freek@fwi.uva.nl (Freek Wiedijk) (12/24/89)
I know that WYSIWYG means that what you see on the screen is what you'll get on paper when you print it. I know that it is an abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) that this phrase comes from some popular song. My question is: from which song did the phrase "what you see is what you get" come? Just curious... -- Freek "the Pistol Major" Wiedijk Path: uunet!fwi.uva.nl!freek #P:+/ = #+/P?*+/ = i<<*+/P?*+/ = +/i<<**P?*+/ = +/(i<<*P?)*+/ = +/+/(i<<*P?)**
eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymond) (12/25/89)
In <351@fwi.uva.nl> Freek Wiedijk wrote: > I know that [WYSIWYG] is an > abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) > that this phrase comes from some popular song. I'm not dead sure, but I *think* the phrase occurred in a lyric which began thus: If you want it / here it is, come and get it But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast If you want it / here it is, come and get it But you better hurry 'cause it may not last Did I hear you say that there must be a catch? What was it they said about a fool and his money... couple with a simple, pretty, Beatles-esque melody by a group called the Badfinger back around 1970. I never knew the official title but the piece and the group were once favorites of mine. Their sound was remarkably crisp and nicely engineered for the period (like, for example, the Guess Who) and they've worn well over the years. Unfortunately the group itself faded from view after about '73. Does anyone know more for sure? -- Eric S. Raymond = eric@snark.uu.net (mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews)
sharon@asylum.SF.CA.US (Sharon Fisher) (12/26/89)
In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymond) writes: >In <351@fwi.uva.nl> Freek Wiedijk wrote: >> I know that [WYSIWYG] is an >> abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) >> that this phrase comes from some popular song. > >I'm not dead sure, but I *think* the phrase occurred in a lyric which began >thus: > > If you want it / here it is, come and get it > But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast No, there really is a song that may well be called "What you see is what you get." It was probably in the 70s and was done by a group like, say, the O'Jays or Ohio Players or something.
brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton) (12/26/89)
To the best of my knowledge, it comes not from a song, but from a skit on laugh-in that was repeated a few times. I think it was part of the routine of some commedienne, and some other comics picked it up. (Flip Wilson, perhaps?) Tina Turner recently did a song called "What you get is what you see." -- Brad Templeton, ClariNet Communications Corp. -- Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473
paul@hp-sdd.hp.com (Paul K Johnson) (12/26/89)
In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net>, eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymond) writes: > In <351@fwi.uva.nl> Freek Wiedijk wrote: > > I know that [WYSIWYG] is an > > abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) > > that this phrase comes from some popular song. > > I'm not dead sure, but I *think* the phrase occurred in a lyric which began > thus: > > If you want it / here it is, come and get it > But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast > If you want it / here it is, come and get it > But you better hurry 'cause it may not last > Did I hear you say that there must be a catch? > What was it they said about a fool and his money... These are the entire lyrics of the song "Come and Get it", although they are repeated a few times. Pretty sure of this, I just pulled it out and listened to it. I *do* very vaguely remember the song in question though (I think). It had a very Motown sound to it, and I think it was done by the same group that did "Backstabbers". The main chorus went something like: What you see, is what you get, <something> <something> the best thing yet. Can't pull out any more at the moment. :-( > Does anyone know more for sure? Money back guarantee! > -- > Eric S. Raymond = eric@snark.uu.net (mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews) paul johnson
roberson@esquire.UUCP (Kevin D. Roberson) (12/26/89)
What you see is what you get ... A pre-disco recording and release by a group called "The Dramatics" circa 1971. I'm pretty sure it made the top 10 on the R&B charts. However, the phrase "What you see is what you get" was first made popular by Flip Wilson by his character "Geraldine". That had to be around 1968 or so. (Gee, am I dating myself or What????) KDR
mike@nixba.UUCP (Mike Lyons) (12/26/89)
In article <351@fwi.uva.nl> freek@fwi.uva.nl (Freek Wiedijk) writes: >I know that WYSIWYG means that what you see on the screen is what >you'll get on paper when you print it. I know that it is an >abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) >that this phrase comes from some popular song. Actually, I don't think so. The phrase was one of these fad sayings in the States (like "where's the beef"?) and was a phrase that was always uttered by the American comedian Flip Wilson in his "Geraldine" persona (late 1960's to early '70's). Peace, Mike -- Michael D. Lyons / Nixdorf Computer AG / phone: +49 911 6415 609 Donaustrasse 36 :: D-8500 Nuernberg 60 :: Federal Republic of Germany EUNET: mike@nixba.uucp NERV: lyons.nue OTHERWISE: uunet!linus!nixbur!lyons.nue ---- My other sampler is a Fairlight CMI Series III -------
pc@ukc.ac.uk (R.P.A.Collinson) (12/27/89)
In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymond) writes: > If you want it / here it is, come and get it But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast If you want it / here it is, come and get it But you better hurry 'cause it may not last Did I hear you say that there must be a catch? What was it they said about a fool and his money... Was this not a theme song from a film at the time. Was it the Michael Caine one with the minis and the robbery in Italy (Venice??)? I forget the title.
