Judy Collins Oh Daddy Be Gay.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

What kind of song is this?

Judy Collins - O' Daddy Be Gay - YouTube

[Jim Nasium]

An intereresting question. In my Concise Oxford Dictionary, first printed in 1911 my one printed in 1956, tells us that gay: is an adjective, Full of or disposed to or indicating mirth, light-hearted , sportive; airy, off-hand; *(Sl.) [slang] cheeky, impertinent; (euphemism) dissolute, immoral, living by prostitution; showy, brilliant, bright coloured, finely dressed. We all know todays meaning. I suspect the song dates back to the early part of the 19th century or earlier and one of the Oxford meanings stands.

Here is Wikipedia's version
Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term was originally used to refer to feelings of being "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy". The term's use as a reference to homosexuality may date as early as the late 19th century, but its use gradually increased in the 20th century.[1] In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun, referring to the people, especially to gay males, and the practices and cultures associated with homosexuality.

By the end of the 20th century, the word gay was recommended by major LGBT groups and style guides to describe people attracted to members of the same sex.[2][3] At about the same time, a new, pejorative use became prevalent in some parts of the world. In the Anglosphere, this connotation, among younger speakers, has a derisive meaning equivalent to rubbish or stupid (as in "That's so gay."). In this use, the word does not mean "homosexual", so it can be used, for example, to refer to an inanimate object or abstract concept of which one disapproves. This usage can also refer to weakness or unmanliness. When used in these ways, the extent to which it still retains connotations of homosexuality has been debated and harshly criticised.

[Sydney Steve]

While I would never stoop to stereotyping Gord’s fans by virtue of their vintage I think many ,(including his US fans) can run their memories as far back as 1972.

A wonderful Irish gent ,”Gilbert O’Sullivan"’s biggest hit around the world :

US BILLBOARD SINGLES CHART

DATE OF CHART ENTRY TITLE HIGHEST POSITION WEEKS ON CHART

17 June 1972 Alone Again (Naturally) 1 18


The start of verse 2 goes like this :

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay


The use of the word in that context was unusual but not unheard of (certainly in the UK anyway) . While the song is about a bloke getting stood up at the altar I am pretty sure it was not implied that this was because of his self confessed gender preferences.


As a kid I was fed a diet of older musicals by my Dad including one called “Salad Days” . One of the (IMO) better songs is called “We’re Looking For a Piano”. The musical centred around a magical piano that had the power to make people (involuntarily) dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KH08D2gQ1s

Buried away in the song is to the best of my recollection (something like )
“We’re looking For a Piano ,
Not any old Piano
It’s one that makes you gay “
(Oh confirmed and just found the line at about 2:10 in the embedded You Tube sound bite / clip.)

This musical was written much earlier but the pattern and useage was in the same context.

cheers

One of your old Aussie "gay" mates.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

[QUOTE=Sydney Steve;186830]While I would never stoop to stereotyping Gord’s fans by virtue of their vintage I think many ,(including his US fans) can run their memories as far back as 1972.




[/QUOTE

What's the point of even mentioning that?

[Sydney Steve]

Getting old is one thing . Being over - sensitive about it is another. Lighten up. It was a tongue in cheek "in joke" - most of us are in the same boat .... I'm no chicken either !

[Jim Nasium]

There is a well known film "The Gay Divorcee" which pops up on British TV occasionally, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers are in it. There are some songs by Cole Porter, of all people, but in this instance Gay means light hearted and frivolous. I live in a town called Gosport on the south coast of England, across the harbour is the city of Portsmouth, we have a ferry service between Gosport and Portsmouth. At one time one of the ferries was called The Gay Enterprise, this caused so much mirth and derision the name had to be changed. It's a funny old world.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

I know gay also been happy but the song sounded so odd I had to ask.



BTW I have a question about the title of another song by her.


If you grew up on early Sesame Street you may recall she was a regular on there like Buffy St. Marie.

There was a song she performed on the show in which she played piano.


The middle verse goes like "Open the door and come on in, I'm so glad to see my friend."

I suppose is was a song by her.

[Jim Nasium]

Song For Judith (Open The Door) Written by Judy Collins

Sometimes I remember the old days
When the world was filled with sorrow
You might have thought I was living but I was all alone
In my heart the rain was falling
The wind blew, the night was calling
Come back, come back, I'm all you've ever known

Open the door and come on in
I'm so glad to see you, my friend
You're like a rainbow, coming around the bend
And when I see you happy
Well, it sets my heart free
I'd like to be as good a friend to you, as you are to me

There were friends who could always see me
Through the haze their smiles would reach me
Saying okay, saying goodbye, saying hello
Soon I knew just what I was after
Was life and love, tears and laughter

Hello, my good friend
Hello, my darling
What do you know

Open the door and come on in
I'm so glad to see you, my friend
You're like a rainbow, coming around the bend
And when I see you happy
Well, it sets my heart free
I'd like to be as good a friend to you, as you are to me

I used to think it was only me feeling alone
Not feeling free to be alive to be a friend
Now I know we all have stormy weather
The sun shines through when we're together
I'll be your friend, right through to the end

Open the door and come on in
I'm so glad to see you, my friend
You're like a rainbow, coming around the bend
And when I see you happy
Well, it sets my heart free
I'd like to be as good a friend to you, as you are to me

Open the door and come on in
I'm so glad to see you, my friends
You're all like rainbows, coming around the bend
And when I see you happy
Well, it sets my heart free
I'd like to be as good a friend to you, as you are to me

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

Thanks.