Do You Know the Lyrics to “Tell Me a Story Before I Go to Bed”?
Megan wrote to me looking for the lyrics to a song:
Hi my name is Megan I was hoping u might be able to help me with a song that my mum has been singing to me. The words I do know are:
Tell me a story tell me a story
tell me a story before I go to bed
u promised me u said u would
u better give in and I’ll be good
so tell me a story and then I’ll go to bedI do believe there are more words to the song if u would b able to help that would b great thanks!
I’ve only been able to find these slightly different lyrics:
Tell me a story, tell me a story
Tell me a story before I go to bed;
You promised me, you said you would,
You gotta give in ‘cause I’ve been good,
Tell me a story before I go to bed.
If anyone can help with additional lyrics, or information about this song, or if anyone would like to send in a recording, please comment below or email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
January 14th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Hi Lisa,
The words I know are;
Tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story,
Before I go to bed.
Tell me about the birds and bees
And tell me what made the chicken sneeze
Tell me a story and then I’ll go to bed.
(plus the verse you already have)
Cheers
January 15th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I’ve been looking for this, too. It was going the rounds when I was in grade school. With help from Lisa, Bertha and my memory, here’s how I remember it:
(Kid voice)
Tell me a story, tell me a story
Tell me a story before I go to bed;
You promised me, you said you would,
You gotta give in so I’ll be good,
Tell me a story before I go to bed.
(Adult male voice)
Well, once upon a time–
(Kid voice)
Now don’t go back in history, tell me a story, tell me a story,
Before I go to bed.
Tell me about the birds and bees
And how to make a chicken sneeze
Tell me a story and then I’ll go to bed.
(Adult male voice)
Well, here’s a tale you’ll never forget–
(Whack, whack, whack, whack, whack)
(Kid voice)
Ouch! My tail’s all red.
Kinda hard to get the tune here, though.
Bern
January 15th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
That’s neat! Thanks for writing, Bertha and Bern.
If you’re able to email me a recording, midi or sheet music, I’d be able to post that for the tune.
Cheers!
Lisa
January 16th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
TELL ME A STORY
(Terry Gilkyson)
Frankie Laine – 1953
Also recorded by: Jimmy Boyd
Junior:
Tell me story, tell me story
Tell me story, remember what you said
You promised me you said you would
You got to give in so I’ll be good
Tell me a story, then I’ll go to bed
Father:
Oh, worry, worry, weary ends my day
Time to go home without my raise in pay
Home by the fire where a man can just relax
Sippers there by the chair, not a worry, not a care
Along comes Junior swinging his little axe
Junior:
Tell me a story, tell me a story
Tell me a story, remember what you said
Tell me about the birds and bees
How do you make a chicken sneeze
Tell me a story, then I’ll go to bed
Father:
Came home so late one evening last July
Played a little poker the time had passed me by
Shoes in my hand and my darlin’ wife in bed
Up the stairs sayin’ a prayer
Then a voice comes through the air ….
Junior:
Hi you there, Daddy
Remember what you said
Tell me a story, tell me a story
Tell me a story, remember what you said
Tell me how your eye got black
Because the doorway hit you back
Tell me a story, then I’ll go to bed
Father:
Once upon a time I remember long ago
Junior:
Don’t go back in history
Your memory’s kinda slow
Father:
Stop your noisy talkin’
Until I finish with my tale
Once upon a …
Junior:
Upon a what …
Father:
Upon your back you’ll get a swat
Junior:
Tell me about the fish you caught
That’s was bigger than a whale
Junior:
Tell me a story, tell me a story
Tell me a story, remember what you said
You promised me, you said you would
You gotta give in so I’ll be good
Father:
Here’s a tale you’ll never forget
(Tap, tap, tap)
Junior:
Ouch
My tails all red
Father:
And now get up to bed
Junior:
Ha, ha come on Daddy
Tell me a story
Hee, hee
January 21st, 2007 at 9:02 am
We were talking about this song today 21/01/2007 and were trying to remember who it was sung by.
Thank you very much
January 22nd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/frankie_laine/tell_me_a_story.html
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/jimmy-boyd-tell-me-a-story-lyrics.html
February 13th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I only ever knew a second verse
Tell me a story
Tell me a story, tell me a story and then I’ll go to bed
Tell me about the birds and bees
How do you make a chicken sneeze?