root@therev.UUCP (root@therev.UUCP) (12/27/89)
pc@ukc.ac.uk (R.P.A.Collinson) postulates: > In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymo > > > If you want it / here it is, come and get it > But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast > > Was this not a theme song from a film at the time. Was it the Michael Caine > one with the minis and the robbery in Italy (Venice??)? I forget the title. The movie, as I recall was The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and (I think) Peter Sellers. I'm sure of the title, and that Starr was in it, but I don't remember who starred with him. What's this got to do with misc. computing? Regards, mark
janne@enea.se (Jan Carlsson) (12/27/89)
In article <351@fwi.uva.nl> freek@fwi.uva.nl (Freek Wiedijk) writes: >I know that WYSIWYG means that what you see on the screen is what >you'll get on paper when you print it. I know that it is an >abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) >that this phrase comes from some popular song. > >My question is: from which song did the phrase "what you see is what >you get" come? Glen Goldsmith (a rather unknown British(?) singer) did a song with this title one or two years ago.
wayne@ultra.com (Wayne Hathaway) (12/27/89)
the song with the lyrics "if you want it, here it is ..." was the main theme of "the magic christian," a rather strange little flick starring peter sellers and ringo starr. and a "zeus" automobile, duck hunting with howitzers, and the famous vat of to-remain-unnamed substance at the end. like i said, a strange flick! hmm, wonder what this has to do with "wysiwyg"? Wayne Hathaway Ultra Network Technologies domain: wayne@Ultra.COM 101 Daggett Drive Internet: ultra!wayne@Ames.ARC.NASA.GOV San Jose, CA 95134 uucp: ...!ames!ultra!wayne 408-922-0100
tomd@retix.retix.COM (Tom Dietz) (12/28/89)
In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymond) writes: >In <351@fwi.uva.nl> Freek Wiedijk wrote: >> I know that [WYSIWYG] is an >> abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) >> that this phrase comes from some popular song. > Oingo Boingo had a song a few years ago that I believe was entitled "What You See (is what you get)". I could be wrong about the title, but they definitely use the complete phrase. Tom Dietz "This is my art, and it is dangerous" -Delia Dietz in Beetlejuice
legg@spin.uucp (David Legg) (12/28/89)
In article <29EA1D3D1W159@therev.UUCP> root@therev.UUCP (root@therev.UUCP) writes: >pc@ukc.ac.uk (R.P.A.Collinson) postulates: > >> In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymo >> > >> If you want it / here it is, come and get it >> But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast >> >> Was this not a theme song from a film at the time. Was it the Michael Caine >> one with the minis and the robbery in Italy (Venice??)? I forget the title. > >The movie, as I recall was The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and >(I think) Peter Sellers. I'm sure of the title, and that Starr was in it, >but I don't remember who starred with him. What's this got to do with >misc. computing? > >Regards, >mark I dont think that is the correct movie, sorry. Michael Caine did a movie called "The Italian Job" in which a gang disguised as soccer fans rob a bank of a large amount of gold bullion and get away by driving mini's through the sidewalks and alleys too small for the police cars to follow. They end up loading the cars into a modified bus while driving in the mountains. Then they unload the gold and push the minis out the back on hairpin turns to dump them down the cliffs. Unfortunately they celebrate too early and end up the the bus balanced on the edge of a cliff with the gold at one end and them at the other. Dont know about the song though, its part of a popular song from england. I think probably the late 60's, but maybe later, I recall the words by not the artist. Dave Legg |Internet: legg%proton.uucp@ucrmath.ucr.edu Radiation Research Lab |UUCP: ...!ucrmath!proton!legg Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA 92354. (714) 824-4075
