The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold
And quite unaccustomed to fear,
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah,
Was Abdul Abulbul Amir.
If you wanted a man to encourage the van,
Or harass the foe from the rear,
Storm fort or redoubt, you had only to shout
For Abdul Abulbul Amir.
Now the heroes were plenty and well known to fame
In the troops that were led by the Czar,
And the bravest of these was a man by the name
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.
One day this bold Russian, he shouldered his gun
And donned his most truculent sneer,
Downtown he did go where he trod on the toe
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir.
Young man, quoth Abdul, has life grown so dull
That you wish to end your career?
Vile infidel, know, you have trod on the toe
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir.
So take your last look at the sunshine and brook
And send your regrets to the Czar
For by this I imply, you are going to die,
Count Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.
Then this bold Mameluke drew his trusty skibouk,
Singing, "Allah! Il Allah! Al-lah!"
And with murderous intent he ferociously went
For Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.
They parried and thrust, they side-stepped and cussed,
Of blood they spilled a great part;
The philologist blokes, who seldom crack jokes,
Say that hash was first made on the spot.
They fought all that night neath the pale yellow moon;
The din, it was heard from afar,
And huge multitudes came, so great was the fame,
Of Abdul and Ivan Skavar.
As Abdul's long knife was extracting the life,
In fact he was shouting, "Huzzah!"
He felt himself struck by that wily Calmuck,
Count Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.
The Sultan drove by in his red-breasted fly,
Expecting the victor to cheer,
But he only drew nigh to hear the last sigh,
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir.
There's a tomb rises up where the Blue Danube rolls,
And graved there in characters clear,
Is, "Stranger, when passing, oh pray for the soul
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir."
A splash in the Black Sea one dark moonless night
Caused ripples to spread wide and far,
It was made by a sack fitting close to the back,
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.
A Muscovite maiden her lone vigil keeps,
'Neath the light of the cold northern star,
And the name that she murmurs in vain as she weeps,
Is Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.
Notes
This song was written in 1877 by Percy French at Trinity College for a
college concert. He then sold it to a publisher for five pounds. The
publisher never credited French with authorship, and despite its later
popularity, French never received any royalties.
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Comments
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My father's Version
From guest Tom Kirshbaum (contact)
In the 1940's my father used to sing this song. I don't remember it all, but one line sticks out: Instead of: Downtown he did go where he trod on the toe... The version I remember substituted: Was looking for fun when he happened to run across... Does anyone else remember it this way? -
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As with many of French's lyrics, different singers altered them to fit their own voices, the events of the day and the audience they sung to.
Wherever possible we have tried to use the versions published in French's own book as in this case which I posted here.
It would be interesting to try and identify some of the more memorable parodies of French's work.
Perhaps you could start a thread in the Forum with the version your father sang.
Jim
Oldpoetry Team
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Missing verse #4
From guest Gloria Conley (contact)
I have an old songbook with this song in it. My father taught me this back in the 40's and I always loved to hear him sing it. Verse 4 is: He could jump fifty yards and tell fortunes at cards...And strum on the Spanish guitar...In fact quite the cream of this Muscovite team...Was Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. -
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If you check below you will find that guest W Gavin sent us a version with that verse in it. The comment was Feb 18 2007 entitled "Another version for a Pleb to learn"
This is an oft parodied poem and so there are very many versions but as far as I can tell this is the original version. I posted it on site from Percy French's own book of poems.
Jim
Oldpoetry Team
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Memories
From guest Kenmore McManes (contact)
When my brother and I were in our first year at the U.S.Naval Academy, we had been there just over a month when my brother, Spence , had to learn the first five verses for some upperclassmen. My diary entry from that day in 1953 was: September 15: “…Spence has to learn the complete brigade order, five verses of some stupid song, and a whole bunch of other junk… Spence had to sing that ‘Abdoule’ song to 4 upperclassmen in the room next to us. They laughed like heck.” My brother's children and grandchildren were impressed recently when I sent them pages from my diary which included the above. I also sent the words. -
Memories
From guest Andrea Rogers (contact)
My grandad used to play this to me on his guitar and when i was 12 he taught me. He passed away 3 years ago aged 84. I too will always remember it. -
Memories
From guest Dennis Strickland (contact)
My Dad used to recite this poem. He passed in 1991 at age 75. I will always remember it! -
Abdul and Ivan
From guest Ben Bowditch (contact)
Glad I found this. I had forgatten most of it. When I was a child in the late 1940s we moved often and seemed always to be on long road trips. This was one of the songs my mother sang to keep us kids entertained and was a favorite of my brother and me. We soon learned the words and would all sing it. -
Song of Abdul Abulbul Amir
From guest Ranald Alasdair MacDonald (contact)
