How Dry I Am

DESCRIPTION: "How dry I am/How dry I am/Nobody knows/How dry I am"
AUTHOR: Music: Edward Rimbault, adapted by Tom A. Johnstone; Words: Will B. Johnstone
EARLIEST DATE: 1921 (sheet music)
KEYWORDS: drink nonballad
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Fuld-BookOfWorldFamousMusic, pp. 279-280, "How Dry I Am"
RECORDINGS:
Bar Harbor Society Orchestra, "Old Timers" (Vocalion A-14315, 1922)
Wise String Orchestra, "How Dry I Am" (Vocalion 05360, 1939)
NOTES [89 words]: This fits Dave Para's definition of folklore perfectly: What everybody knows, and no one gives a second thought. I'm astonished it's not listed in any books we've indexed thus far.
Fuld describes the melody as an adaptation of the hymn "(O) Happy Day," published in the 1855 "Wesleyan Sacred Harp." A short version of the song appeared in the musical "Up in the Clouds", and we've listed that as "Earliest Date." The complete song was published in Gaskill & Ernest's "Good Fellow Songs," published in 1933 -- just in time for Repeal. - PJS
File: RcHDIA

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