jones@optilink.UUCP (Marvin Jones) (12/28/89)
In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net>, eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymond) writes: > In <351@fwi.uva.nl> Freek Wiedijk wrote: > > I know that [WYSIWYG] is an > > abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) > > that this phrase comes from some popular song. > > I'm not dead sure, but I *think* the phrase occurred in a lyric which began > thus: > > If you want it / here it is, come and get it Nope. This tune is just called "Come And Get It". I also remember the WYSIWYG song, but can't recall the details. I believe it was an American soul group, along the lines of the O'Jays or something. (Boy, is this dredging up some memories!) Around the early '70's, I think. Hope this triggers someone elses brain cells! Regards, -- Marvin Jones uucp: {pyramid, tekbspa}!optilink!jones Optilink Corp. bell-net: 707-795-9444 X 206 Petaluma, CA CI$: 71320,3637
dbell@cup.portal.com (David J Bell) (12/28/89)
>> In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raym o >> > >> If you want it / here it is, come and get it >> But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast >> >> Was this not a theme song from a film at the time. Was it the Michael Caine >> one with the minis and the robbery in Italy (Venice??)? I forget the title. > >The movie, as I recall was The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and >(I think) Peter Sellers. I'm sure of the title, and that Starr was in it, >but I don't remember who starred with him. What's this got to do with >misc. computing? > >Regards, >mark Thanks, Mark... I've been wracking my brain for several days trying to remember the title of the film; I even remembered it was the name of the ship. And it was David Niven, of course, not Peter Sellers. Dave dbell@cup.portal.com
janne@enea.se (Jan Carlsson) (12/28/89)
In article <351@fwi.uva.nl> freek@fwi.uva.nl (Freek Wiedijk) writes: >I know that WYSIWYG means that what you see on the screen is what >you'll get on paper when you print it. I know that it is an >abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) >that this phrase comes from some popular song. > >My question is: from which song did the phrase "what you see is what >you get" come? Glen Goldsmith (a rather unknown British(?) singer) had a song with this title one or two years ago. I don't know if it was a cover. -- -- Jan Carlsson, Enea Data AB, Box 232, Nytorpsvaegen 5, S-183 23 Taeby, Sweden Phone: +46 8 792 25 00 ! e-mail: janne@enea.se Fax: +46 8 768 43 88 !
barmar@think.com (Barry Margolin) (12/29/89)
In article <25444@cup.portal.com> dbell@cup.portal.com (David J Bell) writes:
]>> In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raymo
]>> If you want it / here it is, come and get it
]>> But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast
]>> Was this not a theme song from a film at the time. Was it the Michael Caine
]>> one with the minis and the robbery in Italy (Venice??)? I forget the title.
]>The movie, as I recall was The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and
]>(I think) Peter Sellers. I'm sure of the title, and that Starr was in it,
]>but I don't remember who starred with him. What's this got to do with
]>misc. computing?
]Thanks, Mark... I've been wracking my brain for several days trying to remember
]the title of the film; I even remembered it was the name of the ship. And
]it was David Niven, of course, not Peter Sellers.
No, Mark was right -- it was Peter Sellers. He was playing an eccentric
aristocrat, the type of role Nivens often played, but it was definitely
Sellers.
I've redirected followups to rec.arts.movies, as this has definitely
digressed from the topic of comp.misc.
--
Barry Margolin, Thinking Machines Corp.
