Tune: Reuben and Rachel
Written By: Unknown
Copyright Unknown
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What the heck have you been drinking?
Looks like water, tastes like wine
Oh, my gosh, it's turpentine
I've got a dog; his name is Rover
He's a very clever pup
He will stand upon his hind legs
If you hold his front legs up
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What a silly world
this would be
If the monkeys lived in houses
And we swung from tree to tree
There's no need to light a night light
On a light night like tonight --
For a night light's light is slight light
When the moonlight's white and bright
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What a funny world this would be
If jet planes lived in apartments
And we flew across the sea.
Written By: Unknown
Copyright Unknown
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What a fine world this would be
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the northern sea.
Oh, my goodness, gracious, Rachel,
What a strange world this would be
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the northern sea.
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What a great life girls would lead
If
they had no men about them
None to tease them, none to heed.
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
Life would be so easy then
What a lovely world this would be
If you'd leave it to the men.
Reuben, Reuben, stop your teasing
If you've any love for me
I was only just a-fooling
As I thought, of course, you'd see.
Rachel, if you'll not transport us
I will take you for my wife
And I'll split with you my money
Every pay day of my life!
| English |
| 1871 |
| William Gooch |
| Harry Birch |
Reuben and Rachel is a popular song with words written by Harry Birch and music by William Gooch, originally published in Boston in 1871 by White, Smith, & Perry.[1] The song regained popularity in the 20th century as a children's song.[2]
The first line of the song, "Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking," was reused in a popular song at the close of World War I (1919), "How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?."[3]
It was often sung on the playgrounds as: "Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking what in the world have you been drinking? Smells like whiskey, tastes like wine. Oh my gosh! It's turpentine!"[citation needed] The melody has often been used for parodies, such as Bowser and Blue's "Where The Sun Don't Shine! (The Colorectal Surgeon's Song)".[citation needed]
The song is not related to the 1799 novel of the same name by Susanna Rowson.
References[edit]
- ^ The Americana song reader By William Emmett Studwell (Psychology Press, 1997)
- ^ Folk Songs for Schools and Camps By Jerry Silverman (Mel Bay Publications, 1991)
- ^ The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
External links[edit]
- Works related to Reuben and Rachel at Wikisource
Reuben, Reuben I've been thinking Rachael, Rachel I've been thinking Oh my goodness gracious, Ruben, Oh my goodness gracious, Rachel, Twin Sisters Follow
What a great world this would be
If the boys were all transported
Far across the Northern sea!
What a glad world this would be
If the
girls were all transported
Far across the Northern sea!
What a sad world this would be,
If the boys were all transported
Far across the Northern sea!
What a weird world this would be,
If the girls were all transported
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Thanks to Brandon Thacker for submitting the lyrics.
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