Prohibition classic! Alcohol production and sales were prohibited in the U.S with the passage of the 18th amendment in 1919, which was in effect from 1920-1930, but hidden stills, alcohol caches, and speakeasys were not uncommon--especially judging from the number of popular songs and musicals that touched upon them! This song is by Ed Rose, Billy Baskette and Lew Pollack and was published in 1919. It was performed and recorded by Bert Williams, a very popular African American vaudeville and Broadway comedian who also starred in the Ziegfeld Follies.
If 1920s party songs appeal to you, please check out my performance of Don't Bring Lulu: • "Don't Bring Lulu," (1...
This selection was inspired by Adam Swanson's recent concert of Speakeasy, Charleston, and Prohibition Tunes (www.youtube.co.... He said that he's found this song in many sheet music collections, which suggests it was a good seller. Some songs from the early 20th century, like this one, were extremely topical and really spoke to the zeitgeist of the times.
Lyric:
Down in my cellar, down in my cellar,
I've been changing everything around.
I've a secret hidden there. I'll guard it with my life.
There's only one mistake I made. I told it to my wife.
Now everybody wants a key to my cellar, my cellar, my cellar.
People who before wouldn't give me a tumble,
Even perfect strangers are beginning to grumble,
'Cause I won't let them have a key to my cellar.
They'll never get in. just let them try.
They can have my money. They can have my car.
They can have my wife if they want to go that far,
But they can't have the key that opens my cellar,
If the whole darn world goes dry.
Down in my cellar, down in my cellar,
I've been having parties every night.
People that I never knew come up and talk to me.
They're trying hard to find out where I hang my cellar key.
27 авг 2024
