Hello,

My mother used to sing part of a song to me, and I would like to
obtain the complete lyrics, if possible.  Here is what I remember of
the song:

Oh, I'm in love with an octopus
A slinky, inky octopus

She'll be true with her eyes of blue [not positive about this line]
And her eight loving arms around me

The tune was in a minor key and sounded Irish to my relatively
ignorant ears.

If the lyrics can only be obtained by purchasing sheet music, that's
fine -- as long as it can be verified that there is a match before I
end up having to make the purchase :)

Thanks,
V.Dentata

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Request for Question Clarification by zerocattle-ga on 19 Jul 2002 13:59 PDT

Hi, vdentata-ga,

It might help researchers find the song if you could tell us how long
ago your mother used to sing this song to you, and where you're
located (country) as well.

:) zerocattle-ga

Hi, V. Dentata,

Ironically, just after I posted the Request for Clarification, I had
success.

The song is called "Octopus Song" and it's from the Broadway show,
Fanny, in the 1954.

"And I'm in love with an octopus! 
A curly girlie octopus! 
I'll be true to her lips of blue and her..."

You can purchase the soundtrack at Amazon (and other locations) and
Amazon has a quick snip from the Octopus Song at the bottom of this
page: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003FUB/ref=ase_meowsers/102-0713527-5644114
sung by Gerald Price.

----------------
- Search Terms -
----------------

"I'm in love with an octopus" returned two significant hits from
Google Groups. One was partial lyrics identifying it as a show tune:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22I%27m+in+love+with+an+octopus%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=340EDF86.7290%40netcom.ca&rnum=1
And the other identified as a show tune from Fanny:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22I%27m+in+love+with+an+octopus%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=19981202011632.12650.00000960%40ng-cc1.aol.com&rnum=2

"octopus song" lyrics Fanny 
This search returned a page that lead to the Amazon.com site, where I
found the music snip for you to confirm the song.

Happy listening!

:) zerocattle-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by vdentata-ga on 20 Jul 2002 20:17 PDT

Hi!

Thanks for this information - I am positive that this is the correct
song since the amazon link you pointed me to showed a picture of the
vinyl album of Fanny that I remember being around the house during my
early childhood.  However, I wonder if the lyrics are available?
(While I will probably buy the CD, I'm really just looking for the
lyrics!)

Thanks again,
V.

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Clarification of Answer by zerocattle-ga on 20 Jul 2002 21:29 PDT

Hi again, V. Dentata,

I didn't find anything other than snips referring to the song,
unfortunately. It's possible to get the entire play (and score), but
that would be substantially more expense than the CD, and is only for
licensing for productions, from an agency that controls the work. It
may be possible to get a single copy from them. Their website is:
http://www.tams-witmark.com/

There are vocal selections available, but none of the Octopus Song.
See: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/a/product.html?command=search&db=/store/db/inventory.db&eqskudata=HL.312134&id=10275&searchtitle=sheet%20music&max=20&quantity=1
for others.

Best I could find was the recording, which may or may not have the
lyrics inside in a printed form. The lyrics are still under copyright,
and so couldn't be reproduced in whole without the permission of the
controlling agency.

:) zerocattle-ga