Everyone be talking about Mickey Mouse but I’m thinking about how this song is based on a tragedy on the Mississippi during 1910, where the boiler blew up, rip
Although the story told in this song is entirely fictional, there are many elements that are factual. Mark Twain in his book "Life on the Mississippi" states "the most enjoyable of all races is a steamboat race ..." There was also gambling with the racing of boats on the river and pushing the boilers hard would cause fires to break out on the wooden deck structures. In 1870 the steamboat "Robert E. Lee" raced and beat the "Natchez" between New Orleans and St. Louis in 3 days and 18 hours over a distance of 1154 miles. Only 12 years later, in 1882, a fire would destroy the Robert E Lee. Steamship boiler explosions were not uncommon. In 1865 the riverboat SS Sultana exploded in the the greatest maritime disaster in US history resulting in the loss of 1600 passengers when three of the ship's four boilers exploded and it sank near Memphis. The title "Steamboat Bill" was an inspiration for "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928) a feature-length silent film starring Buster Keaton. The same year the Disney cartoon film "Steamboat Willie" was released in which Mickey Mouse whistles this tune. The film is also notable for being one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound. The lyricist, Ren Shields is probably best know for writing the words to "In The Good Old Summertime."
I suppose the lyrics, as taken literally, are a separate event But that one you mentioned with the boiler explosion of the Robert E. Lee, I feel, and a majority of the comments seem to corroborate, that it was at the very least loosely based on those events If not outright a fictionalized retelling of that tragedy
Man if I had a nickle for the amount of songs this melody was used alongside dark lyrics about a tragedy, I'd have 2 nickles... which isn't a lot but its weird it happened twice.
I am sure most of you came here from Steam Boat Willy. Especially now that its Mickey Mouse 90th birthday. It’s fascinating to listen to a song that had such a huge impact in what would become one of the world greatest icons in pop culture. And remember that al things have an inception that comes out of somewhere.
Down the Mississippi steamed the Whipporwill Commanded by the pilot, Mister Steamboat Bill The owners gave him orders on the strict Q.T. To try to beat the record of the Robert E. Lee. Just speed up your fire, let the old smoke roll Burn up all your cargo if you run out of coal "If we don't beat that record," Billy told the mate "Then the Maiden Care'll beat us to the Golden Gate." Steamboat Bill, steamin' down the Mississippi Steamboat Bill, a mighty man was he Steamboat Bill, steamin' down the Mississippi Gonna beat the record of the Robert E. Lee. Up then stepped a gambling man from Louisville Who tried to get a bet against the Whippoorwill Billy clasped the roll and surely was some bear The boiler it exploded, blew them up in the air. The gambler said to Billy as they left the wreck "I don't know where we're going but we're neck and neck." Said Billy to the gambler, "Tell you what I'll do; I'll bet another thousand I'll go higher than you!" Steamboat Bill, he tore up the Mississippi Steamboat Bill, the pilot made him swear Steamboat Bill, he tore up the Mississippi An explosion of the boiler put him up in the air! The river's all in mourning now for Steamboat Bill No more you'll hear the popping of the Whippoorwill There's crepe on every steamboat that plows the stream From Memphis right to Natchez, down to New Orleans. The wife of Mister William was at home in bed When she got the telegram that Steamboat's dead Said she to the children, "Blessed Honey Lambs The next papa that you have'll be a railroad man!" Steamboat Bill, missing 'long the Mississippi Steamboat Bill is with an angel band Steamboat Bill, missing 'long the Mississippi He's a fireman on a ferry in the Promised Land!
Thanks for sharing! Anyone who wants to hear Irving Kaufman's REAL voice, without the problems introduced by the acoustic recording process here, has only to listen to the dozen or so sides he recorded for Thesaurus records in the 1940s with the NBC studio orchestra for the "Music Hall Varieties" series. He sings really GREAT and once you hear his real voice here, you'll be able to imagine it listening to all his earlier records. Many of these late and extremely rare 1940s records of him have been uploaded by Tim Grayck so check them out on the same channel: th-cam.com/video/nvq3klyh9Ck/w-d-xo.html
Ya'll can write me off as a lightweight because I don't have nearly the knowledge that ya'll do but please permit me to say THANK YOU... I love this music so much and I am soooo grateful for this channel!!!
I hadn't known that Kaufman's career went this far back! This version is new to me -- am best acquainted with Johnny Mercer's. I'd put this tune in the "Disaster Ballad" grouping, with other favorites, albeit featuring different modes of travel, "Casey Jones" and "The Wreck of the Old 97." Those were the days when people truly understood what a ballad is. Fabulous accompanying images.
