From Lay-by to Lullaby

[steepholm]

I wish to announce for the public benefit the wonderful discovery that if you sing Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" to the tune of the Gershwins' "Summertime" it sounds surprisingly good. (It works well the other way round too, but that requires a bit of jiggery-pokery with the lyrics.)

The coincidence of some of the rhymes means little of course - they're standard popular song fare - but the dual references to rich daddies might almost be meant.

Anyway, here's a karaoke version of "Summertime" if you want to try the experiment.

In the summertime when the weather is high
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather's fine
You got women on your mind
Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor just do what you feel
Speed along the lane
Do a ton an' twenty-five
When the sun goes down
You can make it, make it good in a lay-by.

No need to thank me.

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I beg to differ. If *I* sing Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" to the tune of the Gershwins' "Summertime", it sounds terrible. If I sing anything to the tune of anything, it sounds terrible. If I sing, strong men blanch and bats fall from the rafters.

[consonantia.livejournal.com]

I tried it! It totally works! Hooray!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Roll on, summer!

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Presumably, this also means that 'summertime' works to the tune of 'in the Summertime'?

The mind boggles!

That said, the folk song 'Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy' works to 'My Old Man's a Dustman' which both also go to 'Pinball Wizard! :o)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

"One song to the tune of another" has always been one of my favourite rounds on I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue!

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Ah, the splendour of common metre! :o)

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

I once discovered that Death Be Not Proud goes rather well to Old Black Joe.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

:-)

[nightspore.livejournal.com]

No need, but THANK YOU!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

It's what I'm here for.