy. Say it ! Captain is so dense. You need to say it to his face that you love him !

[@lotus4972]

lone wonderer big mood

[@michaelleiner9004]

@@ririsasy he’s such a little pining gay it hurts my heart

[@fromthesidelines]

Recorded on September 7, 1934. The label this was issued on was a plain white one, and had this written: "Dear Rudy: What do you say we let the public have this one? The 'slip-up' makes the record much funnier. E[dward]. Wallerstein {Victor record executive}"/"OK R Vallee"

[@Linda98671]

what a wonderful song and Rudy Vallee is laughing which made it most endearing! Thank you Mr. Vallee for making my day!!

[@MrJamieMurph4141969]

Very reminiscent of the 1930s; we can tell this definitely came from one of those old 78 rpm records.

[@marknuter750]

I learned this song in the 50's listening to it on a scratchy 78 and singing with my mother. Thank you so much for posting it. Brings back dear memories.

[@Customsigncenter]

I never heard it on a record, my Dad used to sing to my and my sister in the 60's, he was so funny, this and the Mountain County Jail song which I can't find but I did get him singing it on our way Easter dinner a few years before he passed away. What a fun song. If I could remember how it starts I could remember most of it. He also sang Old Dan Tucker songs.

[@CanisLupus4844]

My introduction to this song was also in the '50s. What great times, we had.

[@NelsonStJames]

I guess I need to watch Cap again, because I don't remember this song from the film, I just stumbled here after binging Rudy Vallee songs.

[@sparky6086]

My grandmother was born in 1905 in Alabama. I remember her saying, that Rudy Vallee was the big heart throb pop singer for her generation, like Frank Sinatra or Elvis would be later. Listening to him, I think, that he influenced Nat King Cole's style of singing. Fun fact: Rudy Vallee was actually from Canada, but he still made something of himself!

[@maxinedunnett8353]

Not heard this version before what a hoot! Great pub song resonates with me! Heart ache! Lol 🤣

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

He was born in Vermont and raised in Maine. His maternal grandparents were Irish, and his paternal grandparents French-Canadian. Thus, he was second-generation American.

[@steveehrlich6009]

Adyou

[@fadette5995]

J'avais appris cette chanson en cours d'anglais dans les années 70 .et je m'en souviens toujours.😊

[@Mochrie99]

The first comedy song, LOL, love how they lost control and laughed for a good chunk of the last half of the song.

[@cemercialjoot614]

oh bucky... :(

[@fazbell]

My Dad used to sing this song around the house. He was born in 1906.

[@Wildemere1]

We sang this at my dad's funeral in 2018. Made everyone bawl! We had player pianos growing up and my dad would play various oldie rolls and sing along.

[@Climpus]

a TEACHER AT MY PREP SCHOOL IN EAST GRINSTEAD, SUSSEX ENGLAND, ONCE GOT UP FROM A HISTORY LESSON AND SUDDENLY BANGED THIS OUT ON THE PIANO - NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE AND NOW, 45 YEARS ON, i HER IT AGAIN - FOR THE FIRST TE SINCE. Just looked up from typing to see the caps lock key was on - can't be arsed to re-type it.

[@jeanettenielsen6014]

My English Teacher taught us this song during Class. We had room to roam - as long as we did it speaking, singing English

[@johnprovince5304]

In a 1979 interview with Dr. Demento Rudy Vallee said his band started making faces at him while recording this song.

[@lightsoaring4699]

The memories of my mom singing this to me when I was going to bed..

[@TheFanguy123]

the laughing makes this great

[@flannerymonaghan-morris1317]

TheFanguy123 yes! It makes him very relatable, and since this is a song about a drunk dude, the laughing makes sense. The laughter is unintentional though; a combination of the ridiculous lyrics and your band mates making funny faces at you will do that.

[@Zerbey]

I was once given a stack on 78 records by an elderly friend of my parents, and this recording was on them. I could never remember the name of the song, but I finally found it. Thanks for the great childhood memory!

[@vacuumlover1]

*HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES*

[@kysjohnson2731]

got this from head shoulders knees and toes

[@holyspacemonkey]

I first heard this song in the 1935 movie Jalna on Turner Classic Movies. Love it!

