Bamboo Tree or Pretty Little Dutch Girl?

Margaret O'Brien and Judy Garland singing
"Under the Bamboo Tree" in
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944).

Here are a couple of musical mysteries, sparked by June’s letter written on February 21.

This is the unedited version of the letter:

“They just finished (Jessie Owens) singing “Shad-rack” over the radio – It was beautiful.  I like that song.  Oh, I heard “Under the Bamboo Tree” today on the radio.  First time since I left college – we used to sing it so many times there.  You know the one – I L-O-V-E Love you all the T-I-M-E time.  It’s true too.”

The Golden Gate Quartet.

In editing this letter, the reference to “Jessie Owens” was the first puzzle.  Jesse Owens was the famous Olympic athlete, star of the 1936 Olympics.  A little research around the internet revealed that there was a popular version of the 1930s song “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego” by the African-American gospel group the Golden Gate Quartet featuring Henry Owens.  They called their version “Shadrack” and it was released in 1946.  Here’s a link to the Golden Gate Quartet performing “Shadrack.”

But that wasn’t the main mystery that I encountered in editing this letter.  The big problem was that “Under the Bamboo Tree” does not contain the lyrics “I L-O-V-E Love you all the T-I-M-E time.”  That’s a different song – a much less well-known song called “I Am a Pretty Little Dutch Girl,” which seems to have been more of a children’s skipping-rope song rather than the top 40 hit material that June usually refers to.  Here’s a comment from the site “Bus Songs:  Lyrics & Words for Children’s Nursery Rhymes & Songs” which gives fuller lyrics:

“I learned a much longer song (grew up in Chicago area) (don't know the name of the tune, but it sounds like "Looney Tunes") I am a pretty little Dutch girl As pretty as pretty can be And all the boys around my block are crazy over me. I have a boyfriend, Patty He comes from Cincinatti With 48 toes and a pickle on his nose And this is the way my story goes: One day when I was walking I heard my boyfriend talking To a pretty little girl with a strawberry curl and this is what he said to her: I L-O-V-E, love you, All the T-I-M-E, time. I K-I-S-S, kiss you, Please be M-I-N-E, Mine, mine, mine.”

Since I can’t find any references to a popular 1940s recording of “I Am a Pretty Little Dutch Girl,” I question whether this was what June heard on the radio that day.

“Under the Bamboo Tree,” the song title that June mentions, was a 1901 hit by Bob Cole that experienced a major revival in the 1940s because of the adorable performance of it by Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien in the popular 1944 movie Meet Me in St. Louis.  With the very hummable lyric “If You Like-A Me Like I Like-A You,” it’s a song that June would likely have heard often at college.  By contrast, “I Am a Pretty Little Dutch Girl” is more of a playground song than a college song.

So I took a guess and focused on “Under the Bamboo Tree” in the edited version of the letter.  Still, the precise quote of the “Pretty Little Dutch Girl” lyric raises the possibility that June heard something else on the radio that day and we simply have no way of recovering what it was…

(Tomorrow – a visit to the Bowery.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

Tax Time

Seascape, oil painting by Art Price.

Thursday, March 9, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Well, I just finished filling out my income tax.  I finally got around to it.  I wasn’t in any hurry since I won’t get anything back.  I got your letter from Sunday.  I love your letters.  In fact, I love you.

Last night, I stayed home the first part of the evening then went out at 9:30.  They had a hobby show at the high school and I had some of my paintings there.  After the show, I brought them home.

Tomorrow is my morning to sleep late.  I don’t go to work till one o’clock.

What a question to ask!  Of course you’ll see me at 8:00 on Friday.  I’ll be there in a cloud of dust, maybe before 8:00 if I can make it.  Look out for me!  I’ve been saving all my love for you.

Get lots of homework done now.  And I’ll say good night to you, sweetheart,

Lots of love,

Art

(For Saturday – a musical mystery.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Instructions on How to Break Up

Pencil sketches by June Anderson.

Wednesday, March 8, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Darling, I received no letter from you today.  I do hope it was the fault of faulty mail delivery and not that you got tired of writing.  Because, Art, I felt very let down and disappointed when there was no letter for me.  When you tire of me, darling, and don’t want to write anymore, tell me and I’ll try not to hang on;  don’t just stop writing.  Promise?  But, dear, I imagine I’ll get your letter tomorrow, or at least an explanation.  I’ll be waiting.

The place was a madhouse today.  Shirl’s sister Evie arrived.  She was all over the place.  We went to meet her bus and returned here by bus.  My feet got frostbitten like they used to – badly.  They hurt on the bus and I mentioned it to Shirl and Evie.  When we got off the nice-looking young man next to me hoped they would be alright.  I certainly hope it warms up for this weekend.

We all went to the movies tonight.  One of the pictures was Tobacco Road.  Outside of that I did nothing.  Just went to school – and it was very uninteresting.

