Oldies Music... And I Mean Really Oldies! Online Trivia | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What man, who was born simply as "J.R.", popularized these lyrics? "The taste of love is sweet when two fiery hearts meet; I believed you like a child Oh, but the fire went wild..."

Answer: Johnny Cash

The Johnny Cash song, "Ring Of Fire" bespoke his love for his second wife, June Carter Cash. He was born as J.R., as his parents could not decide on a name. It wasn't until he joined the U.S. Air Force that he changed his name to John R. Cash in order to satisfy the requirements that forbade the use of only initials as a name.

2. Cab Calloway, The Andrew Sisters, Glen Miller, Ray Charles and probably countless others have sung this line many times, but what song were they singing? "You leave the Pennsylvania station 'bout a quarter to four; Read a magazine and then you're in Baltimore; Dinner in the diner; nothing could be finer, Than to have your ham and eggs in Carolina!"

Answer: Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Yes-siree, they were all singing about that quintessentially Southern US city, Chattanooga, Tennessee and its famous railways.

The old Chattanooga Choo-Choo terminal station is located on Market Street downtown. It now serves as a hotel and upscale restaurant with Victorian Train Cars, hotel suites or standard rooms. It has indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, gardens and shopping facilities.

By the way, it is a GREAT place to make reservations for a fantastically memorable New Year's Eve celebration!
(The preceding is an absolutely shameless plug for this pleasant city just 65 miles north of where I live in Georgia...)

3. "Froggie Went A'Courtin'" is a well-known "children's song", but what country is the origin of this timeless piece?

Answer: Scotland

This song has been thought by some to be a satire of Queen Elizabeth's habit of referring to her ministers by animal nicknames. She called Sir Walter Raleigh her "fish," the French Ambassador Simier her "ape," and the Duc d'Alencon her "frog." It was rumored that she had "special" relationships with these and possibly with others.

As the second verse seems to have been written prior to her reign, however, this supposition may be in doubt. Some people have also suggested that the song originated with Mary, Queen of Scots. At the very least, it seems to have originated in Scotland under the title, "A Moste Strange Weddinge of the Ffrogge and the Mowse" in 1580. In 1611, we find that the song title had changed and become more popular as "The Frog in the Well."

As the tune evolved, other verses attached, wordings were changed and different endings were tried, all to the effect that anyone can seemingly sing whatever version they wish, yet the song remains totally recognizable.

There are over 170 verses to the song, as it has been much embellished on over the years. Probably the most child-friendly version is by Burl Ives.

4. "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye" "While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo While goin' the road to sweet Athy A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye A doleful damsel I heard cry, Johnny I hardly knew ye. With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo With your drums and guns and drums and guns The enemy nearly slew ye Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer Johnny I hardly knew ye." Unfamiliar, huh? What American Civil War song used the same melody as this old Irish anti-war ballad?

Answer: When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again

"When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home."

Southern soldiers were referred to as "Johnny Rebs", while their Northern counterparts were called "Billy Yanks". Perhaps ironically, the "Johnny" of this song happened to be a Northerner named John O'Rourke, who served as a Union Light Artillery Captain.

Both sides, north and south, sang the song with equal fervor, and although the Irish version "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye", dates from the early 1800s, the song was first published in 1863 as "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."

5. "Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer do! I'm half crazy, All for the love of you! It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage But you'll look sweet upon the seat Of a bicycle built for two." What is the title of this song?

Answer: Daisy Bell

Composed by Harry Dacre, this song's success in America began when Jennie Lindsay sang it at Atlantic Gardens on the Bowery in 1892.

An interesting comedic answer to the tune is found in the following alternative song's "response".

"Harry, Harry;
Here is my answer true.
I can't cycle, for I get black and blue.
If you can't afford a carriage
There won't be any marriage.
For I'll be switched if I'll be hitched
On a bicycle built for two."

6. Which war is responsible for this little ditty rising to a place of prominence and popularity? "I just got word from a guy who heard From the guy next door to me The girl he met just loves to pet And it fits you to a 'T' So, don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me 'Til I come marchin' home?"

Answer: World War 2

This is another song from the annals of war. "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree", was written by Lew Brown, Sam H. Stept and Charles Tobias. It was popularized by Glen Miller's Orchestra in 1942. Many, many other artists covered the song including The Andrews Sisters as well as Bing Crosby. The Andrews Sisters sang their rendition in the film "Private Buckaroo."

7. Abraham Lincoln liked this particular tune that was first performed in the 1840s, calling it "that buzzing song". It is said that he even asked for it to be played at Gettysburg. What song was it that "Honest Abe" liked so well, according to the American poet, Carl Sandburg?

Answer: Blue Tail Fly

The song is known as "Blue Tail Fly", and also as "Jimmy Crack Corn". While the song seems to be a black slave's sorrow over his master's death, it has an almost unmistakable underlying tone of rejoicing over that death. It even seems to suggest the possibility of the slave having caused it by his own negligence. Most early versions were predominately sung in the African/English dialect that is reminiscent of the days of slavery.

A portion of the song follows:

"An' when he ride in de afternoon,
I foller wid a hickory broom;
De poney being berry shy,
When bitten by de blue tail fly.

One day he rode aroun' de farm,
De flies so numerous dey did swarm;
One chance to bite 'im on the thigh,
De debble take dat blue tail fly."

"Jimmy crack corn and I don't care,
Jimmy crack corn and I don't care,
Jimmy crack corn and I don't care,
My master's gone away."

"They buried him 'neath de 'simmon tree,
His epitaph there for to see;
'Beneath this stone I'm forced to lie...
De victim of de blue-tailed fly.'"

8. Well... This is the oldest official song in the United States military, dating back to a copyright date of 19 August 1891. I had no idea. Did you?

Answer: The Marines' Hymn

"From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines."

(Hey... WAIT just a dog-gone minute... I was in the U.S. Army!)

9. "I Love You Truly" was a number one hit as a parlor song. It was also the first song written by a woman, (Carrie Jacobs Bond) to sell one million copies of sheet music. It was popularized by Elsie Baker and was later sung by such artists as Pat Boone, Victor Borge, Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, The Ink Spots, Liberace, Guy Lombardo, and The Platters. In what year did it become a number one hit for Elsie Baker?

Answer: 1912

"I love you truly, truly dear,
Life with its sorrow, life with its tear
Fades into dreams when I feel you are near
For I love you truly, truly dear.
Ah! Love, 'tis something to feel your kind hand
Ah! Yes, 'tis something by your side to stand;
Gone is the sorrow, gone doubt and fear,
For you love me truly, truly dear."

Shirley Temple used the song in her 1945 wedding when she married a United States Navy Silver Star recipient, Charles Alden Black.

10. The lyrics to "Moon River", by legendary songwriter Johnny Mercer, with a music score provided by Henry Mancini, were featured and sung by Audrey Hepburn in which 1961 movie that starred her and George Peppard?

Answer: Breakfast at Tiffany's

An inlet near Johnny Mercer's hometown of Savannah, Georgia was named "Moon River" in honor of him and this song. This charming area is known as The Isle of Hope.

(The song was such a favorite of President John F. Kennedy, Sr. that it was played at his funeral.)

Source: Author logcrawler

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Oldies Music... And I Mean Really Oldies! Quiz

This quiz is a sort of follow-up to my "Music Americana". (Likely there will be more, in time.)

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