Is Anyone Familiar with a Song with the Line “”Rubin, Rubin, I’ve been thinking, what cruel world this would be”"
Meg wrote:
Good afternoon.
I recently had a little boy and, I have been singing to him different songs from my childhood. I am hoping that you can help me track down lyrics to a song that mother used to sing to me. The song goes…
Rubin, Rubin, I’ve been thinking, what cruel world this would be, if the boys were all transported, far beyond the Northern Sea.
To be honest, I’m not even entirely sure that lyrics are 100% correct. Let me know if you can help.
Thank you,
Meg
If anyone can help out with this song, please comment below or email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
June 20th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Jason Pomerantz found the lyrics to your song! It was written by Harry Birch in 1871, music by William Gooch. It’s callled Reuben and Rachel and it’s a “comic duet”:
Reuben and Rachel
[Rachael]
Reuben, I have long been thinking,
What a good world this might be,
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea.
[Reuben]
Rachel, I have long been thinking,
What a good would this might be,
If we had some more young ladies
On this side the Northern Sea.
[CHORUS]
[Reuben]
Too ral loo ral loo,
[Rachel]
Too ral loo ral,
[Reuben]
Too ral loo ral loo,
[Rachel]
Too ral loo lee,
[Reuben and Rachel; overapped voices]
[Rachel]
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea.
[Reuben]
If we had some more young ladies
On this side the Northern Sea.
[Rachael]
Reuben, I’m a poor lone woman,
No one seems to care for me,
I wish the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea.
[Reuben]
I’m a man without a victim,
Soon I think there’s one will be,
If the men are not transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea.
(CHORUS)
[Rachael]
Reuben, what’s the use of fooling,
Why not come up like a man?
If you’d like to have a “lovyer”
I’m for like your “Sally Ann.”
[Reuben]
Oh my goodness! oh my gracious!
What a queer world this would be,
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
(CHORUS)
[Rachael]
Reuben, now do stop your teazing,
If you’ve any love for me;
I was only just a fooling,
As I thought of course you’d see.
[Reuben]
Rachel, I will not transport you,
But will take you for a wife,
We will live on “milk and honey,”
Better or worse, we’re in for life.
(CHORUS)
Click the link to hear the tune to Reuben and Rachel.
Click the link for the sheet music for Reuben and Rachel.
Click the link for the guitar chords for Reuben and Rachel.
June 20th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I just wanted to thank you for your help with this. I finally found the song and author. The name of the song is Ruebin and Rachel. It was written by Harry Birch. I have actually found three other versions of the song as well. Thanks again for your help!!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Thanks from me too. I’ve been trying to find this for years.
I first heard it on a Disney Songs cassette (since lost).
From memory I figured it out on the piano (so I can play
it myself to some degree), but I always wanted to know
the true tune, lyrics and origin.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
My mother used to sing this to me and I was trying to remember the words. Thank you!
April 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I remember this song from long ago & was wondering what the complete lyrics were. Thanks a million! The words weren’t exactly as I remembered them…….but close enough! Thanks !!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I have been trying to find this song since I was in Elemertery school. I first heard it at age 10, I was attending St. Anthony grade school in South Ozone Park, NewYork. It was my favorite song in 1956. Thanks for bringing back so many good memories..
August 27th, 2008 at 11:22 am
In the early 1950’s, when I was a very young child, the girls would jump rope to a similar rhyme.
Rubin, Rubin, I’ve been thinking:
What’s that queer stuff you’ve been drinking?
Smells like whiskey, looks like wine-
Oh my gosh, it’s TURPENTINE.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
This will be similar to the previous comment by Jim. I grew up in the early 60’s in Massachusetts, and heard this frequently as a kid,
Rubin, Rubin I’ve been thinking,
What on earth have you been drinking—
Is it whiskey, Is it wine ?
Oh my gosh, it’s terpentine
Very interesting to see different versions over the years………
April 17th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
ya i have hered of it i forgot the name though.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I heard the Ruben and Rachel tune with names and events from the Bible–Adam, Noah, etc. Does anyone have these words or know where I can find them?
June 5th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I was born in 1947 in Atlanta. This is a jumprope rhyme. The
way I remember one of these:
Ruben, Ruben, I’ve been thinkin’
What on earth have you been drinkin’
Smells like beer, tastes like wine
Oh, my gosh, it’s turpentine.
How many bottles have you done drank ?
(Start counting at 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. until the jumper
misses)
And yes, I am male