The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-07-08
"TA.RAaRk-B OOM-DE.AY. 1"

Though it's u peculiar fad,
For the song is very sad.
Little maiden kicks her toes
High and agitates her clothes,
Then dainty ankle shows,
Whilst the dismal ditly goes
(Doloroso) Clara RAJ boom decay"
To day we publish for the benefit
at least we trust for the benefit
of our readers the American version
OF n song that has caused the mental
outfit of the principal. cities of two
hemispheres 10 tottcr on its basis. If
ever there was an instance of not
only one mountain, but a whole
range of them, being made out of
molehill, here is one indeed. Not in
the whole history of vocal music is
there such an example of a song ac-
curing such universal popularity at.
such an amazing rate, and it is only
when you look at the question calmly
and view the situation with cold,
unbiased eye that the reason for the
craze becomes absolutely and COM
pletely inexplicable. Not many
months ago the original song rested
amongst the long-forgotten failures
of the past. To-day its refrain gives
the suffering brain not an instant's
rest. The mother, grooming over the
cradle of her wakeful and defiant
offspring, huns it into his little ear
until maddened by the oft-recurring
"boom" baby marks his opinion of tie
selection by whooping himself into
seven different kinds of commissions.
In the streets there is no escape from
it-everyone, from the arab to the
bank clerk, is chanting it mourn
fully and if you asked any of them
why they don't try something new
they can give no feasible eXplana-
ton. Yesterday, in a first class res
taurant up town, gentleman of high
position in the city was "ra ra'ing"
all the time he ate his dinner. Elderly
and, as a rule, reserved old gentle
men are TO be seen daily on any
thoroughfare frisking along and dane
ing little sly kicks when they come to
the "boom," and it's safe to say
there isn't a girl from Miler's Point
to Bondi, via Darling Point and Sur
ry Hills, who doesn't practice it
around the house when the parental
eye is averted. There are people we
know teetotal people who start up
from their beds in the witching time
of night, murmur "Ta-ra-ra- boom
decay" and sink back to rest again
as if nothing had happened. Every
thing has caught the craze. Drop
into Gunsler's and ask for Boom
SQUASH" and the intelligent bar
tender will hoist his right leg play
fully over to the back of his left ear
and know just what you want in a
moment. "Ta-ra-ra" trousers are a
speciality at all the uptown tailors,
and there is rush on "Boom-de-ay"
bonnets, as any King-street modiste
will tell you. In short this suffering
country has from time TO time ex-
perienced variety of booms, but
the "Ta-ra-ra" boom threatens to
walk over all competitors. 1t is 60
ing to leave this country without any
hair-it wants it all to make whiskers
for itself.
AS to the origin of the epidemic a
recent number of The Players (by
the way, very excellent addition TO
the English dramatic press) says:-
'The question as to the origin of
'Ta-ra-ra boom-de-ay' has become
one of national Importance, and l am
pleased to be able to announce as the
result of infinite research that the
composer has been unearthed." We
had hoped the writer meant exhumed,
but he didn't. ga story to the eff
feet that the song is of American
origin has been widely promulgated.
am able to contradict this state
ment, and am happy to state that the
glory of this composition belongs
entirely and absolutely to the Eng,
fish nation. The facts are these =
Mr.. Gilbert, father of the famous
sculptor, composed in 1854 an opera
in which the refrain occurred. Ar
American gentleman saw the score,
and said he should like to have it.
The composer consented, and it was
only the other day, when on visit
TO the Grand Theatre, he recognized
Miss Lottie Collins success as his
own composition. l congratulate
Mr.. Gilbert, SEN, and the Englisl
nation" And with thick slabs OF
sarcasm in our voice we re-echo thu
sentiment. The following are thu
original verses sung by Miss Lottit
Collins at the Grand and other thea
tres and halls:---
ENGLISH VERSION.
A smart and stylish girl you see,
Belle OF good society;
Not too strict, but rather free,
Yet as right as right can be!
Never forward, never bold
Not too hot, and not too cold,
But the very thing, Pm told,
That in your arms you'd like to hold
Ta-ra-ra-Boom-de-ay, &c. Eigh
times,