Kaufman performed as a youngster in vaudeville and later with his brothers as the "Kaufman Brothers". His earliest recording was in 1914 (age 24). This must have been his disaster disc since "Casey Jones" is on the reverse side, a duet with his brother Jack Kaufman!
Wonder if that Railroad man was named one Casey Jones. Though in all seriousness both in lyrics and melody the songs are similar, but for the life of me i cant rember which inspired which but i believe Steamboat Bill came first.
More accurately, most people don't know that Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks were tipping their hats and making a homage reference to Steamboat Bill. They were not exactly subtle when they named the first Mickey Mouse cartoon "Steamboat Willie" (Willie is a common alternate form of the name Bill).
Ignoring Mickey Mouse, I get “Ballad of Casey Jones” vibes from this after I read the comments and realized it was about the real tragedy. Only difference is I know more about trains than steamboats so I can’t tell if Bill was a hero who did reckless things just to be on schedule like Casey Jones did back in the day.
Here is the sheet music: webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/metsnav/inharmony/navigate.do?pn=3&size=large&oid=http%3A%2F%2Ffedora.dlib.indiana.edu%2Ffedora%2Fget%2Fiudl%3A527225%2FMETADATA
This song plays whenever I get my phone taken away or I haven't watched horror stuff then him telling me Good Job. Because when I see him being proud of me because I haven't watched Five Nights at Freddy's Stuff, When he told me good job, I see him as a lie
"She was named for General Robert E. Lee, General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States" A song praising a racist boat. Cool cool cool. Racism pressed in a vinyl.
@@NunyaMcBusiness no we don't because otherwise we repeat the same mistakes. This is racism. That's all. Maybe not back then for those who listened and eventually hate non-white people. You do realize that even in 1889 you had people and WOMEN fighting for equality? Were they wrong then? History is the past. Can't change it. But we can sure as hell call it what it is: racism
Wow you deleted your reply. Anyways, I'm staunchly opposed to the traitors that tore apart the USA in the 1860's, and this account is used by my racist as hell brother as well as me. Plus, the song mentioned that steamboat bill tore up the Mississippi. That river is huge! That means that the Robert E. Lee was at least damaged.
It took Mickey becoming public domain to realize what exactly he was singing
Yea 😂
Relatable...
Honestly, like more this version rather than the original from Arthur collins, i dunno i just...seemed to click more with this one😅🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🐭
Yeah
mf foreshadowing his next video with a lead of 6 months 💀
Everyone be talking about Mickey Mouse but I’m thinking about how this song is based on a tragedy on the Mississippi during 1910, where the boiler blew up, rip
oh so this is just another one of those songs that have a jolly tune with dark lyrics
@@overpricedhealthcare yeah I guess you could say that
@rokosikdamn robots win, and made me mad
Prequel to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
You mean 1865
over a century later, I'm still listening. Can confirm, this is an absolute banger.
Really?
How did the 20s go?
I literally just learned that THIS is the song Mickey Mouse whistles at the beginning of Steamboat Willie.
*Sees when this comment was posted* LegalEagle sent you too, huh?
Although the story told in this song is entirely fictional, there are many elements that are factual. Mark Twain in his book "Life on the Mississippi" states "the most enjoyable of all races is a steamboat race ..." There was also gambling with the racing of boats on the river and pushing the boilers hard would cause fires to break out on the wooden deck structures. In 1870 the steamboat "Robert E. Lee" raced and beat the "Natchez" between New Orleans and St. Louis in 3 days and 18 hours over a distance of 1154 miles. Only 12 years later, in 1882, a fire would destroy the Robert E Lee. Steamship boiler explosions were not uncommon. In 1865 the riverboat SS Sultana exploded in the the greatest maritime disaster in US history resulting in the loss of 1600 passengers when three of the ship's four boilers exploded and it sank near Memphis.
The title "Steamboat Bill" was an inspiration for "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928) a feature-length silent film starring Buster Keaton. The same year the Disney cartoon film "Steamboat Willie" was released in which Mickey Mouse whistles this tune. The film is also notable for being one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound.
The lyricist, Ren Shields is probably best know for writing the words to "In The Good Old Summertime."
Wow thanks for that info it was really interesting :)
Thank you for the exposition good sir
other way around with the names. Steamboat Bill came out in 1911, Steamboat Bill Jr. came out in 1928
I suppose the lyrics, as taken literally, are a separate event
But that one you mentioned with the boiler explosion of the Robert E. Lee, I feel, and a majority of the comments seem to corroborate, that it was at the very least loosely based on those events
If not outright a fictionalized retelling of that tragedy
I love this song! My favourite movie, Steamboat Bill Jr, was named after this song!
