Richard wrote looking for help with an Italian-American song. Here’s what he wrote:
My grandmother who came to the US at age 8 in 1903 knew this song. I can’t remember all of it and have sought anyone who ever heard of it. Her version went something like this. (Sung with a strong broken Italian accent.)
Whata ya duna John?
(A different voice ‘John’ replies)
I pusha pusha da truck.
(First voice again.)
Where do you worka John?…a
(Second voice replies)
For da Delaware Lakawan….a
(That was a big Railroad.)
Then repeats.
An Whata you dunna John?
I pusha pusha da truck.
And for who do you pusha da truck?
For the Delaware Lackawan.
(Then a chorus sings opera style)
La la laah la la la laahh
la la la la la laahh he pusha pusha the trucka for the Delaware Lackawan.
(The last part the la lahs are sort of sung like an Italian opereta.
Then there’s a second verse.)Ana where duyou worka Marie?
(Different voice answers.)
For da telephone company.
(First voice again)
Ana whata ya duna Marie?
(Marie replies)
I Plugga plugga da key.
(Inquisitors voice)
For who du you plugga da key?
(Replies)
For da Telephonea Company.
(Chorus sings)Where does she worka Marie?
For da Telephone Company.
Whata doesa she dosa Marie?
She pluggs a pluggsa da key.
For who doed she plugga da key?
For da Telephone Company
La la laahh
La la la lah
La la la la la laahh
She plugga plugga da key for fa Telephone Company.Theres one or two more verses which I can’t remember
Hope this gets through would like to hear from and collaborate with anyone who knows about this song.
If anyone can help with this song, please comment below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
This artilce was posted on Friday, July 22nd, 2011 at 3:26 pm and is filed under Countries & Cultures, English, Folk Songs, Italian, Italian American, Italy, Languages, Questions, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 23rd, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Yes, I am 78 years old and very vividly remember hearing & singing that song. I was raised & lived in Jersy City, NJ
August 23rd, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Do you remember any other verses Louis?
November 28th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
I looked all over for the lyrics of this song. My mom and her mom used to sing this to me when I was a boy. We live in Philadelphia, original family from Allegheny ave. and my Mom’s side is from Napels if that helps…
December 13th, 2011 at 12:04 am
The song was composed by American-born Harry Warren (born Salvatore Guaragna) in 1926. I think this song ‘evolved’ into many differant verses, similar to the way “C’e la luna mezzo mare” evolved. The version I have is sung by Lou Monte. Hope this helps.
Where do you work Marie
..in the telephone company
And what do you do Marie?
..I push, I push, I push.
And what do you push Marie, at the telephone company?
..I push-a, I push-a da plug, da plug, I push-a, I push-a da plug.
(That’s nice)
La la laah, lala lala laah
La la laah, lala lala laah
Where do you work-a Frank?
..I’m a-working in the bank
And what do you do-a Frank?
..I take, I take, I take.
And what do you take-a Frank, when you’re working in the bank?
..I take, I take-a da dough, da dough. I take, I take-a da dough.
(Don’t let them catch you)
La la laah, lala lala laah
La la laah, lala lala laah
What do you do Louise?
..I’m doing what I please.
And what do you do Louise, when you’re doing what you please?
..I tease, I tease I tease.
And who do you tease Louise when you’re doing what you please? Who do you tease Louise?
..I tease the heck, I make her a wreck, my sister’s got funny knees, knees, knees, knees. My sister’s got funny knees.
(Oh, you frighten me)
La la laah, lala lala laah
La la laah, lala lala laah
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
It is the delaware lakawanna song so funny i eas looking it up because my memere -my grandmother-used to sing it all the time
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:18 pm
A dj named greaseman used to play a recording of this song on his radio show
January 22nd, 2013 at 12:38 am
There was a kids record from the 60s that had that song on it. The album was called “puff and toot” and was released by Peter Pan records. That version has only the John verse, but it can perhaps give the writer’s name. When I was a kid, I had no idea that song was supposedly about Italians, nor that it was sort of derogatory.
May 18th, 2013 at 7:49 pm
I grew up in Geneva (Fingerlakes) NY, and we sang this song in elementary school, late 50s early 6os. It was in our song book for music class. I think I knew it was referring to Italians (I am Italian-American and could recognize the accent!) but didn’t know how much of a put-down it was until I’m now reading all the verses — wow.