[@yugandali]

I learned this by singing along with my father (in the 50s). I haven't heard it for decades. Thanks for posting.

[@bananacornpuff3434]

Am I the only one here because I wanted to know more about that history behind “ Head, shoulders, knees and toes.” ? That’s awkward.

[@gregmilliken9659]

I love Rudy Vallee!! He grew up in Westbrook Maine, near where I live. When I was in the plumbing and heating service, I worked on the house Rudy grew up in, his sister was living there then.

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

His is an accent no longer used in 2021. Americans sounded very different back then.

[@saborflamenco1137]

He was Canadian and retains elements of a British accent which was typical of Canadian speech at that time. But the other thing is that children in that period and most performers, whether actors or singers, would have had elocution lessons to teach them to pronounce clearly and correctly. You can hear this a lot in the classic US films of the 30s and 40s where many of the lead actors speak rather like this.

[@Chapin-pc2kz]

@@saborflamenco1137 This was a put-on. Rudy Vallee did not sound like this in real life. He had a standard American accent. Just watch his interviews and films/TV appearances. It was mainly pretentious actors/broadcasters who adopted that phony Mid-Atlantic accent. Also, he was not Canadian. He was born in Vermont but grew up in Maine and is buried in his hometown there. His paternal grandparents were French-Canadian, though. His mother was of Irish-English descent.

[@aresee8208]

Canadian? He was a New England Yankee. Why would somebody just make up stuff like thst?

[@user-su3ys3nt8o]

tik tokのテキトーに歌うやつから

[@user-rl3uh9wr9v]

シモンケアー おなじですーー

[@user-bi7oo7ij5s]

同じくw

[@MINIMAN_-kh6yh]

同じく！

[@user-pm4yf3ig5s]

同じく！

[@aay6157]

同じく笑

[@83JACKO]

Head shoulders Knees and toes Knees and toes

[@emptyspotlight]

Love London i thought Animaniacs

[@daniexists6]

It's time for Animaniacs And we're Zany to the max So just sit back and relax, you'll laugh til you collapse We're Animaniacs!

[@DantheToonMan]

Dani Kimbrell Come join the Warner Brothers and the Warner sister Dot Just for fun we run around the Warner movie lot They lock us in the tower whenever we get caught But we break loose and then vamoose and now you know the plot

[@janettewalker3991]

So different for Vallee, what a hoot.

[@TEMUistheworst]

BEST ONE YET!!

[@SenpaiGanseki]

I've had a clear memory of a girl singing the first two lines of this song to a frog on the early 90s Nickelodeon show "Solute Your Shorts" that has been popping up randomly in my head the last 30 years... I finally searched for those lyrics just now and found this... Never heard the whole song before. :)

[@christinevicker9017]

Oldie but goodie

[@jeffreyfreeman4843]

A portion of this song was sung at my teen camp.

[@user-hg5bs1bh9k]

tiktokから来た

[@user-ou6wn2vs3h]

おなじく

[@user-yp5uo5oz1w]

同じく

[@user-ju9lb2wo6q]

同士がいた！

[@user-to2bv6sq6v]

おなじく🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

[@tentenquest9898]

同じく笑 こんな曲なんやね！笑小学校でよぉ流れやったわ笑

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

Ruddy a legend

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

I'll I have to say is old school ruddie rules

[@marcelbiangolino6967]

Grande música! Abraços do Brasil

[@andip8396]

i was born in 2001,,, man i like old music tho

[@alalahoward1299]

You're almost 22, Andi!

[@jrakg]

Sometimes the gramophone caught genuine hilarity. - John Austin, Australia

[@BenSmith-hp9wu]

That laughing bit is seriously creeping me out. Hope I'm not the only one...

[@nogdude23]

Very surprised to hear him laughing here...Vallee usually takes a serious approach to his songs. Was nice to see him kinda break out of that spell :)

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

I know most of ruddie son

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

He never takes it serious cause life is to mysterious life is just a bowel of cherrys

[@RadBonez]

This is one of the coolest recordings ever, I wonder what was making him laugh?

