Mademoiselle from Armentières
Encyclopedia
"Mademoiselle from Armentières
" was a song that was sung during World War I
. It is also known by its ersatz French line, Hinky Dinky Parley Voo (variant: Parlay). It was considered a sexy song, and when sung on the radio and TV, as in The Waltons
, typically only the first verse was sung. The lyrics on which this opinion is based are recorded in the Gordon "Inferno" Collection.
It is also the third part (the first two being "Has Anyone Seen the Colonel?
" and "It's A Long Way To Tipperary
") of the regimental march of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
.
The tune of the song was believed to be popular in the French army in the 1830s, and the original words told of the encounter of an inn-keeper's daughter, named Mademoiselle de Bar le Luc, with two German officers. During the Franco-Prussian war
of 1870, the tune was resurrected, and again in 1914 when the Old Contemptibles got to know of it.
Mademoiselle from Armentières
was also the name of a 1926 British film directed by Maurice Elvey
and starring Estelle Brody
.
During World War II
the comic duo Flanagan and Allen
had a hit with Mademoiselle from Armentières [A. K. A. "If a grey-haired lady says 'How's yer father?'"] (1940), with other music and lyrics written by Ted Waite, referring to the original song.
.
The first recording of the song occurred in 1915 by Jack Charman.
, with Fred Mertz
a veteran of the First World War, the song is referenced several times including the episodes entitled Equal Rights and The Passports.
In episode 113 of The Golden Girls, entitled "Ebb Tide," Sophia sings a variation of the song with a group of guests, to whom she is renting rooms while Blanche and Dorothy are out of town.
"The first Marine, he found the bean, parlez-vous.
The second Marine, he cooked the bean, parlez-vous.
The third Marine, he ate the bean and blew apart the submarine.
Inky dinky parlez-vous."
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
" was a song that was sung during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It is also known by its ersatz French line, Hinky Dinky Parley Voo (variant: Parlay). It was considered a sexy song, and when sung on the radio and TV, as in The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
, typically only the first verse was sung. The lyrics on which this opinion is based are recorded in the Gordon "Inferno" Collection.
It is also the third part (the first two being "Has Anyone Seen the Colonel?
Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire
Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire is a war song of World War I. The song sarcastically recounts the location of various army members, not to be found in the combat zone, and concludes by describing the location of the old battalion: "hanging on the old barbed wire"...
" and "It's A Long Way To Tipperary
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
It's a Long Way to Tipperary is a British music hall and marching song written by Jack Judge and co-credited to, but not co-written by, Henry James "Harry" Williams. It was allegedly written for a 5 shilling bet in Stalybridge on 30 January 1912 and performed the next night at the local music hall...
") of the regimental march of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
.
The tune of the song was believed to be popular in the French army in the 1830s, and the original words told of the encounter of an inn-keeper's daughter, named Mademoiselle de Bar le Luc, with two German officers. During the Franco-Prussian war
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870, the tune was resurrected, and again in 1914 when the Old Contemptibles got to know of it.
Mademoiselle from Armentières
Mademoiselle from Armentieres (film)
Mademoiselle from Armentieres is a 1926 British World War I silent film drama, directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Estelle Brody and John Stuart. The film was Elvey's first collaboration with producer Victor Saville.-Plot:...
was also the name of a 1926 British film directed by Maurice Elvey
Maurice Elvey
Maurice Elvey was the most prolific film director in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year....
and starring Estelle Brody
Estelle Brody
Estelle Brody was an American actress who became one of the biggest female stars of British silent film in the latter half of the 1920s...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the comic duo Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen...
had a hit with Mademoiselle from Armentières [A. K. A. "If a grey-haired lady says 'How's yer father?'"] (1940), with other music and lyrics written by Ted Waite, referring to the original song.
Composers
There are a couple of claims to having written the lyrics for this song: E.g., Edward Rowland and a Canadian composer, Lt. Glitz Rice, is one pair; Harry Carlton and Joe Tunbridge is another. Lastly, many also refer to the famous British songwriter Harry WincottHarry Wincott
Harry Wincott was an English songwriter, born Alfred James Walden, 1 January 1867, London.Wincott was the writer of many popular pub songs from the turn of the 20th century...
.
The first recording of the song occurred in 1915 by Jack Charman.
Television References
On I Love LucyI Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, with Fred Mertz
Fred Mertz
Frederick Hobart Mertz, born in 1887 is a fictional character in the 1950s American sitcom I Love Lucy, originally from Indianapolis before his relocation to New York City. He is a World War I veteran and often talks about his times in the war. He is married to Ethel Mae Potter Mertz , and they...
a veteran of the First World War, the song is referenced several times including the episodes entitled Equal Rights and The Passports.
In episode 113 of The Golden Girls, entitled "Ebb Tide," Sophia sings a variation of the song with a group of guests, to whom she is renting rooms while Blanche and Dorothy are out of town.
"The first Marine, he found the bean, parlez-vous.
The second Marine, he cooked the bean, parlez-vous.
The third Marine, he ate the bean and blew apart the submarine.
Inky dinky parlez-vous."
External links
- One version of lyrics
- Entry at www.firstworldwar.com
- http://www.originals.be/nl/originals.php?id=9318 (More information about the song)