This man was a genius! I've seen all his movies, and never get tired of them. Knock on Wood, Wonder Man, The Court Jester, Hans Christian Anderson, The Four Pennies, White Christmas, I could go on...
Based upon the captions of the movie, i tried to write down the lyrics to the song, sorry if they aren't all correct. Now! Have you heard the drastic tale, of Monahan, O’Han! His county can be proud of him if anybody can. He can! Brave and strong of limb was he Irish to the bone. For he sang an Irish tenor. But he fought like a baritone. His mother was waiting for his father one night. Whissht! They had a terrible fight. And faith and begorra the clan of O’Hara had worked his poor father up into a lather and there was our lad at age of two, He saved his father from that whole crew. Don’t ask me how, I’m askin’ you. What did Monahan do? What did he do? What did he do? What did he do? What did he do? Uh, well what did he do? What did he do? You mean, Monahan? How did he fight his way out? Right. Well, he doubled his fist, and he looked him around, and he socked him right in the eye. (Speaking indistinctly) What did he say? Right in the face. Oh. But, oh, the fates played a terrible prank. When Molly she fell in the whisky tank. “Ho! Ho!” laughed Monahan, faith and what a joke. “No! No!” cried Molly. I can’t swim a stroke. Yes, yes, she was sinkin’ and him never drinkin’. Was faced with a puzzle. For if he could guzzle enough of the stuff she’d be saved no doubt. How did he figure it out? Figure it out. Figure it out. Figure it out. Figure it out. Oh. Figure it out. You mean, when Molly fell in the whisky tank? How did he save her from drownin’? Well, he dived in the tank and he started to swim and molly was over there at the time. Well every time he took a stroke (Speaking indistinctly) Floated on his back, he was high with the butterfly stroke. With the butterfly stroke he was comin’ to rowin’, and drunker and drunker and drunker (Continues indistinctly) the alcohol Burned in his eye, and he was sayin’s, “Molly, I’m comin’ through the Rye.” (Indistinct) And he took her out in a glass. But he swam and swam and swam and swam, and kicked his foot to the side (Indistinct) He reached down, grabbed it up and Molly was there at the time. When he looked and (Screams) (Indistinct) And that’s how he figured it out. He figured it out! Aye! That’s the drastic history completely true of Monahan The first Irish stew, of Monahan The first I…..Irish stew
One of the most hilarious,knockout,and wonderful scenes in the Paramount Pictures' 1954 Knock on Wood was that scene when the most-gifted comedian Danny Kaye had joined a chorus of exuberant Hibernians in their drinking-and-singing happy-hour moment inside the pub.How remarkable and impressive Mr Kaye was when he did perform his number of Monahan O'Han.Besides his amusing Irish accent, his gesture and his act of singing in rakish,gibberish,and buffoonish manner were absolutely-outlandish.
What did he do?. Danny Kaye - a proficient linguist and entertainer extrodinaire - jollying along with warm-hearted folks of Hibernia. A fabulous scene from the film 'knock on wood'. Danny would now be 104 if he had not left this mortal coil in 1987.
He figured it out how to BE w/whomever was w/him on stage and it sounds like in his real, many faceted (pilot, surgeon asst., chef/short order cook, etc. and so on) life, he made lots of friends feel happy to know him...
Love this song! It's hilarious! I saw the movie this is from, once, and it was "ok" - not that memorable ... but I certainly do remember this number, and it is awesome! Ranked up there with his greatest! Just wish it were a lot LONGER & more verses!!
A lot of great comedians like to call themselves an "honorary Jew" (Robin Williams and Nathan Lane to name two). Personally I'd like to nominate Danny as an honorary Irishman.
The guys in the backgroundm The short guy to Dannys right you see sort of singing along, the guy smoking a pipe that doesn't sing and the brute seldom seen neither smoking or singing all seem not to have been directed, They look and act actual. No fakery in their expressions or lack of expression. I can't get enough of this clip, I love viewing it time and time again
Funny how many people call him gay. You guys don't know a damn thing about this guy - the rumors about him are based on _movie scripts_ (not very reliable), not to mention he was married to Sylvia Fine for 46 years. That's until his death.
is there a reason to feel insulted at this? Celtics drink to excess, beat up people sing all the time, act like morons and get nervous around the cops. Nawww...day in the life!
I don't believe there is any record of a single Irishman complaining about it at the time. Apparently, it was taken in the spirit of fun it was intended to be. No easily "offended" SJW's back then. If it didn't bother THEM, why should it bother you?
