Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[advoca]

1. Can anyone tell me the lyrics to the song, "Her name was Mary, Mary is a grand old name?"

2. Is there a popular song to a girl called Sue (or Susan)? Can someone give me the lyrics, please.

[obelix]

My daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue.'


Well, he must o' thought that is was quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.'

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man that give me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
There at a table, dealing stud,
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue.'

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
>From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
He was big and bent and gray and old,
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!"

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
And he went down but, to my surprise,
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
But I really can't remember when,
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's that name that helped to make you strong."

He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-b i t c h that named you 'Sue'.'

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I come away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but sue! I still hate that name!

Lyrics by Shel Silverstein, I think and a big hit for Johnny Cash many years ago.

[obelix]

"Mary's A Grand Old Name" (1906)
Music and Lyrics by George M. Cohan

In Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway (1906) the simple housemaid Mary explains how she got her name – and tells why she is happy to have it. The song was introduced by Broadway favorite Fay Templeton.

This is the lyric as it appears in the original sheet music, published by F.A. Mills (NY) in 1905 – it appears the sheet music was printed before the show opened on Broadway.

Verse I
My mother's name was Mary,
She was so good and true;
Because her name was Mary,
She called me Mary too.
She wasn't gay or airy,
But plain as she could be;
I hate to meet a fairy
Who calls herself Marie.

Refrain
For it is Mary, Mary,
Plain as any name can be.
But with propriety, society
Will say Marie.
But it was Mary, Mary,
Long before the fashions came,
And there is something there
That sounds so square,
It's a grand old name.

Verse 2
Now, when her name is Mary,
There is no falseness there;
When to Marie she'll vary,
She'll surely bleach her hair.
Though Mary's ordinary,
Marie is fair to see;
Don't ever fear sweet Mary,
Beware of sweet Marie.

(Repeat Refrain)

Gotta love Google!

[advoca]

Thank you very much indeed, Obelix, especially for the lyrics of "Mary is a Grand Old Name."


I knew of Johnny Cash's delightful song, but this is about a boy called Sue. What I am seeking is a song about a girl called Sue or Susan. There was one, I believe, and I think it may have been sung by the Mills Brothers. There was a bit in it which went something like this. "All the stars above, know the one I love, Sweet Sue, It's you." But I would like to know the proper words.

Anyway, a sincere thank you for what you have posted and given me.

[obelix]

Every star above, baby,
Knows the one I love:
Sweet Sue - just you!

And the moon on high, baby,
Knows the reason why:
Sweet Sue - is you!

No one else it seems,
Ever shared my dreams,
Without you I don't know what I'd do.

In this heart of mine,
You live all the time,
Ooh, Sue - just you!


Jimmy Lunceford 1937-39

[advoca]

Once again, Obelix, a very sincere thank you.

[bud]

#3, titled, "Advoca Asks for Help," and subtitled, "... Being Too Lazy to Do a Search for Himself."

(from Nov 2003)

Gee, why didn't he bother to look it up himself, rather than wasting everyone's time in here?