Already entered this section with my comments but it has disappeared into thin air just like the two warriors in the above song. Last heard this sung in 1944 when a boy of 14 years of age on the stage entertaining wounded servicemen from WW11. I was nicknamed "The wee boy of the Atc Cadet Ronnie MacDonald" The two lads who acted the part of the two warriors in full costume and weapons flashing were excellent for a bunch of amateurs like we all were. Some moved on to professional status eg "The MacDonald Sisters" et al. I joined the R.A.F. instead. So thank you for the fond memories of happy bygone age ( must be getting old myself with that quip )! I will retain the words on my harddrive for future reference. A great and humourous song with funny antics of the two lads who played their part. Thank you so much! -
Song of Abdul Abulbul Amir
From guest Ranald Alasdair MacDonald (contact)
Thank you for the words of this old song. A past favourite of mine. Last heard it sung and acted on stage was when I was a member of the ATC 1091 Glasgow Squadron at a wee lad of 14 years old. A couple of the lads in our concert party acted and sang it dressed in full costume and gear, ie swords and all We entertained during World War 11 wounded and sick servicemen in hospitals throughout Scotland. Thans again for the very pleasant memories of those "good old days".Must be getting old myself with that last quip! -
Abdul and Ivan
From guest Larry B Crimmel (contact)
1950's Friend from Scotland @ OhioS.U. Varsity Club bar "Scotty" wouild tells us of A & I with an 8 minute highly raunchy but poetically brilliant that gave us a great respect for his precise scottish memory. Does anyone know of this off-color version. Scotty, are you still out there? -
Another version for a Pleb to learn:
From guest W. Gavin (contact)
Back when I was at the Academy we had to also learn the following: Ballad of Ivan Petrofsky Skevarr The sons of the Prophet are valiant and bold and wholly impervious to fear, But the bravest of all was a man by the name, Of Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer. If you wanted a man to encourage the van, Or harass the foe from the rear, Or to storm a redoubt, you had only to shout for Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer. This son of the desert in batle aroused Could spit twenty men on his spear, A terrible creature, sober or soused, Was Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer There are brave men in plenty, and well known to fame, in the army that's run by the Czar, But the bravest of all was a man by the name of Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. He cold imitate Irving, tell fortunes by cards, And play on the Spanish guitar, In fact quite the cream of the Muscovite team was Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. The ladies all loved him, his rivals were few, He could drink them all under the bar. As gallant or tank there was no one to rank, With Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. One day that bold Russian, he shouldered his gun and with his most cynical sneer, Was going down town, when he came right upon Brave Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer. "Young man," said Boul Boul, "is existence so dull That you hanker to end your career? For infidel know, you have trod on the toe Of Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer. So take your last look upon sky, sea, brook And send your regrets to the Czar For by this I imply, you are going to die, O you Ivan Petrofsky Skevar." "But your murderous threats are to me but a joke, For my pleasure and pastime is war And I'll tread on your toes whene'er I may choose," Quoth Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. Then that brave Mameluke drew his trusty chabook, Singing, "Allah! Il Allah! Akbar!" And with murder intent he ferociously went at Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. But the Russian gave back not a step at th' attack, For Ivan had never known fear, And with quickly aimed gun, put a stop to the fun, Of Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer Yet the whistling chabook did like lighning descend, And caught Ivan right over the ear. But the bayonet of Ivan pressed right through the heart Of Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer. The Russian commander spurred thither in haste, To seek fo his favorite Hussar. Lo, pierced through the snoot from the fatal chabook, Lay Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. The sultan rode up the distrubance to quell, Or to give to the victor a cheer, But he arrived just in time to take hasty farewell Of Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer Then Gotchikoff, Skabeloff, Menchikoff too, Drove up in the Emperor's car, But only in time to bid rapid adieu To Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. There lieth a stone where the Danube doth roll, And on it in characters clear, Is, "Stranger, remember to pray for the soul Of Abdulah Boul Boul Ameer." A Muscovite maiden her sad vigil keeps, In her home by the cold northern star, And the name that she murmurs so oft in her sleep, is Ivan Petrofsky Skevar. -
abdul Abulvul Amir
From guest ann pierce (contact)
Half of the song is missing. Several verses describe the Russian. The long version is much more interesting. Someone please add it. -
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My searches indicate that these are the correct 56 Lines from French's version.
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I believe I posted this one here myself from Percy French's own book.
I will re-check this week-end but am fairly sure it is accurate.
I do know (and have sung) a couple of parodies involving Ivan Stravinksy in more detail. Perhaps you are thinking of those verses by different writers!
Jim
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Abdul Abulbul Amir
From guest Chris Smith (contact)
Long ago, when I was in the US Naval academy at Annapolis, MD this poem was in the back of the small blue Academy bible called "Reef Points." It's strident marching rhythm made it ideal as a drinking song. -
Frank Crumit ... recorded in the 1920s/30s The Gay Caballero CD...Also a follow up song on Frank Crumit Returns
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The whole time whilst enjoying reading this I was sure I had heard it before. the notes made it quite clear that I have. All I have to remember now is Who sang it?
The rhyme and meter almost have one marching along with it.
Von
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