Tell me a story and then I’ll go to bed.
Now, I saw a tv program that featured this as a part of an oldies retrospective. I’m trying to find the origins of this song. I’m sure it predates 1950 since my grandmother sang it to me.
btw I sang it to my 3 month old grandson and got his first real smile and giggle
February 24th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I am so glad I found you… LOL I woke up with this song in my head. I can still see the 45 sitting on the old record player, one of those ones with the big round stem in the middle for 45’s only. It was one of my favourites as a child,; boy, oh boy you would not get away with a song like that today. And it was a hit , wasn’t it? I also remember a song called Little black Sambo, as well as, Three little fisies , my Mom use to sing them to us .
Thanks For being there
Geri
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:28 am
I have tried to recall the words to this song, and the following, probably not in the correct order, are some of the sequences. It was a hit that came out, I think, just before ‘How much is that doggie in the window’, probably in the 1950s, when I was a lad in Perth, Western Australia. The words below are not exactly the same in all cases as given by previous respondents, or on the site :
———
Tell me a story
Tell me a story
Tell me a Story
remember what you said…
You promised me you said you would
You’ve gotta give in so I’ll be good
Tell me a story then I’ll Go to bed.
Oh, weary, weary, weary ends my day
Comes the time to go home
without a raise in pay
Home by the fire with my darling wife, relax,
Not a worry, not a care
Along comes junior
Swinging his little axe
——————-
Tell me a story,
Tell me a story
Tell me a story
Tell me a Story
remember what you said…
Tell me about the birds and bees
How do you make a chicken sneeze
Tell me a story, then I’ll go to bed.
………………
Once upon a time
I remember long ago
Don’t go back in history
your memory’s kinda slow
Stop your noisy talking
till I finish with my tale
Tell me about the fish you caught
that’s bigger than a whale.
Tell me a story
Tell me a story
Tell me a Story
Then I’ll go to bed
Tell me how your eye got black
The night a doorway hit your back,
Tell me a story than I’ll go to bed.
Once upon . . .upon a what
Upon your back you’ll get a swat
Tell me about the fish you caught
That’s bigger than a whale
==========
my tails all red..
now get up to bed.
oh come on daddy tell me a story. Hee! Hee!
——-
June 20th, 2007 at 11:26 am
I cannot believe the wonderful power of the internet. My granfather used to sing this to me when I was a child (I’m an old 45 now!!!!) and was trying to sing it to my seven year old. I couldn’t remember all the lyrics, googled it and BINGO. WOW, Thank you so much.
June 20th, 2007 at 11:30 am
You’re welcome! If you’d ever like to sing it for us, I’d be happy to post a recording!
-Mama Lisa
September 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I remember: Oh weary, weary, weary ends my day
Comes the time to go home without my raise in pay
Home by the fire where a man can just relax
Slippers there by the chair
Then a voice comes through the air …
Hiya there Daddy, remember what you said
November 4th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Thank you so much.. My Grandfather has a fantastic voice and would sing to me when he was tucking me in for bed. This song as well as the ‘Mares eat oat and does eat oats’ song bring back loving memories. I have little ones I have been repetitiously singing one verse to. You have no idea how much it means to me to be able to continue the memory that meant so much to me..given to me by my Grandfather..
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:28 am
Thank you so much. I used to hear this played on the radio when I was a kid in the 50’s, and wanted to sing it to my 3 year old granddaughter. I only know the bit the kid sings, and only part of the first verse, so it was fantastic to see the whole thing. Is there any way I can get the sheet music to this so I can sing the whole song to her?
Cheers,
Ai Ee
January 18th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Oh wow, I am only 36 and my mother and grandmother were always singing this song to get me to get me to bed. My grandmother & Grandfather also sang it to my mum. I will be sure to keep the words to sing to my grand children, as well as my old fav ‘Alexander beetle’.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I never heard of Alexander Beetle. How does that one go?
March 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
My mother is “60-something” and she has this song on a red 78 RPM with a bright yellow inner label. I remember listening to it at 45 speed (we didn’t have a player that played 78s). Imagine the little kid sounding like a slow old man. I don’t think this version had a spanking in it though. Of course it has been about 25 years since I heard it (at the wrong speed). She also had Bozo the Clown 78 speed record box sets (”Bozo on the Farm” and “Bozo Under the Sea”).