barmar@think.com
{uunet,harvard}!think!barmarwmf@chinet.chi.il.us (Bill Fischer) (12/29/89)
In article <25444@cup.portal.com> dbell@cup.portal.com (David J Bell) writes: > >>> In article <1TvfrT#4xr7gM=eric@snark.uu.net> eric@snark.uu.net (Eric S. Raym >o >>> > >>> If you want it / here it is, come and get it >>> But you better hurry 'cause it's going fast >>> Was this not a theme song from a film at the time. Was it the Michael Caine >>The movie, as I recall was The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and >>(I think) Peter Sellers. I'm sure of the title, and that Starr was in it, >>but I don't remember who starred with him. What's this got to do with >>misc. computing? >> >Thanks, Mark... I've been wracking my brain for several days trying to remember >the title of the film; I even remembered it was the name of the ship. And >it was David Niven, of course, not Peter Sellers. > No, it was Peter Sellers. Bill Fischer -- | Bill Fischer | INTERNET : wmf@chinet.il.us | | US Agent for Omega Electronics | COMPUSERVE: 76257,1226 | | "Olympic Timekeepers Since 1936" | MCIMAIL : 3110885 | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-< The opinions expressed here are my own >-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
usul@auc.UUCP (Ron McBay ) (12/29/89)
>> In <351@fwi.uva.nl> Freek Wiedijk wrote: >> > I know that [WYSIWYG] is an >> > abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". I know (?) >> > that this phrase comes from some popular song. The song WAS called "What You See Is What You Get". I was thinking it was by the Friends Of Distinction or some other type band. But it WASN'T an original phrase when that song came out. I'm pretty sure that Flip Wilson originated the phrase on Laugh-In when he did his Geraldine character. Here are some lyrics I can remember: Some people are made of plastic Some people are made of wood Some people have hearts of stone (?) Some people are up to no good But baby, I'm for real (?) I'm as real as real can get ... 'Cause what you see is what you get. A great song as I recall. That's all I can recall at the moment. Maybe this helps jog a few memories out there in net-land. -- Ron McBay ...!{gatech,emory}!auc!usul -- Ron McBay I'm trying to tell you something about my life Atlanta University Center Maybe give me insight between black and white UUCP: ...{emory,gatech}!auc!usul -- CLOSER TO FINE INTERNET: usul%auc.UUCP@mathcs.emory.edu INDIGO GIRLS
wombat@claris.com (Scott Lindsey) (12/29/89)
In article <3023@hp-sdd.hp.com> paul@hp-sdd.hp.com (Paul K Johnson) writes: > What you see, is what you get, > <something> <something> the best thing yet. > Can't pull out any more at the moment. :-( That sounds quite a bit like a line out of _Jesus Christ Superstar_, from the song "The Temple". In context: Take your pick from the finest wine, Lay your bets on this bird of mine, What you see is what you get, No one's been disappointed yet, Don't be scared, give me a try, there is nothing you can't buy... ... but this is probably just a tangent that no one else had in mine. Personally, I think that the phrase WYSIWYG is much older than any of this... while Flip Wilson *did* popularize it as Geraldine, I think it antedates him, simply as a consumer catch-phrase, like dime-a-dozen or "the whole 9 yards". Scott Lindsey |"Cold and misty morning. I heard a warning borne in the air Claris Corp. | About an age of power when no one had an hour to spare" ames!claris!wombat| DISCLAIMER: These are not the opinions of Claris, Apple, wombat@claris.com | StyleWare, the author, or anyone else living or Dead.
michaelb@wshb.UUCP ( WSHB employee) (12/29/89)
> > ............................... I know that it is an > >abbreviation of the phrase "what you see is what you get". > > ................. The phrase was one of these fad sayings in the > .... and was a phrase that was always uttered > by the American comedian Flip Wilson in his "Geraldine" persona (late 1960's > to early '70's). > Flip Wilson it was. The character was Geraldine. It became popular during the second season of Laugh-in. (1966?) -- Michael Batchelor -- Systems/Operations Engineer WSHB - An International Broadcast Station of The Christian Science Monitor Syndicate, Inc. uunet!wshb!michaelb 803/625-4880
komatsu@aludra.usc.edu (-----> Dave) (01/02/90)
In article <1693@esquire.UUCP> roberson@esquire.UUCP (Kevin D. Roberson) writes: >What you see is what you get ... > >A pre-disco recording and release by a group called "The Dramatics" circa >1971. I'm pretty sure it made the top 10 on the R&B charts. > >However, the phrase "What you see is what you get" was first made popular by >Flip Wilson by his character "Geraldine". That had to be around 1968 or so. > I can't seem to find the original post (my new program ate it) but I believe the song that contains WYSIWYG is DESIRE by Gene Loves Jezebel Lyrics I remember.... Sugar I've been missing you and I don't know where it is that you've been hiding I'm in a ball of fire in your arms desire and I've been wondering where it is you're hiding What you get is what you see... Desire ----------------------------------------------------------------------- komatsu@aludra.usc.edu | "WYSIWYG" -- Gene Loves Jezebel -----------------------------------------------------------------------
elvis@cbnewsj.ATT.COM (william.nemec) (01/03/90)
Hi. I believe the phrase "What you see is what you get" is used in a song by the Jam, I think it's called "Start." Bill Nemec AT&T Bell Labs Middletown, N.J. bill@scobee.att.com
gilham@csl.sri.com (Fred Gilham) (01/03/90)
There was a song in the '50s called Calypso Blues. It contained the
lines:
Calypso girl is good a lot.
