I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)

Album: The Magnificent (1911)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to Derek Scott in The Singing Bourgeois, Harry Von Tilzer coined the phrase Tin Pan Alley. Whether or not that is true, he certainly composed the music for "I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)." The lyrics were written by William Dillon (1877–1966), and it was his - though not Von Tilzer's - biggest hit.
  • The song was first published at New York by Harry Von Tilzer Music, copyright 1911, credited to him and Will Dillon. Obviously this is a song for mothers everywhere - except perhaps Jocasta in Greek mythology! It has been widely recorded, and was sung by Larry Parks in the 1946 biopic The Jolson Story; it was also parodied by Jesse Goldberg in a tribute to Hillary Clinton. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.