So are any of these things available on CD?
March 15th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Hi You can download the mp3 on limewire re “frankie laine”
April 9th, 2008 at 11:33 am
here is the song Tell Me A Story by Frankie Laine & Jimmy Boyd
April 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
[Oh, weary, weary, weary ends my day]
Oh, worry, worry, weary ends my day
Comes the time to go home
without a raise in pay
[Home by the fire with my darling wife, relax,]
Home by the fire where a man can just relax
Slippers there by the chair
Not a worry, not a care
Along comes junior
Swinging his little axe
This is the version I remember. Otherwise all the words I remember have been cited. It gets into my head sometimes–even after all these years–and I’m happy to see it hasn’t been forgotten by others.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Well, I’m 60 years young and remember playing this on my Dad’s old bubble Wurlitzer Juke Box…don’t know when he got rid of it and all of the old records.
Thanks for the lyrics and thanks for the memories!
Love,
Janni ;)
August 26th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
August 26th, 2008
I was also looking for this song, because I remember it being on the hit parade in the 1950s. I also only know the tune to the part the kid sings, so I’m going to try to at least hear it on the Internet somewhere. Thanks, everybody, for the other words!
Rosemary
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Frank wrote:
I was looking for it also. Learned a lot from you guys. Thanks. Also, has anyone been successful at finding it on the internet to listen to? Any info greatly appreciated
February 19th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Been looking for this song for ever use to have the 78 it had a yellow label. I moved in 1980 and had to leave a few boxes behind, my 78 record collection the mixture of every ones recollection of lyrics complete the full song of my memory although I thought it was sung by a guy named Don something or other. It’d true the internet if really an amazing situation.
Now if only I could find a copy of it being sung….
March 28th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Here’s another verse…
Came home late one evening last July
Played a little poker… Time had passed me by
Slippers there… By the chair
Not a worry…Not a care
Tell me a story…Tell me a story
Tell me a story…Remember what you said
You promished me…You said you would
You’ve gotta give in, so I’ll be good
Tell me a story, then I’ll go to bed
March 31st, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I was telling the teachers I teach with about my girlfriend and I singing this in a talent show in the 1950’s. I couldn’t remember all the words. Thanks this helps bring back great memories. I probably won’t be able to get it out of my head for a long time.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
This song is available as an MP3 download from Amazon.com.
Just search “Tell me a Story” and Frankie Laine. I just bought it for my mom.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Oh, my this song popped into my head several days ago and it wasn’t until I asked my daughter that I got a positive memory response. No one else had heard it! I’m 60 and remember the verse about the chicken sneeze and the bit about getting whacked! ouch, but amazing that within minutes of discussing this with her, she came up with this website!I’ll have to check out the Frankie Laine version. thanks everyone for the info!
October 11th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Found this song on Lime Wire
Frankie Laine & Jimmy Boyd Tell Me A Story
recorded in 1953
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 am
You can buy Tell Me A Story by Frankie Laine from iTunes. I played this record as a little girl over and over and over until the record hole was all worn out- It is such a catchy tune as it is a visual story. I found it on iTunes just a few months after my dad passed away and also found another song he sang to me Chocolate Ice Cream Cone by Kenny Roberts.If you like Tell Me A Story you should also check out Chocolate Ice Cream Cone. It was such a find for me – I have shared them with my grand children. My grandson loves them. Now if I could find the sheet music without filling out umteen pages of advertising junk.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Thanks for the info Gail. You can also download Tell Me A Story by Frankie Laine from Amazon for .99 cents. You can hear a clip of the song there.
Amazon also sells used copies of the sheet music: Tell Me A Story – As Recorded by Frankie Laine (Sheet music) – words and music by Terry Gilkyson.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:23 pm
This was such a good song while growing. Another favorite from that time was TRAIN TO THE ZOO…. Classics
February 18th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I have been searching for all of the words to this song for years. I’m 60 and remember singing this as a child and not sing it to all my grandchildren. It will be great to add the extra verses when I sing it now instead of just the two that I was singing. Thank you everyone!!!