Is what you see is what she got.
This is earlier than any of the other songs people have mentioned so
far....
-Fred Gilham gilham@csl.sri.combeville@cell.mot.COM (Anthony T. Beville) (01/03/90)
To add to the ever-growing list, the song "Walk it Down" from the Talking Heads' "Little Creatures" album contains the phrase "What you see is what you get"
of@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Fibre Optics) (01/04/90)
Yet another being "I don't want to be nice" by John Cooper-Clark (what a hero)
tkevans@fallst.UUCP (Tim Evans) (01/05/90)
I haven't been following this thread, so this one may have been mentioned
already. On a "live" album dating back to the early 70's, in a song
called "I've Been Lovin' You Too Long," Tina Turner (after a great deal
of slurping by Ike and some fake orgasms by Tina), says, "What you HEAR
is what you get."
--
UUCP: {rutgers|ames|uunet}!mimsy!woodb!fallst!tkevans
INTERNET: tkevans@wb3ffv.ampr.org
Tim Evans 2201 Brookhaven Ct, Fallston, MD 21047 (301) 965-3286george@oldcolo.UUCP (George Hart) (08/14/90)
In article <351@fwi.uva.nl> freek@fwi.uva.nl Freek asked where did
the phrase "What you see is what you get" come from.. I a gree
with Mike Lyons (nixba.uucp) that it comes from an old fad saying
in the United States.
George Hart
george@oldcolo.uucp
Colorado Springs, Coloradozane@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Sameer Parekh) (08/19/90)
I beleive in the advertisement for Coronet, it said, "What you see is what you get, when you buy Coronet!" (Coronet is a paper towel) -- Sameer Parekh | Disclaimer: I do not work for anyone. Libertyville IL 60048 | ()_____________ () (708)-362-9659 | / \ zane@ddsw1.MCS.COM | ~~~~/~~~~~~~\~~~~
scott@kong.gatech.edu (Scott Coulter) (08/20/90)
In article <1990Aug19.010102.26351@ddsw1.MCS.COM> zane@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Sameer Parekh) writes: >I beleive in the advertisement for Coronet, it said, "What you see is what you >get, when you buy Coronet!" >(Coronet is a paper towel) > I'm sorry to report that the Coronet ad said "Extra value is what you get..." Anybody want to invent an EVYWIG word processor? Scott D. Coulter uucp: ...!gatech!ics!scott Software Engineering Research Center InterNet: scott@ics.gatech.edu Georgia Institute of Technology "Everybody's talking to computers, they're all dancing to a drum machine..."
cmdegg@vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu (RADIATION RESEARCH) (08/20/90)
I believe that one of the sources of WYSIWYG came from Flip Wilson's transvestite comedy routine (Geraldine). However, that occured in the early 70's, and my wife says that there was sucha song. More later as I investigate/doodle with this. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-| Gregg Cohen University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry Mental Health Clinical Research Center 1-160A PH University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 INTERNET cohen@brodmann.iaf.uiowa.edu BITNET cmdgropg@uiamvs ATTNET (319)353-6358 Mental Health is more than a state of mind! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-|
mike@cs.keele.ac.uk (Michael A. Green) (08/20/90)
Hi,
There is a song by "Madness" that contains the line WYSIWYG.
It is on the same album as Baggy Trousers, but I can't remember the
name of this song.
Anyone?
TTFN
Mike
--
/^^^\/^^^\ /^^^^\ /^^^^^\ "Tanstaafl"
/ / / /____ / / ___ - R.A.H.
/ / / / / \____/ - Mike Green, Comp. Sci., Keele University.
Internet:mike@cs.keele.ac.uk {BITNET:mike%cs.kl.ac.uk@ukacrl}, DoD#0184djb@bbt.UUCP (beauvais) (08/24/90)
Ya, wasn't there a pop song by that name polluting the airwaves about 15-18 years ago? I think it was by the O'Jays or some such band.