On the 5:15
Encyclopedia
"On the 5:15" is a song written in 1915 and recorded by Billy Murray
, along with the American Quartet, which featured a bass counterpoint to Murray's Irish tenor voice, probably William F. Hooley.
This song is a satire of the commuter train system and the "modern" fast pace of life in the big cities, a situation already well-established by the time of World War I
, and of course subject to jokes when things don't go as planned. There is no "chorus" to this song, each stanza is unique. Its five stanzas add up to somewhat of a "shaggy dog story" that tells a tale of a frustrated commuter, one of many (as he soon discovers) who keep missing the 5:15 train to the suburbs, and consequently get in trouble with their wives. Here is the first stanza:
The Ingersoll watch, made by the Ingersoll Watch Company
, was a popular brand at that time due to its famous one-dollar price.
The unnamed subject of the song is eventually taken to divorce court by his angry wife. He wins his case easily, as he says, because "the jury, the lawyers, the judge supreme / all are commuters on the 5:15."
One oddity about the song is the brief instrumental bar played at both the beginning and the end of the song, namely "Shave and a Haircut
", suggesting that that famous little song was already well-known among musicians.
The spirit of the song's punch line is a common humorous or ironic gag. One example was a story Alan King
told Johnny Carson
about the time a particular airline had sued him for naming them on live TV after he experienced flight problems. He reported that the judge threw the airline's case out because the judge had also flown on that airline, with similar frustrating results.
Billy Murray (singer)
William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
, along with the American Quartet, which featured a bass counterpoint to Murray's Irish tenor voice, probably William F. Hooley.
This song is a satire of the commuter train system and the "modern" fast pace of life in the big cities, a situation already well-established by the time of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and of course subject to jokes when things don't go as planned. There is no "chorus" to this song, each stanza is unique. Its five stanzas add up to somewhat of a "shaggy dog story" that tells a tale of a frustrated commuter, one of many (as he soon discovers) who keep missing the 5:15 train to the suburbs, and consequently get in trouble with their wives. Here is the first stanza:
- Talk about your subway, talk about your "LChicago 'L'The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
" - Talk about your streetcar lines as well
- But when you're living out where the fields are green
- You've got to go home on the 5:15
- You leave the office at 5:00
- Stop at the butcher's for a steak or a chop
- Get the evening paper and a magazine
- And you run like the Dickens for the 5:15
- Oh the 5:15 - Hear the whistle blowing!
- Oh the 5:15 - Your "Ingersoll" is slow!
- Oh the 5:15 - Down the track she's going,
- BANG! go the gates on the 5:15!
The Ingersoll watch, made by the Ingersoll Watch Company
Ingersoll Watch Company
The Ingersoll Watch Company grew out of a mail order business started in New York City in 1882 by 21-year-old Robert Hawley Ingersoll and his brother Charles Henry. The company initially sold low-cost items such as rubber stamps...
, was a popular brand at that time due to its famous one-dollar price.
The unnamed subject of the song is eventually taken to divorce court by his angry wife. He wins his case easily, as he says, because "the jury, the lawyers, the judge supreme / all are commuters on the 5:15."
One oddity about the song is the brief instrumental bar played at both the beginning and the end of the song, namely "Shave and a Haircut
Shave and a Haircut
Shave and a Haircut and the associated response "two bits" is a simple, 7-note musical couplet popularly used at the end of a musical performance, usually for comic effect....
", suggesting that that famous little song was already well-known among musicians.
The spirit of the song's punch line is a common humorous or ironic gag. One example was a story Alan King
Alan King (comedian)
Alan King was an American actor and comedian known for his biting wit and often angry humorous rants. King became well known as a Jewish comedian and satirist. He was also a serious actor who appeared in a number of movies and television shows. King wrote several books, produced films, and...
told Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
about the time a particular airline had sued him for naming them on live TV after he experienced flight problems. He reported that the judge threw the airline's case out because the judge had also flown on that airline, with similar frustrating results.