Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#97907 03/07/03 10:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
What is the origin of the phrase: "the whole Mary Ann"?




#97908 03/07/03 10:40 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
I've never heard it. there was, however, a great song in the 60's "Mary Ann". actually, I'm not sure if that was the title or not, but it was the main focus of the chorus... might have to go a googling...



formerly known as etaoin...
#97909 03/07/03 10:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
Perhaps it is regional. . .I've heard it used around here (Pacific NW) in lieu of "the whole nine yards."

Here we go a-googling!


#97910 03/07/03 10:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
eta, I think that was C'mon Mary Ann by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (great party music!)

I've hear "the whole shebang" and "the whole nine yards" (search, people, we've got at least two long threads on this one ), but never the "whole Mary Ann."


#97911 03/07/03 10:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Wrong song, right name:

"All day, all night, Mary Ann.
Down by the seaside, slipping sand.
Even little children love Mary Ann.
Down by the seaside, slipping sand."

And I wouldn't be surprised to hear I've got a mondegreen or two mossing up that sand...


#97912 03/07/03 11:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
THAT'S the one I remember!! thanks.

now I'll probably have it stuck in my head all night...



formerly known as etaoin...
#97913 03/07/03 11:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
C'MON MARIANNE

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons


Marianne, Marianne, Marianne, Marianne

Whoa-ho-ho here I am on my knees again
I'll do anything just to make it right
Say you'll understand, oh I know you can
C'mon Marianne


No matter what people say, it didn't happen that way
She was a passing fling and not a permanent thing
Say you'll understand, oh I know you can

C'mon Marianne (baby)
C'mon Marianne (baby)
C'mon Marianne (baby)
Say you can understand
My Marianne, Marianne, Marianne, Marianne

Well now your big brown eyes are all full of tears
From the bitterness of my cheatin' years
So I hang my head, wish that I was dead
C'mon Marianne (baby)
C'mon Marianne (baby)
C'mon Marianne (baby)
Say you can understand
My Marianne (baby)
C'mon Marianne (baby)
C'mon Marianne (baby)

Marianne, Marianne, Marianne, Marianne


© 1967 by Frankie Valli




#97914 03/08/03 12:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
slipping frapping sand??

girl, that sure is some monkeygrin!

(with a calypso beat)
All day, all night, Mary Ann,
Down by the seaside sifting sand,
All the little children love Mary Ann,
Down by the seaside sifting sand


#97915 03/08/03 07:49 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Ha! Thanks, tsuwm! I had a sneaking suspicion my childhood impression of the song was probably incorrect. I've never researched the song, never read the lyrics, so I was writing on a wing and a prayer and figured I'd be corrected. But it's humorous to think how I've imagined the picture in the song all these many years: Mary Ann at the seaside with the sand slipping away as the waves hit it. Yep, that's a monkeygrin fersure!


#97916 03/08/03 03:10 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
It has to do with marriage vows, particular the one of fidelity.



TEd
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,347
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 631 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,548
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,918
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5