Saturday, August 4, 2012

At the Music Hall: Any Umbrellas to Mend Today, 1939

Music Hall Caricature
George Cooke, 1907
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Umbrellas, umbrellas for men
Men's umbrella, Lady
Mend by hand, Lady
Umbrellas to mend

Toodle-uma-luma-luma
Toodle-uma-luma-luma
Toodle-aye-ay
Any umbrellas, any umbrellas to mend today?

Bring your parasol
It may be small, it may be big
He repairs them all
With what you call a thingamajig

Pitter patter patter, pitter patter patter,
Here comes the rain
Let it pitter patter, let it pitter patter,
Don't mind the rain.

He'll mend your umbrella
Then go on his way singing
Toodle-uma-luma-luma-toodle-ay
Toodle-uma-luma-luma-toodle-ay
Any umbrellas to mend today?

When there's a lull
And things are dull
I sharpen knives for all the wives
In the neighbourhood
And I'm very good

I darn a sock
I'll mend a clock
An apple cart
A broken heart
I mend anything

But he'd rather sing
Toodle-uma-luma-luma
Toodle-uma-luma-luma
Toodle-aye-ay
Any umbrellas, any umbrellas to mend today?

He'll patch up your troubles
Then go on his way singing
Toodle-uma-luma-luma-toodle-ay
Toodle-uma-luma-luma-toodle-ay
Any umbrellas to mend today?

He'll patch up your troubles
Then go on his way singing
Toodle-uma-luma-luma-toodle-ay
Toodle-uma-luma-luma-toodle-ay
Any umbrellas to mend today?

Umbrellas for men
Umbrellas for men



“Any Umbrellas To Mend Today?” also known as “The Umbrella Man” was written in 1939 by the team of Vincent Rose, Larry Stock and James Cavanaugh. Recorded by many an artist from that time until today, this comic song remains a popular favorite. 


Enjoy this version by Flanagan and Allen.


No comments: