And Limericks Also Beget Toasts . . .

Ron Lies “Chips” has begun a sub-culture of limerick and toast composers. Here is a musical toast created by Sheila Holtgrieve “Daisy” of the Seattle Sound of the Baskervilles (SOB’s).

Daisy writes:

I am attaching here a musical toast that I made up for the SOB Masters’ Dinner (the move in the apostrophe is deliberate: some of our older members are not able to come if the dinner is in January due to darkness and weather, so we decided on March to celebrate SH and JHW meeting at St. Barts; we celebrate SH’s birthday at our January club meeting.)  My JHWS bull-pup name of “Daisy” got me to remembering the old song, “Daisy, Daisy,” so I made up the words, and three of us sang it at the dinner.  What a kick!

Sherlock, Sherlock, Give Us Your Answer
to the tune of Daisy, Daisy

Sherlock, Sherlock, give us your answers, do
We’re half crazy over the likes of you.
We’ll ride in a big, black carriage.
And go to Irene’s marriage.
We’ll stay out late to keep your dates
In our hansom cabs built for two.

Watson, Watson, give us your answers, do
We’re half crazy over the likes of you.
We’ll go to the turf for betting;
We’ll dine with ladies fetching.
We’ll meet with Lestrade,
We’ll go to Lowther Arcade,
In our hansom cabs built for two.

Holmes and Watson, give us your answers, do
We’re all crazy over the likes of you.
We’ll meet with you in the stories,
With you life is never boring.
We’ll keep your name,
We’ll keep your fame,
In our hansom cabs built for two.

Kumar Bhatia, JHWS “Bobbie” Sends This Holmes Song

Our member from Dubai, U.A.E, Kumar Bhatia, JHWS “Bobbie” has sent this interesting song and lyric of the original sheet music for “The Ghost of Sherlock Holmes.”  Our great thanks to Kumar for a rare glimpse into a rare collectible.

THE GHOST OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

Don’t start and pray, don’t leave your seats, There’s no cause for alarm :

Though I’ve arrived from warmer spheres, I mean you all no harm.

I am a ghost, a real ghost too, that nightly, earth-wards roams;

In fact I am the sceptre of Detective Sherlock Holmes.

Chorus: Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock, Sherlock you can hear the people cry,

That’s the ghost of Sherlock Holmes  as I go creeping by .

Sinners shake and tremble, wherever this bogie roams,

And people shout  ‘He’s found us out ‘  It’s the ghost of Sherlock Holmes .

Chorus: Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes

The man who plots a murder, when he sees me lift my head,

Forgets to murder anyone and  ‘suicides’ instead.

An anarchist with lighted bomb, to cause explosive scenes,

Sees me and drops his bomb and blows himself to smithereens .

Chorus: Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes

The burglar who’s a-burgling, when he finds I am at large,

Get scared and says  ‘Policeman, will you please take me in charge?’

The Lady who’s shop-lifting tries to put her theivings back

And says,  ‘Mr Sherlock Holmes, I’m a kleptomaniac.’

Chorus: Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes

My life was more than misery, compelled to strut the earth,

And be a spy at beck and call of those who gave me birth.

But now that I’m a specter, all their misdeeds shall recoil,

I’m going to haunt ‘ Strand Magazine’ , ‘Tit-Bits’ and Conan Doyle .

Chorus: Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes

The song was written by one Richard Morton. (I am unable to ascertain the date). The music was composed, and the song sung by H.C. Barry.

The copyright as per the “Cover-Sheet ” is (or was) held by Francis Day and Hunter of Oxford Street, London, and The US copyright, by T.B.Harms and Co. of New York.

We regret that we are unable to upload the front cover photo of the sheet music that Kumar sent.