The Near Future
Encyclopedia
The Near Future is the name of a song written by Irving Berlin
in 1919. It is better known for the small part of its lyric that took on a life of its own: "How Dry I Am".
The term "Dry" in that time period meant abstinence from alcohol, and support of Prohibition
. Those who took the opposite approach and/or view were often called "Wet". Prohibition became fact in 1920, in "the near future" after the song was issued.
This portion of the song...
...became known for its ironic use, by people getting drunk and singing it, sometimes in harmony, in all manner of popular media, especially Warner Bros.
cartoons. That usage necessitated removing the parts that overtly denied drinking, which tended to reduce the song to these two lines:
On the other hand, the origin of the ditty “How Dry I Am” predates Berlin's song and the prohibition era. It is documented as a song being sung by day-laborers in 1907 and is certainly much older.
“How Dry I Am” (also widely heard in the variant form, "How Dry Am I") has come to represent what may be the single most widely used four-note sequence to begin a popular song. The notes, in the key of C, are G4-C5-D5-E5 . In any key, the notes, based on their position in the major scale, are 5-8-9-10 (alternatively, 5-1-2-3). See blues turnaround.
The idea that “How Dry I Am” is based on an old spiritual is probably valid. A scan through a church hymnal may reveal dozens of songs and hymns with that same beginning sequence. One hymn that matches the "How Dry I Am" tune very closely is Oh Happy Day
;
it was almost certainly the basis for future songs on the
"How Dry I Am" theme, notably by
Will B. Johnstone
and
Benny Bell
.
There is an old greek song called Bufetzis (Μπουφετζής) writthen by Yiorgos Batis
made with the music of "How Dry I Am".
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
in 1919. It is better known for the small part of its lyric that took on a life of its own: "How Dry I Am".
The term "Dry" in that time period meant abstinence from alcohol, and support of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. Those who took the opposite approach and/or view were often called "Wet". Prohibition became fact in 1920, in "the near future" after the song was issued.
This portion of the song...
- How dry I am, how dry I am
- It's plain to see just why I am
- No alcohol in my highball
- And that is why so dry I am
...became known for its ironic use, by people getting drunk and singing it, sometimes in harmony, in all manner of popular media, especially Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
cartoons. That usage necessitated removing the parts that overtly denied drinking, which tended to reduce the song to these two lines:
- How dry I am, how dry I am
- Nobody knows how dry I am... Hooow dryyy I aaaaaam!
On the other hand, the origin of the ditty “How Dry I Am” predates Berlin's song and the prohibition era. It is documented as a song being sung by day-laborers in 1907 and is certainly much older.
“How Dry I Am” (also widely heard in the variant form, "How Dry Am I") has come to represent what may be the single most widely used four-note sequence to begin a popular song. The notes, in the key of C, are G4-C5-D5-E5 . In any key, the notes, based on their position in the major scale, are 5-8-9-10 (alternatively, 5-1-2-3). See blues turnaround.
The idea that “How Dry I Am” is based on an old spiritual is probably valid. A scan through a church hymnal may reveal dozens of songs and hymns with that same beginning sequence. One hymn that matches the "How Dry I Am" tune very closely is Oh Happy Day
Oh Happy Day
"Oh Happy Day" is a 1967 gospel music arrangement of an 18th century hymn. Recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, it became an international hit in 1969, reaching US #4 and UK #2 on the pop charts...
;
it was almost certainly the basis for future songs on the
"How Dry I Am" theme, notably by
Will B. Johnstone
Will B. Johnstone
Will B. Johnstone was an American writer, cartoonist, and lyricist. He wrote for the Marx Brothers and penned several popular songs, including a version of How Dry I Am....
and
Benny Bell
Benny Bell
Benny Bell was an American singer-songwriter who reached popularity in the 1940s, with a comeback in the 1970s. He is particularly remembered for his risqué but cheerfully optimistic songs.-Career:Benny Bell was born to an immigrant Jewish family in New York City...
.
There is an old greek song called Bufetzis (Μπουφετζής) writthen by Yiorgos Batis
Yiorgos Batis
Yiorgos Batis was one of the first rebetes influential to rebetiko music. His real name was Yiorgos Tsoros although he was known as Yiorgos Ampatis...
made with the music of "How Dry I Am".