jon (05/28/82)
[the following appeared in the Milwaukee Journal, May 24]
Songwriters, it seems, live in a woman's world. Scout through
songbooks of all eras and you'll find an occasional lyric about a male of
the species: "Danny Boy," "What's It All About, Alfie," "Eddie My Love,"
"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore."
But women in song are everywhere. If you're female and have a fairly
common name, chances are pretty good there's a song you can call your own.
Here's a quick quiz on 45 well-known song titles containing feminine
names. Some of the clues given are direct and unsubtle; others are
roundabout and require a good knowledge of lyrics.
Answer 25 correctly and you've done pretty well; 35 right is excellent;
40 or better means you're on a par with the best song experts.
1. A suitor traveled from Alabama to Louisiana, carrying a banjo,
just to see her.
2. Believe me, Frank Sinatra has got a case on her.
3. Sure and it's a grand old name, said Mr. Cohan.
4. The Beatles looked up and saw her with jewels.
5. She kissed Barry Manilow and stopped him from shaking.
6. She sifts sand by the seaside all day and night.
7. Her place is around the back, just a half a mile from the railroad track.
She's very accommodating.
8. She charms the husk right off of the corn (among other things).
9. The only g-g-g-girl I ad-d-d-dore.
10. After he graduated, Benjamin fell for her, even though she was older.
11. Another age problem: even though he was so young and she was so old,
Paul Anka asked her to stay by him.
12. I met a girl with this name on the West Side, and that name'll never
be the same.
13. Famous daughter of a miner. She died when she fell into the foaming brine.
14. It's nice to see her back where she belongs, and it's nice to know she'll
never go away again.
15. Borne like a vapor on the summer air.
16. The Four Seasons asked her to come out tonight.
17. Nat Cole compared her to the lady with the mystic smile.
18. Don and Phil Everly took her to a movie and they all fell asleep.
19. The belle of Savannah, Ga.
20. If she wants it, she gets it.
21. She takes you down to a place by the river.
22. Counting her charms is a good substitute for taking sleeping pills.
And for counting sheep.
23. He was in a stock car race. He crashed. But before he died he sent
word that he loved her.
24. Since I heard her lilting laughter, it's her Irish heart I'm after.
25. Groucho stood up in a railroad car and asked if anyone had seen her.
26. This sweet lady is a favorite of barbershop quartets.
27. She's a funny little good-for-nothing, but she has Chevalier sad
and dreamy.
28. Another Chevalier favorite: he seemed to hear her name in the wind.
29. In the 1930's, Leadbelly told his estranged wife he'd see her in his
dreams. The Weavers repeated the message in the early 1950's.
30. The Beatles called her "ma belle."
31. If the old grey goose dies, make sure this woman finds out.
32. An owl hooty-hooing to a dove is a sure sign this lady's in love.
33. See her when the stars are out.
34. A flower and a candy bar named for a little girl (from the days of
white bucks, as sung by George Hamilton IV).
35. Is there anyone finer? There is? Show me.
36. The Lost Boys plan to build her a house.
37. She waited under a lamp post for her soldier.
38. By occupation, she was a meter maid, according to the Beatles.
39. She has Simon and Garfunkle down on their knees, and she's breaking
their heart.
40. Her situation changed and she had to laugh and sing and dance for
two instead of one.
41. Buddy Holly loved and wanted he-e-er.
42. Ask her to hang on until after the storm, when the clouds go drifting by.
43. She left a guy with four hungry children and a crop in the field.
44. She grabbed Belafonte's cash and escaped to South America.
45. Oh! Oh! Oh, what a gal!
[I will post the answers in a few days. Don't send me your answers,
but do send song titles with MALE names in them.
If I get enough, I'll make a quiz out of them, proving this is an
equal opportunity net.]