My deceased uncle used to sing and play a song on his guitar in the
60's about a little motorboat.  The refrain was, "Putt, Putt, Putt,
your arms around me. Putt, Putt, Putt, your lips to mine."  Can you
provide me with the words (and a link to where I can get the music?)
for this song?

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Request for Question Clarification by jackburton-ga on 03 Nov 2002 06:57 PST

dear abriella,

I have identified the song that you are referring to. The lyrics to
the song do not seem to be available on the inernet, and neither is
the song itself. But i can provide you with
1) a telephone number you can call where you can get hold of the sheet
music
2) a link where you can get hold of a book that contains the words
3) a link to a site where you can get hold of a song with the same
title - though i am not sure if this is the original song, or another
version, or a different song that happens to have the same title.
Please let me know if this information would be satisfactory as an
answer. In the meantime, I am making enquiries to see if I can get
hold of the lyrics for you.

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Clarification of Question by abriella-ga on 04 Nov 2002 02:14 PST

I would like the words to the song as well as a link to where the
sheet music may be purchased.

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Request for Question Clarification by jackburton-ga on 13 Nov 2002 03:25 PST

Thank you for your recent comment. I am trying to get hold of the
words for you. I do know what the song is, but I havent got hold of
the words yet. As soon as I do, I'll post the answer. Please hang on.

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Request for Question Clarification by jackburton-ga on 01 Dec 2002 05:15 PST

hello again abriella,
  
As your question is going to expire very soon, I thought I would post
what little I have found. Firstly, I apologise for the time taken to
get back to you with an answer, but I have had to make numerous
enquiries about this particular song. Though I believe I've identified
the song, I have been unable to find the words or the sheet music for
it. So, I will tell you what I have found...
 
I believe the song you are referring to is:
"The Motorboat Song"
Composer/Lyricist: Jerry Livingston, Mann Curtis, Al Hoffman
Publisher: Miller Corp
 
I have found a reference to this song here:
http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/music/mlsc/archcoll/burnett/sheets-m.htm
 
I have tried to contact the UCLA library for more information, but
they would not oblige.
I have also contacted several people who deal in rare sheet music, but
i found no joy.
 
Anyway, I am posting this information so it is not in vain, and I hope
it gives you more of a clue about the song and how you can obtain it.
Your library may be able to get hold of it, or you could try getting
in touch with the UCLA library - As I am not based in the US so my
hands are a bit tied in taking this matter any further. You may also
like to repost your question based on the information I have provided,
and maybe you'll have better luck second time round (?)
 
Good luck!

Hey there, Abriela...

The reason you can't find it is that you have the wrong title. The
song is "Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey." It was written in 1910, the
lyrics by Junie McCree, composer Albert Von Tilzer. It enjoyed a
revival in 1942-3 which is probably when your uncle picked it up. I
was in high school then, and I remember it well.

Here is the refrain:

Put your arms around me, honey,
Hold me tight.
Huddle up and cuddle up
With all your might.
Oh, Babe, won't you roll dem eyes,
Eyes that I just idolize.
When they look at me my heart begins to float,
Then it starts a-rockin' like a motorboat.
Oh, oh, I never knew
Any girl like you.

The put-put business came in at the opening, in one of the popular
versions - sort of like "put-put-put-put Put your arms around me...."
etc.

The full lyrics can be found in "Reading Lyrics" by Robert Gottlieb
and Robert Kimball (NY:Pantheon, 2000), p. 621. The song is
plentifully available on CDs, according to a check on CDNOW, and you
can even sample it in versions by the Ink Spots and Dick Haymes (who
had one of the revival hits), to make sure it's the tune your
remembering.

Thanks for a chance to "beat the experts".

Irv

Irv - Thanks so much for trying to help, but the song was about a
little motor boat.  The part before the "Putt, Putt, Putt" refrain
went, "You could hear the little motorboat saying, "Putt, Putt, Putt
Your Arms Around Me....
Putt, Putt, Putt Your lips to mine."  

Thanks anyway!!