Ding-a-ling-a-ling?

[shybearuk]

My Gran used to sing a song to me and my sister, which was called Ding-a-ling-a-ling, and apparently dates from WW1. Unfortunately, she's now getting on a bit and can't remember all of the lyrics, but between me, my sister, my Ma and her, we've managed to cobble together virtually all of it. Is there anyone out there that knows the song? I'll include what we have so far as the first three replies to this question.

[shybearuk]

I once met a dear little fairy Such a fairy, golden hairy She did not assist in the dairy But sweet Piccadilly she roamed One evening outside a theatre I met her, couldn�t forget her She was wanting a bus that would set her Down at her dear little home She howled at the bus man to stop Full inside? Well, I�ll ride on the top! And up she went with a ding-a-ling-a-ling And the stormy wind doth blow She wore a beautiful crinoline-a-lin The conductor down below On his face he wore a grin-a-lin-a-lin What is my fare? she said The wind gave a roar And he said O Lor�! And the poor sod dropped down dead

[shybearuk]

One night while the willows were weeping Stars were peeping, shadows creeping A man in the canteen was sleeping And sweet were the dreams that he dreamt He was dreaming of things bright and sunny Pots of money, sweet as honey He woke when he heard something funny �Twas the dear little cats on the tiles He opened the window and saw Of pussy cats nearly a score And the song they sang was ting-a-ling-a-ling And they sang so sweet and low They all sat round in a ring-a-ling-a-ling And their tails wagged to and fro He said I�ll stop their din-a-lin-a-lin! And he went and fetched his gun And now there�s a rise in the canteen pies �cause there�s meat in every one

[shybearuk]

One night at a Salvation meeting What a meeting. Such a greeting The dear little things they were bleating And sweet were the hymns that they sang When up jumped a dear little sister I kissed her, couldn�t resist her On her nose she�d a big, wat�ry blister She sneezed and it went with a bang She said Dear brothers, It is true. We shall sing hymn number one hundred and two And the hymn they sang went ding-a-ling-a-ling And they sang so sweet and low (missing line) (missing line) And on that chair was a pin-a-lin-a-lin And it went up her abode (missing line) (missing line)

[shybearuk]

What we have here may be slightly wrong in places, but it's the best we can do. Any help will be much appreciated.

[Merlin]

http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle &artid=222 As answered on your other posting of this Q!. The only part of the lyric I recall is "The bells of hell go ting a ling a ling for me but not for you". It was a jolly tune and was used as the theme for a TV drama (UK) some years ago about WW2 fighter pilots - can't remember the title of that, either.

[Merlin]

Here's the one I mean: Ting-a-ling-a-ling by George C. Smith, Ph.D. -- 10/10/01 "The bells of hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling; For you but not for me; And the little devils how they sing-a-ling-a-ling For you but not for me; O Death where is thy[1] sting-a-ling-a-ling, O Grave, thy victor-ee? The bells of hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling, For you but not for me." -- "The Bells of Hell," sung by soldiers in World War I

[Toffee]

I'm pretty sure it featured in the film "Oh! What a Lovely War".

[Shaftmonde]

My dad used to sing the "willows were weeping" as a party piece, and now it has become mine.
I'm over the moon that someone else in the world knows it too. I've searched before but never found it.
I didn't know there were other versions too, presumably to the same tune, although some of their lines don't quite fit the rhythm.
We must be related ;) Lol

[Shaftmonde]

This was my dad's version:

One night while the willows were weeping
Stars 'a peeping, shadows creeping
The man in the pieshop was sleeping
His face was all wrinkled with smiles
He was dreaming of something so funny
Sweet as honey , lots of money
He awoke when he heard something funny
�Twas the dear little cats on the tiles

He opened the window and saw-haw-haw-haw (s-h-h-h=major seventh)
Pussy cats there by the score-haw-haw-haw (same again)

(short pause, followed till the end with the 'bells of hell' tune)

And they all sat round in a ring-a-ling-a-ling
And their tails wagged to and fro
And the song they sang was ting-a-ling-a-ling
And the notes were sweet and low
He said I�ll stop their fling-a-ling-a-ling!
And he went and fetched his gun
And now there�s a rise in the price of his pies
�cause there�s meat in every one.