I've Been Floating Down the Old Green River

Song performed by Billy Murray

Cover of sheet music for the song (1915)

"I've Been Floating Down the Old Green River" is a 1915 song with words by Bert Kalmar and music by Joe Cooper.

"I've Been Floating Down the Old Green River" sung in 1915 by Billy Murray

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Background

The song is sung from the point of view of a husband who has to explain to his wife why he stayed out until 4:30 in the morning. He states that he has been floating down the old Green River on the good ship "Rock and Rye", where he got "stuck on a bar". The tag line in the lyric is:

I had to drink the whole Green River dry

To get back home to you.

The song is a play on words, as Green River was a popular brand of whiskey at the time.

Cover versions

The popular vocalist Billy Murray recorded the song on March 11, 1915 for Victor Records (catalog No. 17885B). His rendition was sampled in the 2024 hip-hop song "Otonoke" by Japanese duo Creepy Nuts as the opening theme song for the anime Dandadan.

Russ Morgan and His Orchestra recorded the song for Decca Records (catalog No. 24834) in 1949.

Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen included the song on the 1964 album Jazz Band Ball and it was later included in the compilation The Pye Jazz Albums (2003).

References

"greenriverwhiskey.com". greenriverwhiskey.com. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
"The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
Valdez, Nick (4 November 2024). "Dandadan Really Doesn't Sample Pikmin in Its Opening and Here's the Proof". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
Colbert, Isaiah (4 November 2024). "Dan Da Dan Fans Have Discovered the Real Song Behind the 'Pikmin Noises' in Its Catchy Opening". Gizmodo. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
"45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
"allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 22, 2018.

External links

Lyrics Archived 2021-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
Recording by Billy Murray

v t e Billy Murray
Songs	"Ain't It Funny What a Difference Just a Few Hours Make" "Alexander's Ragtime Band" "Always Leave Them Laughing When You Say Goodbye" "Any Little Girl, That's a Nice Little Girl, Is the Right Little Girl for Me" "At the Moving Picture Ball" "Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee" "Because I'm Married Now" "Blue Feather" "Bon Bon Buddy" "Charley, My Boy" "Cheyenne" "Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley!" "College Life" "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine" "Cordelia Malone" "Cuddle up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine" "Daddy, Come Home" "Dear Sing Sing" "Dixie" "Don't Bring Lulu" "Everybody Works but Father" "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway" "Gasoline Gus" "Give My Regards to Broadway" "Harrigan" "He'd Have to Get Under – Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile)" "He Goes to Church on Sunday" "He May Be Old, But He's Got Young Ideas" "Hello, Hawaii, How Are You?" "I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark" "In My Merry Oldsmobile" "In the Good Old Summer Time" "In the Land of the Buffalo" "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" "It's the Same Old Shillelagh" "It Takes the Irish to Beat the Dutch" "I've Been Floating Down the Old Green River" "I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now" "I've Got Rings On My Fingers" "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" "K-K-K-Katy" "Moonlight Bay" "Oh! By Jingo" "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" "On the 5:15" "On the Old Fall River Line" "Over There" "Play a Simple Melody "Pretty Baby" "Pride of the Prairie" "School Days" "Shine On, Harvest Moon" "Some Sunday Morning" "Tipperary" "Under the Anheuser Bush" "The Worst Is Yet to Come" "The Yankee Doodle Boy" "You'd Be Surprised" "You're a Grand Old Flag"

Billy Murray

Songs

Categories: