What do Winnie the Pooh and The Doors have in common? - Song #25

The answer: James Morrison. You probably know that Jim Morrison was lead singer and songwriter for The Doors, but did you know that Winnie the Pooh's creator, A. A. Milne, wrote a poem titled "James James Morrison Morrison"? Actually, I just learned that's not correct - the title of the poem is "Disobedience." He wrote it in 1924 as part of the book "When We Were Young." It's a fun inversion of the usual mother/child relationship and very British

JAMES JAMES MORRISON MORRISON

James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George DuPree
Took great care of his mother though he was only three
James James said to his mother:
"Mother," he said, said he
"You must never go down to the end of the town,
if you don't go down with me.
Don't ever go down to the end of the town,
if you don't go down with me."

James James Morrison's mother put on her golden gown
James James Morrison's mother, she drove to the end of the town
James James Morrison's mother
She said to herself, said she
"Well, I can get down to the end of the town
And be back in time for tea.
Well, I can get down to the end of the town
And be back in time for tea."
King John put up a notice: "Lost, stolen or strayed,
James James Morrison's mother,
She seems to have been mislaid
Wandering vaguely all about quite of her own accord
She tried to get down to the end of the town--
Forty shillings reward.
She tried to get down to the end of the town--
Forty shillings reward.

James James Morrison Morrison, commonly known as "Jim"
Said to his other relations not to go blaming him
For James James said to his mother
"Mother", he said, said he
"Don't ever go down to the end of the town,
If you don't go down with me.
You must never go down to the end of the town,
If you don't go down with me."

Now James James Morrison's mother,
She hasn't been heard of since,
King John sent down to give his regrets,
And so did the queen and the prince,
King John, somebody told me,
Said to a man he knew,
"If people go down to the end of the town,
Well what can anyone do?
If people go down to the end of the town,
Well what can anyone do?"

I am not sure who set the words to music, but looks like it may be Chad Mitchell, who recorded the song with his folk trio in the early 1960s.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Where is the SHEET MUSIC in any key for the SONG "James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree" which yes was done by Chad Mitchel Trio, but well before that as a British Music Hall song in the 1930's, 40's +++ ? Can't find it.

It is only 3 chords, but I have a piano accompanist who needs it. Thanks.

Cyndi Turtledove, 12 String Guitar Folk Singer cyndi@lesta.net or cynditurtledove@comcast.net

Joe said...

Hi Cyndi, I have never come across sheet music for this song, unfortunately. By the way, I never found any info of this song predating the Chad Mitchell Trio -- it is credited to Chad Mitchell, I believe. Do you have any links to where I could learn more about its music hall origins, which sounds very plausible? Thanks.