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Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Thomas D'Urfey
Author: Thomas D'Urfey
Year: 1719
Poet, musician and witty songwriter from Devonshire. The more vulgar, the more popular (one of his biggest 'hits' was The Fart), even among royalty: at some point he became Charles II's personal jester. His stutter was legendary and - like Arno - only stopped while singing or cursing. He wrote 10 out of 68 airs in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera. Knaves Will Be Knaves with it's first line: "I went to the alehouse as an honest woman should", comes from his songbook Pills To Purge Melancholy Vol. 3, along with an early version of The Star Of The County Down (see there).
Covers:
Oscar Brand [as A Gob Is A Slob on Bawdy Songs And Backroom Ballads Vol 2]
Doris Day [hit US & n°1 AUS as A Guy Is A Guy]
Ella Fitzgerald [idem]
Peggy Lee [idem; radio transcription]
June Miller [Aussie]
Mickey Katz [as A Schmo Is A Schmo]
André van Duin [as Dierkundeles]
See also: In The Fields Of Frost And Snow.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)