The twelfth of never

[colonel snow]

Deleted due to doubts about the information

colonel snow

[Suspicious Minds]

Thanks for sharing, Col. Snow.

Here's a bit more info on 'The Riddle Song' I found on Songfacts:
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18010

The song the world now recognizes as 'The Riddle Song' was originally titled 'I Gave My Love a Cherry'. Like most traditional songs, both the author of the song and the date when it was written are unknown. The song is a lullaby based on two English folk songs: 'Child Ballad no. 1' (also known as 'Riddles Wisely Expounded'), and 'Child Ballad no. 46' (aka 'Captain Wedderburn's Courtship'). In this lullaby, which was said to be written in the 15th century, a maiden says she is advised to unite with her lover.

Some of the many artists to record this song include Burl Ives on his debut album Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger (1941), Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Carly Simon, Doc Watson, Sam Cooke, Shelby Flint on her album Shelby Flint Sings Folk, and children's music singer and songwriter Nancy Cassidy for her album Kids' Songs Jubilee.

By the 20th century, rumors began to circulate that the song contains hidden messages. The most shocking of these was the rumor that the line "I gave my love a cherry that has no stone," was said to refer to a woman who has lost her virginity. The song's "cherry that has no stone" goes back to the 15th-century version's "the cherye with-outyn ony ston." Some have seen it as a reference to the hymen, and some have even tried to reconstruct an original bawdy version from which modern versions are supposedly bowdlerized. However, the relevant slang sense of "cherry" is not attested till the early 20th century. Equally shocking was the rumor that the line, "I gave my love a chicken that has no bone," was said to refer to pregnancy, as the "chicken that has no bone" referred to the baby inside the mother's womb. The other riddles in the original do not resemble the "reconstructions."

Despite the popularity of the title 'The Riddle Song', it is merely one of a multitude of riddle songs; the format is common through folk music. The song was featured in the famous toga party scene in the movie National Lampoon's Animal House, where actor John Belushi's character, Bluto, comes across a folk singer (portrayed by singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, who is credited as 'Charming Guy With Guitar') performing the song for a group of college girls. Bluto abruptly takes the singer's acoustic guitar out of his hands and smashes it violently, then hands a splintered piece of it back, saying "Sorry." Bishop, who went on to write the hit 'Separate Lives', told us that he and Animal House musical director Kenny Vance came up with the idea for his wussy folk-singer character to perform 'Cherry'. Says Bishop, "It seemed like the right song to do in the scene."

[Colin B]

Thanks for all the info, guys !

The song has a strange history in the UK !

By the time the Sir Precipice Dick version entered the UK singles chart in 1964, I remember the song being already very familiar !

But his version was the first one to chart.

And yet, the Johnny Mathis version which preceded it, was tucked away on the flip of his Chances Are single [& that never charted here either].

So how come we knew it so well before 1964 ?

It's a mystery !

[elvislady]

One of my fav songs by Donny Osmond. realesed in 1973.
Thanks for info guys.

[Matt Helm]

elvislady....i don't know Donny Osmonds version...well i think ELVIS was serious of this song...but it never hit the LV Stage or for a studio-recording ...but it is a little perle, YES. Matt

[elvislady]

elvislady....i don't know Donny Osmonds version...well i think ELVIS was serious of this song...but it never hit the LV Stage or for a studio-recording ...but it is a little perle, YES. Matt

Just for you matt. The quality of clip is not great but sound is ok.

https://youtu.be/EOHBpqHhLTE

[Matt Helm]

elvislady!!! Thank you ...this arrangement - with the voice of ELVIS of course- would have been a better choice as the "Let Me Be There" on the Classic Moody Blue Album (=i love his last Album, but NOT the "From Elvis Presley Blvd LP"). I have never seen this Donny Osmond Clip before, all that i knew, the Osmonds adore ELVIS' Stageoutfit..and the version is very fine sung from Donny. THANK YOU elvislady, as always yours, Matt

[elvislady]

elvislady!!! Thank you ...this arrangement - with the voice of ELVIS of course- would have been a better choice as the "Let Me Be There" on the Classic Moody Blue Album (=i love his last Album, but NOT the "From Elvis Presley Blvd LP"). I have never seen this Donny Osmond Clip before, all that i knew, the Osmonds adore ELVIS' Stageoutfit..and the version is very fine sung from Donny. THANK YOU elvislady, as always yours, Matt

You are welcome matt. I remember the Moody Blue Album growing up as a young girl....
You know the osmonds stage outfits were made by Bill Belew. They looked amazing as elvis did in his in early 70s.

[Colin B]

...You know the osmonds stage outfits were made by Bill Belew.

The Bill Belew jumpsuits supplied to Elvis cost thousands of dollars !

Imagine having to pay that out 5 or 6 times over !

[elvislady]

...You know the osmonds stage outfits were made by Bill Belew.

The Bill Belew jumpsuits supplied to Elvis cost thousands of dollars !

Imagine having to pay that out 5 or 6 times over !

A lot of money. The American Eagle cost approx $65,000


http://www.elvisnews.com/articles.aspx/ ... gXi7-vfWK0

[Matt Helm]

Talking about THE AMERICAN EAGLE (ELVIS' Aloha Show Jumpsuit) cost approx $10.000...a lot for 1973 and today too, imo, Matt

[Private Presley]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpIwWkx9NsE

As for "The Twelfth Of Never" Johnny Mathis' version is the quintessential version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNNRGa3pKyw

[Suspicious Minds]

Thanks for all the info, guys !

The song has a strange history in the UK !

By the time the Sir Precipice Dick version entered the UK singles chart in 1964, I remember the song being already very familiar !

But his version was the first one to chart.

And yet, the Johnny Mathis version which preceded it, was tucked away on the flip of his Chances Are single [& that never charted here either].

So how come we knew it so well before 1964 ?

It's a mystery !

Thanks, Colin, for that chart (his)story. That's strange, indeed. Could it be that it sounded familiar because it was - partly - based on a (much older) English traditional tune? I'm just guessing. Have you heard of these so-called lullaby's it was (supposedly) derived from? Cheers.

[John]

Thanks for all the info, guys !

The song has a strange history in the UK !

By the time the Sir Precipice Dick version entered the UK singles chart in 1964, I remember the song being already very familiar !

But his version was the first one to chart.

And yet, the Johnny Mathis version which preceded it, was tucked away on the flip of his Chances Are single [& that never charted here either].

So how come we knew it so well before 1964 ?

It's a mystery !

I was familiar with the Johnny Mathis version from my days in East Africa. I don't know if it was a hit there, but it was certainly played on the radio a lot. I came to England in mid 1963 and when Cliff's version was released in 1964, it was a familiar song to me. Could it be that it was a radio hit in the UK?

[Colin B]

I was familiar with the Johnny Mathis version from my days in East Africa.
I don't know if it was a hit there, but it was certainly played on the radio a lot.
I came to England in mid 1963 and when Cliff's version was released in 1964, it was a familiar song to me.
Could it be that it was a radio hit in the UK?

Yes, I suppose so.

But radio 'hits' usually make a showing on the record charts, even if they are low down.