"How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?" (Nora Bayes, 1919)

America was as quick in getting out of Europe following World War One as she was tardy in entering that conflict. As a nation, we were forever transformed...America's involvement in World War One brought a change of character with it, and that change was felt nowhere more keenly than Rural America. Looking back, the family farm has been in decline ever since. Walter Donaldson wrote the music to this in 1919 (Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis wrote the words), and the song wound up being an overnight smash hit. It was recorded by nearly everyone, but no rendition was more sublimely spirited than this one, recorded for Columbia by Nora Bayes - a vaudeville talent of legendary proportions.

HOW YA GONNA KEEP 'EM DOWN ON THE FARM?

Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
Said his wifey dear
Now that all is peaceful and calm
The boys will soon be back on the farm
Mister Reuben started winking and slowly rubbed his chin
He pulled his chair up close to mother
And he asked her with a grin

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzin around and paintin' the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery
They'll never want to see a rake or plow
And who the deuce can parleyvous a cow?
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'?

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzin around and paintin' the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery
Imagine Reuben when he meets his Pa
He'll kiss his cheek and holler "OO-LA-LA!
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Nora
• Bayes
• 1919
• How
• Ya
• Gonna
• going
• to
• keep
• 'em
• them
• down
• on
• the
• farm
• paree
• World
• War
• One
• Donaldson
• Young
• Lewis
• Garland

[ZAPDUNGAA]

the best version is by the bryan sisters...3 little sisters from the our gang follies of 1936 short....harry fay had a big hit with it also

[RReady555]

Thanks--I remember that great kids' version. Has it been posted on YT (can't find it by a standard search)?

Thanks,

-RR

[beeswaxer]

RR you have all the good one's love them all I love the music I could never pass up this type of music, it really hit's the soul and one can sing with it.

[RReady555]

Thanks, friend--I've always collected and loved this music and I'm glad so many others are discovering it through YouTube. ;)

Kindest regards,

-RR

[DavidN23Skidoo]

Thanks for posting this gem! I do not have this one in my collection, and I am wnating to post it on my blog for the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day. Five stars! David N

[RReady555]

Thanks very much for including me in your fine Remembrance, David! Guess we lost the last of the World War One vets last year...

Warmest regards,

-RR

[MILEYCyRuSrFaN]

omg i was at the world war 1 museum for a field trip and they had little rooms with music from the war playing and this song was on and it became our class favorite and i started dancing so we had dance parties to this song at the museum

[redfordforpresident]

I detect a sub-theme of bestiality. 

[DRUMTOY2002]

@ZAPDUNGAA : AMEN!!!

[fromthesidelines]

Recorded on December 21, 1918, and originally released on Columbia A-2687. Sadly, Nora was diagnosed with cancer almost 10 years later, and died of complications during surgery on March 19, 1928, at age 47.

[steveasat2]

0:50 "All aboard!! Aaahhahhhahhaaahaahaaa!"  For his time, Ozzy was hot.

[majorl311]

@MarcusAbad for her time she was hot

[MarcusAbad]

@majorl31 She was not.

[solofairden]

This is a great recording -- thanks for the upload! Keep Nora Bayes's music coming. :)

[majorl311]

@ShackletonAndFriends ok not then

[ShackletonAndFriends]

@majorl31 she was not.