Bell Bottom Trousers

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Bell Bottom Trousers also known as Rosemary Lane is an old sea shanty about a simple English girl and a sailor, possibly originated from the British Royal Navy. This shanty is best classified as a "dirty" shanty and its subject matter may not be appropriate to everyone, especially to those not familiar with regular vulgarity of sea shantys.

Contents

[edit] Moe Jaffe version

A cleaned-up version was written by Moe Jaffe [1], suitable for public performance, in 1944, and this version was recorded by a number of different artists.

The recording by Tony Pastor's orchestra was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1661. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 10, 1945 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2. [2]

The recording by Kay Kyser's orchestra was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36801. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 7, 1945 and lasted 6 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5. [2]

The recording by Guy Lombardo's orchestra was recorded on April 20, 1945, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 18683. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 14, 1945 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6. [2]

The recording by Jerry Colonna was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 204. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 26, 1945 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9. [2]

The recording by the Louis Prima orchestra was released by Majestic Records as catalog number 7134. It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 7, 1945 at #10, its only appearance on the chart. [2]

It was also recorded by the Four Blues, released by De Luxe Records as catalog number 1000. Several other versions were also recorded.

[edit] Other versions

The earliest versions of this song go by the title "The Servant of Rosemary Lane". Bert Jansch's album "Rosemary Lane" features this song [3] first printed about 1780. It was also recorded by Anne Briggs. A few versions collected in the twentieth century use the title "The Oak and the Ash" (not to be confused with "The Watersons" song called "The Oak and The Ash" (Roud 1367)).

[edit] Original Lyrics

  • There once was a waitress from the Prince (of) George Hotel
  • Her mistress was a lady was master was a swell
  • They knew she was a simple girl and lately from a farm
  • And they watched her carefully to keep her from all harm
  • Chorus:
  • Singing a bell bottom trousers, coats of navy blue
  • Let him climb the rigging like his daddy used to do
  • The 42nd fussiler came marching into town
  • And with them came a complement of rapists or renown
  • They busted every maiden head that came within their spell
  • But they never made the waitress from the Prince George Hotel
  • Chorus
  • Next came a company of Prince of Wales Hassars
  • They piled into a whore house they packed along the bar
  • Every maid and mistress and wife before them fell
  • But they never made the maidtress from the Prince George Hotel
  • Chorus
  • One day came a sailor just an ordinary bloke
  • A bulging at the trousers, a heart of solid oak
  • At sea without a women for seven years or more
  • There wasn't any need to ask what he was looking for
  • Chorus
  • He asked her for a candle stick to light his way to bed
  • He asked her for a pillow to rest his weary head
  • And speaking to her gently as if he meant no harm
  • He asked her to come to bed just so to keep him warm
  • Chorus
  • He lifted up the blanket and a moment there he lie
  • He was on her. he was in her, in a twinkling of an eye
  • He was out again, and in again, and plowing up a storm
  • And the only word she said to him was "I hope you're keeping warm"
  • Chorus
  • Early in the morning the sailor he arouse
  • Saying he's a 2-pound note my dear for the damage I have done
  • If you have a daughter bounce her on your knee
  • If you have a son send the bastard out to sea!
  • Chorus
  • (Extra verse)
  • Now she sits besides a dock with a baby on her knee
  • Waiting for a sailing ship coming a-home from sea
  • Waiting for the jolly tars in Navy uniform
  • All she wants to do my boys is keep the Navy warm!
  • Chorus

[edit] Recorded versions (Moe Jaffe version)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Song lyric (Moe Jaffe version)
  2. ^ a b c d e Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research. 
  3. ^ Rosemary Lane