Lyr Req: When Francis Dances with Me

Subject: When Frances Dances With Me
From:
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 01:27 PM

We have a patron interested in the lyrics to this song. Anyone?

Many Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Francis Dances With Me
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 03:11 PM

Well, the University of Tennessee Knoxville Song Index says "When Francis Dances With Me" (different sex) is in a songbook called BILL HARDEY'S SONGS OF THE GAY 90'S. Don't have that book, but maybe it's a start. Still checking.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Frances Dances With Me
From: Frank Maher
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 03:15 PM

I sent the Words of the Song to the Person who wanted It!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Frances Dances With Me
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 03:29 PM

Hey, Frank, how 'bout us? Can you post it here, please?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Francis Dances With Me
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 07:01 PM

What Frank was able to come up with was a very scratchy recording. He sent me a copy, and I'm having a hard time making out much of it. So, we're still looking. I did find this:

(Ada) Jones and (Billy) Murray had their last hit as a duo with "When Francis Dances With Me" (Victor 18830), composed by Benny Ryan and Sol Violinsky, who was really Sol Ginsberg. It was recorded on August 25, 1921, and finally issued in January 1922, too late for Christmas sales. Victor executives probably had no great expectations for the record since Jones records in recent years had been slow sellers. The surprisingly brisk sales of this particular record can be attributed to the song's success in vaudeville. The music stops at one point for an exchange of comic dialogue, which was typical of recordings of a previous generation, such as on many Collins and Harlan records. By the 1920s, comic singers sometimes exchanged dialogue before music began--as Billy Murray and Aileen Stanley do on several numbers, such as "Whatdya Say We Get Together" (Victor 20065), and as the Happiness Boys do--but not often in the middle of a song.

That's all so far. Anybody else find anything?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN FRANCIS DANCES WITH ME
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 07:47 PM

Well, here's what I got. Not very good, but it's a start. Cute song, but I wish I could make out all the words.
-Joe Offer-

WHEN FRANCIS DANCES WITH ME
(Benny Ryan and Sol Violinsky, who was really Sol Ginsberg)
(transcribed from a scratchy recording)


Katie O'Connor from Tenth Avenue was dancing with Francis (Herault?)
And after they finished, the lounge lizard (?) said,
"Will you dance with me 'fore you go?"
But Kate said, "If I'm gonna dance, there's only one guy's (?) in the dance;
When Francis dances with me, golly gee;
I'm as gay as can be.
He takes me to dances 'cause that's what I love
I fits in his arms like a motorman's glove.
Oh, the Bowery, the Bowery
We don't go there any more.
He wears a tuxedo and gee, how it fits;
He looks like a headwaiter up at the Ritz.
And I wears a skoit (?) that's a thoity-eight blitz
When Francis dances with me."

Katie said, "Sometimes I'm lonesome and blue,
And sometimes my head starts to ache;
And sometimes my tires pop (???) or I catch a cold
I feel like my back wants to break
And if I gets oil (?) on my ear,
The tincture will soon disappear.
When Francis dances with me, golly gee;
I'm as gay as can be.
When we start in waltzing, with heaven I flirt;
He steps on me toes, but they don't seem to hurt (hoit).
Oh, the Bowery, the Bowery
We don't go there any more.
His hair shines like diamonds, he combs it with fat (???);
He wears a (tom beach?) and a brown derby hat
Now, you know the guy can't look better than that
When Francis dances with me."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Frances Dances With Me
From: Frank Maher
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 10:40 PM

Hi Joe, You were very close with the words:

She was dancing with Francis, her beau...

But Kate said, “If I’m gonna dance, There’s only one guy stands a chance”...

And sometimes my corns pop...

And if I should fall on my ear, The pain sure would soon disappear...

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN FRANCIS DANCES WITH ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 01:07 PM

From Indiana University Sheet Music Collections. I

WHEN FRANCIS DANCES WITH ME
(Words, Benny Ryan. Tune, Violinsky [who was really Sol Ginsberg].)
New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1921.

VERSE 1. Katie O'Connor from Tenth Avenue
Was dancing with Francis, her beau,
And after they finished, a lounge lizard said,
"Will you dance with me 'fore you go?"
But Kate said, "If I'm gonna dance,
There's only one guy stands a chance.

CHORUS 1: "When Francis dances with me,
Hully Gee, I'm as gay as can be.
He takes me to dances 'cause that's what I love.
I fit in his arms like a motorman's glove.
Oh, the Bow'ry, the Bow'ry, we don't go there anymore.
He wears a tuxedo and gee, how it fits!
He looks like the headwaiter up at the Ritz.
And I wears a gown that's got twenty-eight slits
When Francis dances with me."

VERSE 2. Katie says, "Sometimes I'm lonesome and blue,
And sometimes my head starts to ache;
And sometimes my corns pop or I catch a cold.
I feel like my back wants to break.
And if I should fall on my ear,
The pain sure would soon disappear.

CHORUS 2: "When Francis dances with me,
Hully Gee, I'm as gay as can be.
When we start in waltzing, with heaven I flirt.
He steps on my toes, but they don't seem to hurt.
Oh, the Bow'ry, the Bow'ry, we don't go there anymore.
His hair shines like diamonds. he combs it with fat.
He wears a Palm Beach and a brown derby hat.
Now, you know a guy can't look better than that,
When Francis dances with me."