Possible inspiration for,"All The Lovely Ladies"?

[Borderstone]

Hey all! I have something cool to share today. Last night I checked out the John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara movie,"The Quiet Man" from 1952. (First time I'd seen it by the way.) It's a film set in the 1920's,in O'Hara's home country of Ireland. (Great movie! If you've never seen it,give it a look.)

There's a scene in the film where John Wayne and some local Irishmen are going to have a sort of horse race. At the end of this race the men grab the womens' "bonnets" (hats) off of wooden poles in the ground.

Now the point:The man who announces this race (on horeback)tells the women,"Will all the lovely ladies please put your bonnets up?" (Onto the wooden poles).

Now,if we knew that Gordon saw this film,I would have (and do have) almost no doubt that this is where he got the title to that song. It just seems too coincidental not to be true.

What do you think?

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Borderstone:
Hey all! There's a scene in the film where John Wayne and some local Irishmen are going to have a sort of horse race......
What do you think?

Quite likely Walter especially as Gordon would most probably know a piece of Buddy Holly trivia.
Legend has it that Buddy and Jerry (Ivan) Allison of The Crickets saw another John Wayne movie "The Searchers"

in which Wayne apparently frequently exclaims "That'll Be The day"
John Fowles
and from:-
http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/Wanado...nSearchers.asp
"Buddy Holly pikte de zin "That'll be the day" uit deze film.
Martin Pawley: I hope you die.
Ethan Edwards: That'll be the day "

[Sydney Steve]

I will stop (just) short of suggesting another case of " The Emporers New Clothes" but I came to a quick, easy conclusion re that song.
My take was less than rocket science. This bloke sees many thousands of lovely ladies coming into his concerts all the time. Many of them look at him like a (willing) rabbit in a spotlight.
He is known as being a touch on the "red blooded" side (for want of a better term ) and to me he is pondering as many of us of the "weaker sex" would , when he sees all those lovely ladies .."what if ? "..

He might have a touch better chance than some of us to do a little more than ponder ...lol

Sorry if that is too superficial and not romantic enough girls, but what do you expect from a low Aussie male ?

[Auburn Annie]

In Gord's words, from the SONGBOOK liner notes:

3/9. ALL THE LOVELY LADIES
One of our most popular live songs. A Valentine to the audience, where we recognize "all the lovely ladies in their finery tonight," and then the "handsome gentlemen."

[Borderstone]

That's very true Annie,those notes from Songbook but mainly I mean the song's original origon & conception point. I think he did hear that in the movie and went with it.

I'm sure Gordon & Buddy Holly aren't the only ones either. There's a '90s group called Blessid Union Of Souls that took their name from a line in te TV series M*A*S*H,so I think a lot of movies & TV shows inspire musical acts.

In my own writing case (which I wish i could get to arranging & recording) I wrote a song based on a mis-pronouced word comic actor
Charles Grodin ("Midnight Run")said on Conan O'Brien.

[Auburn Annie]

Or he could have been inspired by the children's story, THE STORY OF FERDINAND by Munro Leaf, first published in 1936. Excerpts below:

________________________________________________

What a day it was! Flags were flying, bands were playing...
and all the lovely ladies had flowers in their hair.
________________________________________

Ferdinand ran out to the middle of the ring and everyone shouted and clapped because they thought he was going to fight fiercely and butt and snort and stick his horns around.

But not Ferdinand. When he got to the middle of the ring he saw the flowers in all the lovely ladies' hair and he just sat down quietly and smelled.
____________________________________________

In short, the phrase "all the lovely ladies" is not an uncommon expression.

[charlene]

I like to think he possibly heard his mum speak words like those. I can remember my own grandmother speaking of people in those terms - "lovely lady", "charming gentleman" etc.
And perhaps looking out at his audiences and not just the paying lovely ladies but his own mum sitting in her finery at Massey brought those words to his mind. She always looked like a lovely lady when he'd introduce her from the stage.I'm sure she was in her finery on those very special evenings she came to see her son perform.
just a thought....

[Iron]

I think that Gordon did this one just to say "Thank's", to all.Though he opens the song with All the Lovely Ladys,which is proper as in ladys before gentlemen,I think it was (is) just his way of saying thanks and the the title was inspired after the song.
I heard Elton John is going to do this one,under the title of "All you handsome gentlemen with lovin on yer mind"... I better get outta here.Goodnight all.

Just a little side note that Borderstone brought to mind,the theme song for Mash,which I'm sure that most can close their eyes and hear the tune......Suicide is Easy

[Auburn Annie]

Hey, Brian, that's "Painless". From the M*A*S*H FAQ:

Q10: What are the lyrics to the M*A*S*H theme song, "Suicide is Painless"?

A10: Here are what I assume to be the exact lyrics. Please note that the
1st, 3rd and 6th verses were sung during the opening credits of the
movie, while the 4th verse was added during the suicide scene. The
2nd and 5th verses are included in the sheet music but not the movie.

Copyright: 1969
Music: Johnny Mandel
Lyrics: Mark Altman

Lyrics to the M*A*S*H theme song, "Suicide is Painless":
--------------------------------------------------------

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...

[REFRAIN]:

that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.

I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...

[REFRAIN]

The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.

[REFRAIN]

The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.

[REFRAIN]

The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...

[REFRAIN]

A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

[REFRAIN]

'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.

...and you can do the same thing if you choose.

[Iron]

Hey,Annie
The original title was "Suicide is Painless".The T.V. people did'nt like it,so they shortened it up to "Painless".Thats the story in a nutshell,more or less. I have a stack of old music books and it is in one of them,with the original full title.Perhaps we may have to consult J.FOWLES.INVESTAGATION.UNLMTD to get to the facts.

[Borderstone]

Hey Iron and all,I have the actual 45rpm from 1970 that was released from the movie. For obvious reasons,radio wasn't going to play a song called,"Suicide Is Painless".

So,they went with the incredibly bland title,"Song From M*A*S*H" (what? not "The" song? ..or "Theme From" ?!! )

Needless to say,it was not a hit. Either from the movie or the series. It was cool that I got it for a mere 50 cents though!

This is kind of funny,I also frequent "MASH Online",a forum much like this one. Different name though but if you go there,I'm sure you'd know which one is me!

www.joehollywood.com/mash

[ December 28, 2005, 18:54: Message edited by: Borderstone ]

[Sheryl]

You little ole' Jeep Eater, you.

[Borderstone]

Very good Cheryl! LOL!! :D I know,sometimes I wonder why I actually do eat jeeps for the sake of staying in character!

I mean...they "can't" see me,can they? For that matter,can you? (!!!)

:D Just kidding! LOL!!

[Iron]

BorderBuddyStone ,
Now mind You,I ain't the fightin type,but if I see You checkin out my Jeep and lickin yer lip's.....I'm going to go find a big stick...