Reuben and Rachel
Encyclopedia
Reuben and Rachel is a traditional song
written by Harry Birch (words) and William Gooch (melody). Originally published in Boston in 1871, the song has regained popularity as a children's song
.
The first line of the song, "Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking," was reused in the very popular song at the close of World War I (1919), "How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree?)."
The article includes the lyrics
in context as part of a planned discussion of the song's evolution. As the song was published in 1871, the lyrics are in the public domain
.
Reuben, I have long been thinking, what a good world this might be,
If the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
Rachel, I have long been thinking, what a fine world this might be,
If we had some more young ladies on this side the Northern Sea.
Refrain: Too-ral-loo-ral-loo, too-ral-loo-ral, too-ral-loo-ral-loo, too-ral-loo-ral-lee,
If ... the Northern Sea.
Reuben, I'm a poor lone woman. No one seems to care for me;
I wish the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
I'm a man without a victim. Soon I think there's one will be,
If the men are not transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
Refrain
Reuben, what's the use of fooling, why not come up like a man?
If you'd like to have a lover, I'm for life your Sally Ann.
Oh my goodness! Oh my gracious! What a queer world this would be,
If the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
Refrain
Reuben, now do stop your teasing, if you've any love for me.
I was only just a-fooling, as I thought of course you'd see.
Rachel, I will not transport you, but will take you for a wife.
We will live on milk and honey, better or worse, we're in for life.
Harry Birch, date unknown, published in 1871 by White, Smith & Perry, Boston.
Source: Jackson, Richard, ed. Popular Songs of Nineteenth-Century America. (Mineloa, NY: Dover Publications, 1976) 181.
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What a queer world this would be
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
What a queer world this would be
If the girls were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Chorus:
Too-ral-loo-ral-loo, Too-ral-loo-ral,
Too-ral-loo-ral-loo, Too-ral-lee
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
Life would be so easy then;
What a lovely world this would be
If there were no tiresome men!
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
Life would be so easy then;
What a lovely world this would be
If you'd leave it to the men!
(Chorus)
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
If we went beyond the seas,
All the men would follow after
Like a swarm of bumble-bees!
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
If we went beyond the seas,
All the girls would follow after
Like a swarm of honey-bees!
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
written by Harry Birch (words) and William Gooch (melody). Originally published in Boston in 1871, the song has regained popularity as a children's song
Children's song
Children's song may be a nursery rhyme set to music, a song that young children invent and share among themselves, or a modern creation intended for entertainment, use in the home, or education...
.
The first line of the song, "Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking," was reused in the very popular song at the close of World War I (1919), "How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree?)."
The article includes the lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
in context as part of a planned discussion of the song's evolution. As the song was published in 1871, the lyrics are in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.
Lyrics
Reuben & RachelReuben, I have long been thinking, what a good world this might be,
If the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
Rachel, I have long been thinking, what a fine world this might be,
If we had some more young ladies on this side the Northern Sea.
Refrain: Too-ral-loo-ral-loo, too-ral-loo-ral, too-ral-loo-ral-loo, too-ral-loo-ral-lee,
If ... the Northern Sea.
Reuben, I'm a poor lone woman. No one seems to care for me;
I wish the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
I'm a man without a victim. Soon I think there's one will be,
If the men are not transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
Refrain
Reuben, what's the use of fooling, why not come up like a man?
If you'd like to have a lover, I'm for life your Sally Ann.
Oh my goodness! Oh my gracious! What a queer world this would be,
If the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.
Refrain
Reuben, now do stop your teasing, if you've any love for me.
I was only just a-fooling, as I thought of course you'd see.
Rachel, I will not transport you, but will take you for a wife.
We will live on milk and honey, better or worse, we're in for life.
Harry Birch, date unknown, published in 1871 by White, Smith & Perry, Boston.
Source: Jackson, Richard, ed. Popular Songs of Nineteenth-Century America. (Mineloa, NY: Dover Publications, 1976) 181.
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
What a queer world this would be
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
What a queer world this would be
If the girls were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Chorus:
Too-ral-loo-ral-loo, Too-ral-loo-ral,
Too-ral-loo-ral-loo, Too-ral-lee
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
Life would be so easy then;
What a lovely world this would be
If there were no tiresome men!
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
Life would be so easy then;
What a lovely world this would be
If you'd leave it to the men!
(Chorus)
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
If we went beyond the seas,
All the men would follow after
Like a swarm of bumble-bees!
Rachel, Rachel, I've been thinking
If we went beyond the seas,
All the girls would follow after
Like a swarm of honey-bees!