Will I still be seeing you Friday night, darling?  I know, just because you miss a letter, I shouldn’t be so unsure of myself.  I try not to darling.  I can’t help it, though. 

It’s late now and I really must go to bed, so I’ll be waiting for a letter tomorrow.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Income tax time.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

The Horse's Mouth

Tuesday, March 7, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I hope you got a letter yesterday but if you didn’t it’s all my fault.  I stuck your letter in my pocket this noon and then forgot to mail it.  I know – just like a man.  I mailed it tonight but you may not get it till you get this one.  You’ll forgive me this once won’t you, sweetheart?

I’m glad you had a good time Saturday.  Imagine after telling me to take it easy and not drink too much on Saturday night, you go out and drink rye and gin and get home at 1:30!  All I had was a couple of beers and got home by midnight.

The days are creeping by slowly, my darling.  It’s four days and three nights now.  I love you so much, you know that I do.  Look out I don’t kiss you when you come to the door Friday night.

Not much to tell you about today.  I’ve been reading a book all evening – The Horse’s Mouth by Joyce Carey.  It’s about a crazy artist.  It’s a very funny book in an odd and depressing sort of way.

I guess I’ll “hit the rack.”  I’m loading up on sleep now, since I don’t plan on getting much this weekend (if I can help it).  I’m thinking of you and missing you.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – when you tire of me...)

© 2011 Lee Price

June in an Industrious Mood

Monday, March 6, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion illustration by
June Anderson.

I’m really proud of myself.  I did loads of homework today.  It’s the first day I really worked hard since the term began.  It gives me such a satisfied feeling.  As you might have guess by now, it’s the custom of our school body to let work slide past until the end of the year and then everyone has to slave like mad.  Well, I’m almost caught up in my assignments, which puts me ahead of most of the school population.  Three more days like today and I’ll be ahead of everything and everyone.  But with Shirl’s sister Evie coming, I probably won’t get the chance, and besides, this industrious mood could easily vanish any minute now.

Shirl just said if I keep on doing my homework like this, I won’t have too much to do over Easter.  That would mean I can devote all my time to making some dresses and seeing you.  What could be better?  Oh, Art, I do feel good.  I should do homework more often.

The week will go quickly (I hope) and I’ll be seeing you in no time at all.  Isn’t that wonderful?  It makes me feel so good.  Friday seems close all of a sudden.  It was so far in the distance last week – I couldn’t see it.  But now – it’s right straight clear ahead.

Well, my darling, it’s late (after midnight now) and I’m sleepy.  So I’m going to take a shower, fall into bed and dream of – going out with you?  Who can tell?  (I won’t.)  So darling, I love you and here it’s sent to you –

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – The Horse's Mouth.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

Won't Friday Ever Come?

Still life of tools, pencil sketch by Art Price.

Monday, March 6, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I’m starting this letter on Sunday evening but I feel awfully sleepy for some reason.  I may add to it tomorrow at noon before I mail it.  It was wonderful to talk to you today, darling.  It’s the next best thing to having you here.  I do love you, too.

I went to the movies tonight but came home early.  I saw When Willie Comes Marching Home.  It was very good.  You should see it in the city sometime.

I hope you weren’t too lonely with Shirl not there today.  I wish I could have been keeping you company.  M-m-m.  I sure do.  Only five days and four nights till you’re in my arms, my darling.  I hope they fly by on wings.

Well darling, it’s now Monday noon.  I just read your letter from Saturday.  Very nice but I won’t say anything more about it now.  I have to have something to write about tonight, you know!

Won’t Friday ever come?!!  Be good, my sweetheart.

Lots of love,

Art

(Later today – June in an industrious mood.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Spasmodic Fits of Loneliness

Sunday, March 5, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Sketch by June Anderson.

I would have written you sooner, but I was waiting for Shirl to come back from her date.  I was alone from 2:30 this afternoon to 10:30 at night – I didn’t even eat a real supper.  When Shirl finally got here I made her go out to eat with me.  The elevator is broken so we had to walk up and down the stairs.  The reason that I didn’t write while Shirl was gone was that I felt very lonely and was afraid I’d sound morose.

Remind me when I’m home to tell you about Shirl’s date.  It was quite a riot.

Darling, it was so nice to hear your voice at noon today.  But Mr. Kantor (my landlord) and his secretary made me mad – they were almost shouting at each other when you first started to talk to me.  Finally Mr. Kantor left but that darned woman stayed on.  So I didn’t’ get a chance to tell you that I love you and miss you, darling.  I do.

I did some homework this afternoon – spasmodically – between fits of loneliness.  If I have a few more nights of work this week, I should be set just fine.  But Evie’s coming Tuesday, so I guess I won’t be doing too much from then on.

Art, will I be seeing you about 8:00 Friday night?  The usual time?

Now, darling, I’m going to end this letter.  Both Shirl and I are very tired.  We’re going right to bed.

Five more days, dear.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – M-m-m...)
 

© 2011 Lee Price