The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down played by Adam Swanson

Near the end of the post-festival party, Adam had just played "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" which Carl Stalling wrote for Disney before his famous days writing music for Warner Bros. Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies. So I asked if Adam knew this song which was used at the beginning of many WB cartoons.

He turned to the piano, then, as you see, needed a jump-start to remember how it went. Tom Brier provided that jump-start, then Adam took it from there.

This song dates from 1937 and was written by Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin.

Lyrics:

Oh, the Merry-Go-Round broke down
And we went round and round
Each time t'would miss, we'd steal a kiss
And the Merry-Go-Round went
"Um-pah-pah, um-pah-pah
Um-pah! Um-pah! Um-pah-pah-pah!'

Oh, the Merry-Go-Round broke down
And it made the darndest sound,
The lights went low, we both said "Oh!"
And the Merry-Go-Round went
"Um-pah-pah, um-pah-pah
Um-pah! Um-pah! Um-pah-pah-pah!'

Oh what fun - a wonderful time
Finding love for only a dime.

Oh, the Merry-Go-Round broke down
But you don't see me frown
Things turned out fine and now she's mine -
Cause the the Merry-Go-Round went
"Um-pah-pah, um-pah-pah
Um-pah! Um-pah! Um-pah-pah-pah!"
Oh, the Merry-Go-Round broke down.

See Adam's web site at http://www.adamgswanson.com and his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/adamgswanson

Posting this as an experiment for a new conversion application. It maintains my camera's full audio quality of 48kHz with a bitrate of 384 kbps. Even though I'm telling it to save as widescreen, it seems to be insisting that the video is 4:3, so I have to insert the stretch tag. That screws up the thumbnails, unfortunately.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ragtime
• piano
• rag
• wb
• toons
• looney tunes
• merrie melodies
• carl stalling
• pianist
• yt:stretch=16:9

[GreaseMuffin]

I like the little improv from 26 seconds to 32 seconds. I keep playing it over and over again. haha. Does this guy make any CD's?

[Keeper1st]

@GreaseMuffin That isn't improv; it's part of the original song. It's the part that goes "Oh what fun; a wonderful time / Finding love for only a dime." He has a few CDs -- both solos and with others. A link to his web site is provided in the description. Click on the "Recordings" tab, then you can click on the album titles to go to their respective CDBaby pages.

[GreaseMuffin]

@Keeper1st Whoops, my mistake you're correct. Its just at 30 seconds into the song it sounds like a lick I don't hear in other recordings of this song.

[Keeper1st]

@GreaseMuffin That part isn't used in the LT/MM cartoon intro version, which is why it may have sounded unusual.

[SaucyVidel]

I love it! What wonderful playing from both of you, jumpstart and all!

[Keeper1st]

@Bluelightning110188 Murphy's Law strikes again!

[Bluelightning110188]

@Keeper1st Oh, one of the few instances I did not read the description. You must forgive me! LOL. Sorry about that.

[Keeper1st]

@Chris246t8kr He says, "I DID know it... How does it go??" Once Tom starts it, he remembers it, though still turns to Tom and asks if he's got it right, which Tom confirms, "That's the one."

[Chris246t8kr]

What did he say at the start?? It sounded aggressive o_o

[lbrown21494]

Great remdition. If only it were longer.

Merry Christmas Keeper.