As a young boy who longed for adventure and loved music that tugged at the imagination, I listened repeatedly to an operetta on two 45 rpm records (both sides) that had several songs of which I can remember several snippets. I've never been able to find any mention anywhere of any of this operetta. Several websites that specialize in older records have no recollection of anything like what I remember. If you search on the web, you'll find listings of the cartoon Robin Hood (played by a fox in a green suit) which I think is a Disney release. Erroll Flynn was in a production of Robin Hood as well. I even found an operetta but the lyrics weren't the same.
So hoping against hope, I'll list as much as my foggy memory can retrieve.
1. "We are the men of Robin's band,
We are the men who took a stand.
We will fight for the right, to keep up the (right?)
Till justice returns to our Land."
2. ".....But supposing he's hiding there, right behind that tree?"
It'll help him not at all, at all; for I shall arresteth thee
Ha, ha ha ha ha, Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee.
Poor Robin, poor Robin, poor Robin Hood."
(I think the above song was sung between the characters of Maid Marian and the Sheriff on Nottingham when the sheriff was plotting on arresting Robin).
3. This song occurs when Robin meets "John Little." There is verbal dialogue between the two until Robin knocks him off the log into the creek. Whereupon Robin says "what is your name?" "My name is John Little." "We'll call thee, "Little John" to which there is raucous laughter among the merry men. Some dialogue like "Verily?" "Yea, Verily!" "Forsooth?" "For truth, sayeth me, myself and I." (or a variant of it). You can hear the staffs banging into each other and the splash of the falling 'Little John' into the water with the merry men laughing lustily.
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6 comments:
I have kept the Robin Hood song in my mind all these years. My parents, who were both musicians, subscribed to a music club for my sister and me...a "record of the month" club. One of the records was the operetta that you talk about. I have a record or 2 left...they are packed away, but I need to find them. Don't think that Robin Hood was one that I still have, but the message made a huge impression on me.
I agree. Still haven't found the recording but it would be a hoot if I could.
Hello; I know this is an old post but I wanted to let you know that I think I found it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYYFs80XXcw
I hope this brings you some good cheer today!
Yes!!!! This is the one. It brings GREAT cheer. I've wondered about this for years!!!!
Thank you! The theme still produces chills!
I still have a hankering for Venison and hot bread and nut brown ale. I too loved that Robin Hood record and will check with my sister to find if she still has it after we cleaned out my mother's house several years ago. We considered it and a couple of others as family treasures from a youth long ago.
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