Music From The Vault: How You Gunna Keep Em Down On The Farm?

"How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm?" 

Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
Said his wifey dear
Now that all is peaceful and calm
The boys will soon be back on the farm
Mister Reuben started winking and slowly rubbed his chin
He pulled his chair up close to mother
And he asked her with a grin

[Chorus (sung twice after each verse):]
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzin around and paintin' the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery
They'll never want to see a rake or plow
And who the deuce can parleyvous a cow?
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'

Rueben, Rueben, you're mistaken
Said his wifey dear
Once a farmer, always a jay
And farmers always stick to the hay
Mother Reuben, I'm not fakin
Tho you may think it strange
But wine and women play the mischief
With a boy who's loose with change


[Chorus (sung twice after each verse):]
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzin around and paintin' the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery
Imagine Reuben when he meets his Pa
He'll pinch his cheek and holler "OO-LA-LA!
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'?

Lyrics - Andrew Bird

Remembering Harold Arlen (aka Hyman Arluck)

"He wasn't as well known as some of us, but he was a better songwriter than most of us and he will be missed by all of us." — Irving Berlin, remembering Harold Arlen

HAROLD ARLEN

(Born Hyman Arluck)
February 15, 1905 - April 23, 1986 

You have probably heard, and maybe even hummed, a Harold Arlen song today and didn't even know it! Though he is most noted for composing the songs for the film "The Wizard of Oz," particularly Over the Rainbow, which was recently named the Number One Song of the Century, he has written over 400 songs including favorites like: It's Only A Paper Moon, Stormy Weather, I've Got the World on A String, That Old Black Magic, and Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.  

Though it was nominated for several Academy Awards, The Wizard of Oz won only two: for Best Original Music Score and for Best Song, "Over the Rainbow." The song, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, was almost cut from the film because MGM executive Louis B. Mayer thought it slowed the movie down.

The song has been recorded by an incredible number of artists spanning a very wide range of styles. 

One of my personal favorites is by the Hawaiian singer Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole.

 Celtic Woman: Méav, Chloë, Órlagh, and Hayley sing "Over the Rainbow" at the Slane Castle, Ireland



 An instrumental version by Queen

In 2004, the American Film Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" the greatest movie song of all time on its list, "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs." Three years earlier, the Recording Industry Association of America named the song No. 1 of its "Songs of the Century." 

Read more here: Harold Arlen