Evening star., 1941-12-18

the japanese
Henry MeLemcrs. attacked, and
the composers and lyricists were
idling in Lindy's restaurant trying
to look important enough to get
in Damon Runyon story.
Now there is 24-hour, seven-day-
week action and hair Is being
yanked out in desperate hunt for
words that rhyme with Fujiyama
and Hirohito, not to mention TOTO,
Kurusu and Toxic.
Tin Pan Alleys attack on Japan
has not been very effective TO date.
AS far as my espionage service
has been able to determine these
are the standouts so far:
THE Sun Will Soon Be Setting
on the Rising Sun"
You're a Sap, Mr.. Jap"
"Good-by Mama, I'll See You In
Yokohama"
We'll Bip the Nipponese, If You
Please"
These are not bad considering
the pressure under which the Broad
way Beethovens worked to get them
out, but those Of us old enough to
remember World War feel they are
not up to some Of the classics that
were hummed and whistled and
sung by the Nation in 1917.
OF course, the Tin Pan Alley boys
were bit more prepared for what
was going to happen in the last
war. Kaiser Wilhelm (and remem-
ber what q beast we thought he
was7) was a Lord Chesterfield Of
courtesy compared TO the likes OF
Hitler, Mussolini and TOTO. The
tunesmiths were ready for the out
break Of hostilities then and an
swered with a barrage Of melody
that will live forever.
Where could you find more ten
der love song than ''K-K-K-Katy?"
Any of the arias from Tristan and
Isolde" fade into insignif1cance when
placed against the departure from
the cowshed for the k-k-k-kitchen
door. And the m-m-m-moon was
shining. too, II you remember.
But "K-K-K-Katy" was Just one Of
the musical classics that came out
Of World War I.
Good morning. Mr.. Zip Zip Zip,
for instance. This opus, with its
touch Of fatality to wit, 'if Camels
don't get you then Fatimas must"
was always at its best when rendered
by an individual or group which
used the three-line ending that went
with your haircut Just as short as.
with your haircut just as short as,
with your haircut Just as short as
mine"
N real lover OF music will ever
forget the first time that How Ye
Gonna Keep EN- Down on the
Farm" hit his ears. What a lovely
lyric! 1t had everything. Love of
parents CGood-by Ma, Good-by
PaD. Love of animals CGood-by
Mule With the Old Hee-Haw'O.
Then take that number In which
a sweetheart paid tribute to her
beau by saying IF He Can Fight
Like He Can Love, What a Soldier
Bov He'd Be" This was the aria
in which she expressed the hope
he would be fifth as effective
in a trench as he was on park
bench.
Nothing has been written since
this war started that can hold even
half candle to 'Oh How Hate to
Get Up in the Morning" This fixed
up the bugler's reveille for all time.
With Tin Pan Alley hard-pressed
it is the duty Of every one Of us
to pitch in and help the songwriters
produce what they think they ought
to produce because there is a war
going on. Here are a few sugges-
tl0nS 1Or tlCles I'm ran AlIey Is Tree
to use:
Shall We Cut Down Those Old
Cherry Trees?"
Lets Take a Pokio at Toxic"
Lets Sink the Fleet o. Hirohito."
Red Hot Mama, Let's Bomb Full
yama."
"Good-by Ma, Good-by Pa, I'll
Soon Take a Ride in Big Rick
shaw"
Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Almond.
You'll Take the Low Road as in
Loeb Lomond."
We'll Have a Scotch and Soda
in an or Pagoda."
distributed by McNaught Syndicate, Incl