[@dinahhaile2503]

He said in an interview that his bandmates were making faces at him while he was recording this

[@thepianocian]

We’re the Animaniacs And we’re zany to the max So sit back and relax You’ll laugh til you collapse We’re the Animaniacs

[@JK-dx4ob]

Well, rather try: 🎶🎵🎶 Head, shoulders, knees, and toes (Knees, and toes) Head, shoulders, knees, and toes (Knees, and toes) Aaaand eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose Head, shoulders, knees, and toes (Knees, and toes) 🎶🎵🎶

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

Love that shit absolutely brilliant

[@j-me6317]

Pretty funny. How did you come to listen to this guy's music?

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

J-Me the film killing them softley with brad pit and ray lamote also toney soprano /galdifini great film also forgive my spelling I'm drunk did you listen to the the buther boy another great song of his

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

J-Me , would you look where I am 😂

[@leonardosalas4350]

Gabriel Guía sends me

[@YoungABBALover2046]

The adult version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"!

[@MrMuppetLover]

So this song is where we get the melody of the children's song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"?

[@derewreck]

Head shoulders knees and toes.

[@SuperBartles]

What's funny is how tragic the words are, yet the tune is rather upbeat sounding... He tries to stop laughing as he tells us he "died for love" (I know the story: that they were making faces at him)

[@bad_cat8830]

La tumba♡

[@trippcory]

Odd how the music to one of hte most popular kid's songs ever came from a song about someone dumping their lover because they were more interested in the new tavern than them

[@TabithaEasleycoffeeblog]

....it wasn't about the tavern. The guy found another girl that he liked better.

[@brooklynbbyloz]

Captain Rogers brought me here

[@chrismulwee4911]

It's The Animanics Theme!! Seriously it's the same melody as this.

[@AvitalShtap]

Why was he laughing?? Is it the cheesiness of the lyrics? LOL!

[@flanplan5903]

That, and also his bandmates were goofing off and making funny faces.

[@steveehrlich6009]

Sounded like when Stan Laurel was laughing when he was tickled in Way Out West.

[@chaiwiwaths4jgi320]

2020?

[@TALDR27]

Bert Weedons Play in a Day Guide to Modern Guitar Playing alguien mas? somebody else?

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

Hang my heart on weeping willow Tree any body out there that knows any ruddie stand up let me know the man's hilarious

[@Customsigncenter]

ok, here is how it goes: I was sitting on the corner, not doing any harm. along came a copper and he grabbed me by the arm. He to me to the courthouse and rang a little bell. and along came a copper and he took me to my cell. I woke up next morning and guess what I saw. The bedbugs and mosquitoes was havin a game of ball. The score was 6 to nothing the mosquitoes was ahead, the bed bugs knocked a homerun and they knocked me out of bed. (at easter he stopped here and I said keep going, he said where was I and I said you got knocked out of bed by the bedbugs, he turned, looked at me and said "I didn't get knocked out of bed" and laughed. lol ) I got up for breakfast and guess what I had. The coffee tastes like backker juice and old stale bread. they give you a little bit of cheese and boy did it smell and that's the way they treat you in the mountain county jail! I loved hearing him sing it and can still hear it in my head. going to have to find that video now. lol

[@oscar98z]

La tumba- José Agustín

[@eteprepus]

Pimpernel Smith

[@user-sn2ki9ge1w]

TikTok からきたけどこの曲のサビなんか子供が英語で歌うHead, Shoulders, Knees & Toes(頭、肩、膝、つま先)に似てない？笑

[@topbreak38]

We're Anima~niacs!

[@dinahhaile2503]

And we're zany to the max!

[@jisims95]

It's time for Animaniacs!

[@user-ph2zf9kr1d]

TikTokのやつの方が好き

[@Customsigncenter]

My Daddy taught me this song when I was very little. the words were just a bit different. they were like the words here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Is_a_Tavern_in_the_Town

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

Custom Sign Center Super Sign Showroom , is that Trinity college Dublin Ireland?

