I Don’t Want To Play In Your Yard…
May.08, 2007 in
Life
A few weeks ago, I watched the movie Reds. What a great movie, it just came out on DVD, but it was released in 1981 I think.
Anyways, in the movie, there is a repeating song, “I Don’t Want To Play In Your Yard” that they keep playing/singing. So I did some digging, found a crappy version from 1895 in the Internet archives.
I listened to that and then recorded it. Not the whole song, but just the main line. Catchy tune. It sounds weird, because it is a kids song, but, I still like it.
One part in the song says “sliding down our cellar door”. Cool because “cellar door” is considered by some to be the most beautiful phrase in the English language.
Here is my version: I Don’t Want To Play In Your Yard
Tags: Music
Simlar Posts
May 18th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
That song swirls through my head too….I did not remember it from that movie…..I remember it from when I was a kid….I originally thought I heard it on a recording from Tiny Tim or someone as obscure….I am still looking
March 12th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Steve,
Loved your version of the song, I don’t want to play in your yard. I am in the middle of watching the movie, it’s fantastic. The song is in my head and I want to play it on piano, can’t find any sheet music without buying a whole book I don’t want. Where did you find the music? Thanks
March 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hi Molly, I just figured it out by listening to it :) E, A I think.. I would have to pick up my guitar again and play it..
March 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I remember this song from when I was a kid…I always thought Tiny Tim covered it….am I wrong?
March 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I think so, not sure though…
April 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
i caught the last half of Reds 15 or 20 yrs ago ~ barely caught the tinkling piano keys in the background, & the tune has twirled around my head like a ghost ever since. there used to be an old record store here (south of chicago) where you could get almost anything ever recorded. a very sweet old man worked there ~ american-erstwhile-hippie-giapetto type ~ who knew every piece of music in every genre. my inquiry sent him into the sweetest a capella version … verse after verse til finally he stopped, saying there was lots more ~ the folks in line behind me just had to wait. they didn’t have it, & he knew of no one who would. but his face was very grateful for the memory, as he said he hadn’t remembered it since he sang it as a kid, & i was so grateful for one of the sweetest most genuine most memorable little impormptu performances there ever was. you’re brilliant for providing this!!!
April 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
i did find this, but i like yours much better. years on, you’ll probly sound just like my old gentlmen in Hegwisch Records.
http://ingeb.org/songs/idontwan.html
April 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
one more ~ a question: do you still have access to the crappy 1895 version you reference? i do love old recordings, & would love to hear it.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
here was the site I found it on..
http://www.archive.org/details/GeorgeJGaskin
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
Wow, the internet is so great! I just finished watching Reds on HBO (wonder who else out there is tracking down this song this morning too), and thanks so much for the recording here and the links. I used to sing this when I was a kid, but a different melody and not nearly as sweet.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
It is also used in “The Savages” as sung by Peggy Lee.