Old Green River

I lifted this audio from the video clip on my Irish song page -- me and my dad singing "Old Green River" at my wedding in 1993 (recorded by Anny, who also provides the laughter and the cheer at the end).

It's kind of a lame version -- I wish I weren't so tunelessly singing along. The original clocks out at a dirge-like 94 beats per minute, so I pepped up the tempo. It's supposed to be funny not melancholy.

Of course, then I find out the song doesn't have much of an Irish pedigree -- I can't really even refer to it as "Irish-American." I did find the sheet music for sale on ebay, so I bought that and now at least have the definitive words (below).

I recorded a little introduction and labored over the production for days, playing with compression, volume, etc. But in the end, it is what it is -- singing a favorite with my dad.

I've Been Floating Down The Old Green River

Music by Joe Cooper. Lyrics by Bert Kalmar (who also wrote "Three Little Words," "Who's Sorry Now," and "I Wanna Be Loved By You"). Published in 1915, for the Broadway Musical Revue "Maid in America." Recorded in the 1940s on 78 by Johnny Mercer and the Crew Chiefs (an all-GI vocal group). Green River might have been a brand of whiskey.

VERSE 1
Half past four, Dan McGraw
Came sneaking to his wifey's door.
She'd been waiting up all night,
Waiting for him to go to bed.
Danny smiled, like a child
But his wifey grew very wild.
"Where have you been all night long," she cried.
And this is what Danny replied:
CHORUS
I've been floating down the old green river on the good ship Rock and Rye.
But I floated too far
I got stuck on a bar,
I was out there alone wishing that I was home --
The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew
And there was only one thing left to do --
So I had to drink the whole green river dry to get back home to you.
VERSE 2
Danny's frau raised a row,
Said, "I'll go home to mother now."
Danny said, "That's some idea;
Better then [sic] bringing mother here."
At the door, there she saw
Her pa and ma and sev'ral more.
Dad was explaining when he came in
Telling ma where he had been.
CHORUS
I've been floating down the old green river on the good ship Rock and Rye.
But I floated too far
I got stuck on a bar,
I was tied to the mast while the schooners went past --
The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew
And there was only one thing left to do --
So I had to drink the whole green river dry to get back home to you.

2.20.2008