I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" is a well-known novelty song dating from the 1940s. It was composed in 1944 by Fred Heatherton, an English songwriter, and celebrates the traditional coconut shy of funfairs.
The song was first recorded by Danny Kaye, the actor/singer/comedian famous for such movies as White Christmas and The Court Jester. Kaye became aware of the song in a successful tour of the UK featuring sellout performances at the Palladium and appearances in Royal Command Performances. The song became Danny Kaye's only big US chart hit in 1950. It was also later recorded by Merv Griffin and several other artists. The song is still played over the public address system at Cambridge United football matches after home wins.
The song appeared on I Could Go On Singing, mainly memorable as Judy Garland's last film. It also appeared on the Magical Mystery Tour, Beatles TV special broadcast by the BBC on December 26, 1967.
[edit] Lyrics
Down at the English fair
One evening I was there
When I heard a showman shouting underneath the flare
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts
There they are a-standing in a row
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head
Give 'em a twist, a flick of the wrist, that's what the showman said
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts
Every ball you throw'll make me rich
There stands me wife, the idol of me life
singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball, a penny a pitch
Chorus:
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch
Roll-a-bowl-a-ball
Roll-a-bowl-a-ball
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts
They're loveley!
There they are all standing in a row
One, two, three, four
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head
And bigger!
Give 'em a twist, a flick of the wrist, that's what the showman said
Now, but I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts
Fa la la la la!
Every ball you throw'll make me rich
Have a banana!
There stands me wife, the idol of me life
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball, a penny a pitch
All together now!
Chorus:
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch(Harmony!)
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch
Roll-a-bowl-a-ball
Roll-a-bowl-a-ball
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch
Singin' roll-a-bowl-a-ball a penny a pitch!
[edit] Pop Culture References
- In the Disney film The Jungle Book , the apes are seen singing the song. In The Lion King, another Disney film, Zazu is forced to sing it for the amusement of Scar.
- Povel Ramel once did a Swedish version of it. "Far, jag kan inte få upp min kokosnöt" meaning "Father I cannot open my coconut."
- In the 1986 Spitting Image special, 'The Ronnie and Nancy Show', the band at President Reagan's surprise birthday party sing this song throughout, much to the annoyance of Frank Sinatra, the chief organiser. Nancy Reagan blames the situation on Vice-President George Bush.
- Finnish comedian/musician M.A._Numminen has made a Finnish version of the song, called Kookospähkinä.
- In popular webcomic VGCats 100th webcomic, a small animation had this song playing.
[edit] References
- Allmusic.com profile of Danny Kaye
- Walter Everett The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver Through the Anthology Oxford University Press US 1999 ISBN 0-19-512941-5 page 132
