"Johnny One Note" (Wynn Murray, 1937)
Rodgers and Hart didn't write many "novelty" songs, but this number is certainly unique in their collaboration.
Belters, like Ethel Merman, later adopted "Johnny" as a campy showcase piece but the original singer, comedienne Wynn Murray, took a sweeter and more subtle approach:
JOHNNY ONE NOTE
Johnny could only sing one note
And the note he sang was this:
Aaaaaaaaaaaah!
Poor Johnny One Note
sang out with gusto
And just overlorded the space
Poor Johnny One Note
yelled willy-nilly
Until he was blue in the face
For holding one note was his ace
Couldn't hear the brass
Couldn't hear the drum
He was in a class
By himself, by gum!
Poor Johnny One Note
Got in "Aida"
Indeed a great chance to be brave
He took his one note
Howled like the North Wind
Brought forth wind that made critics rave,
While Verdi turned round in his grave!
Couldn't hear the flute
Or the big trombone
Ev'ry one was mute
Johnny stood alone.
Cats and dogs stopped yapping
Lions in the zoo
All were jealous at Johnny's big trill
Thunder claps stopped clapping,
Traffic ceased its roar,
And they tell us Niagra stood still!
He stopped the train whistles,
Boat whistles,
steam whistles,
Cop whistles,
all whistles bowed to his skill
Sing Johnny One Note,
Sing out with gusto and
Just overwhelm all the crowd,
Aaaaaaaah!!
So sing Johnny One Note, out loud!!
Sing Johnny One Note
Sing Johnny One Note out loud!
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