[@Customsigncenter]

I bet not. this is our company account. I attended OSU, SSCC and IADT all in ohio. :)

[@user-ri5uw8jt9r]

TikTokの適当に歌った歌の方が好き笑

[@pintificate]

I never could work out the sex roles in this song. Can anyone explain it? They seem to swap halfway through. But Vallee wasn't hotel-motel, was he? .

[@theBaron0530]

Sung from the perspective of the woman scorned.

[@JK-dx4ob]

Gay anthem, through and through! 🍺😁🏳️‍🌈

[@cameronrose8395]

TikTokからきて、この曲聞いたことあると思ったら Head(頭) shoulder(肩) Knee(膝) and Toe(つま先) Knee(膝) and Toe(つま先) のリズムだ 英語の時間に体動かしながら歌ったの覚えてる

[@bilbobaggins5704]

" I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree" It's not harp, it's "I'll hang my heart on the weeping willow tree"

[@mochawitch]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SuperCatfire]

wow its animaniacs

[@SuperCatfire]

wait wtf did i find this already how. i dont even remember this

[@lukemahoney7884]

SKOB!

[@JK-dx4ob]

I'd be laughing too, if I had to sing *Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes* as a drunkard love song. But I really appreciate the gay angle here! 😁👍🏳️‍🌈

[@riceartfilms]

Animaniacs?

[@0murchu224]

Baldrick

[@Thingsandcosas]

Animaniancs

[@whipplejb]

Wally Cox used to sing this song. Listen to here it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baOZdYqjbbqZjas It starts about 2:58. Now, that you've heard this, check out the lifelong relationship between Wally Cox and Marlon Brando. And before you call me anti-LGTBQ I want to say, no one should be afraid to show who they are and hide their love. I have a great respect for both men.

[@grandcarriage1]

So this is a song about a man losing his true love, another man, to a dark damsel? How did I not know this?

[@theBaron0530]

No. It's sung from the perspective of the girl, not the man.

[@lindseyya2677]

theBaron0530 how do u know it’s from a woman’s perspective

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

@@lindseyya2677 Listen to the lyrics. Also, the song is about a woman who loses her man to heavy drinking and kills herself. 'Damsel dark' is not to be taken literally. 🎶There is a tavern in the town (in the town ) And there my true love sits him down (sits him down) And drinks his wine as merry as can be And never, never thinks of me Fare-thee-well for I must leave thee Do not let the parting grieve thee Oh, the time has come for you and I to say goodbye Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (yes, adieu) I can no longer stay with you (stay with you ) Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree Fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well He left me for a damsel dark (damsel dark) Each Friday night they used to spark (used to spark) And now my love who once was true to me Takes that dark damsel on his knee Fare-thee-well for I must leave thee Do not let the parting grieve thee Oh, the time has come for you and I to say goodbye Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (yes, adieu) Oh, I can no longer stay with you (stay with you) Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree Fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well And now I see him nevermore (nevermore) He never, never knocks upon my door (upon my door) Oh-ho, woe is me; he penned a little note I'll read to you the words he wrote Fare-thee-well for I must leave thee Do not let the parting grieve thee Oh, the time has come for you and I to say goodbye Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (yes, adieu) Oh, I can no longer stay with you (stay with you ) Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree Fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well Oh, dig my grave both wide and deep (wide and deep) Put tombstones at my head and feet (head and feet ) And on my breast just carve a turtle dove To signify I died for love Fare-thee-well for I must leave thee Do not let the parting grieve thee Oh, the time has come for you and I to say goodbye Adieu, kind friends, adieu (yes, adieu) I can no longer stay with you (stay with you) Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree Fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well🎶

[@JK-dx4ob]

@@musicaltheatergeek79 Nope. It's a gay anthem! Don't try to convince me otherwise!

[@Japaneseanimeguy]

Ripper street anyone?

[@jpandyaraja]

+Seosamh Wray yes sireee...

[@Mink-yu8nu]

Rose Erskine brought me here.

[@user-xd8lv9tz3r]

幼稚園でやった頭とか肩抑えて歌う英語のヤツに似てる

[@cricketpines8356]

Looney tunes

[@TheAxolotl]

pee

[@ericcarlson1709]

So he preferred the hot black chick who gave great bjs? (just translating the lyrics into modern English)

[@user-ds4px6oe9m]

TikTok民✋