What about the rat
At 0:40 if you turn it to 1.25 X it’s at the speed Mickey whistled
Steam boat willy is actually steam boat bill
@@muda7482 We know
@@muda7482 why else do you think we are here?
Steamboat Billy
Its better that speed in my opinion
Its about a regatta after all
Man if I had a nickle for the amount of songs this melody was used alongside dark lyrics about a tragedy, I'd have 2 nickles... which isn't a lot but its weird it happened twice.
What's the other occasion?
Obviously, this is one of them, but what's the other case where this exact melody was used for tragic and dark lyrics
@@maiyusakiryu7498 the Ballad of Casey Jones. Don't believe me? Try singin the bridge for BoCJ to the bridge of this song.
@@BlueCollaredK9I get similar vibes to that from this song.
Marvellous for a 100 year old record.
We making out the S.S Wilie with this one 🎼🎵🎵🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵
I am sure most of you came here from Steam Boat Willy. Especially now that its Mickey Mouse 90th birthday. It’s fascinating to listen to a song that had such a huge impact in what would become one of the world greatest icons in pop culture. And remember that al things have an inception that comes out of somewhere.
Down the Mississippi steamed the Whipporwill
Commanded by the pilot, Mister Steamboat Bill
The owners gave him orders on the strict Q.T.
To try to beat the record of the Robert E. Lee.
Just speed up your fire, let the old smoke roll
Burn up all your cargo if you run out of coal
"If we don't beat that record," Billy told the mate
"Then the Maiden Care'll beat us to the Golden Gate."
Steamboat Bill, steamin' down the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill, a mighty man was he
Steamboat Bill, steamin' down the Mississippi
Gonna beat the record of the Robert E. Lee.
Up then stepped a gambling man from Louisville
Who tried to get a bet against the Whippoorwill
Billy clasped the roll and surely was some bear
The boiler it exploded, blew them up in the air.
The gambler said to Billy as they left the wreck
"I don't know where we're going but we're neck and neck."
Said Billy to the gambler, "Tell you what I'll do;
I'll bet another thousand I'll go higher than you!"
Steamboat Bill, he tore up the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill, the pilot made him swear
Steamboat Bill, he tore up the Mississippi
An explosion of the boiler put him up in the air!
The river's all in mourning now for Steamboat Bill
No more you'll hear the popping of the Whippoorwill
There's crepe on every steamboat that plows the stream
From Memphis right to Natchez, down to New Orleans.
The wife of Mister William was at home in bed
When she got the telegram that Steamboat's dead
Said she to the children, "Blessed Honey Lambs
The next papa that you have'll be a railroad man!"
Steamboat Bill, missing 'long the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill is with an angel band
Steamboat Bill, missing 'long the Mississippi
He's a fireman on a ferry in the Promised Land!
Wrong lyrics
@@NunyaMcBusinessclose tho
The story is straight out of a cartoon.
imagine if copyright laws were as restrictive back then, as they are nowadays. Could Disney have been able to build their empire?
This came out the year my mum was born!
Basically the story of a steamboat that blew up with his boat
@The Wolf i'm everywhere
Familiar? Yep... Mickey was singing this in steamboat willie
Mickey!
Beautiful music.
I’m definitely glad that Steamboat Willie is in The Public Domain🙂👍
Thanks for sharing! Anyone who wants to hear Irving Kaufman's REAL voice, without the problems introduced by the acoustic recording process here, has only to listen to the dozen or so sides he recorded for Thesaurus records in the 1940s with the NBC studio orchestra for the "Music Hall Varieties" series. He sings really GREAT and once you hear his real voice here, you'll be able to imagine it listening to all his earlier records. Many of these late and extremely rare 1940s records of him have been uploaded by Tim Grayck so check them out on the same channel: th-cam.com/video/nvq3klyh9Ck/w-d-xo.html
Ya'll can write me off as a lightweight because I don't have nearly the knowledge that ya'll do but please permit me to say THANK YOU... I love this music so much and I am soooo grateful for this channel!!!
Disney when people copy steamboat willie song: >:(
Disney when they steal an entire song:
@@Alexthefancollector Definetly
That's where Mickey Mouse get that tune from!
That is correct.
Steamboat Bill, Steamin' down the Mississippi!
Lit 🔥
Anyone here because of the vanishing of the ss willie
Me
I hadn't known that Kaufman's career went this far back! This version is new to me -- am best acquainted with Johnny Mercer's. I'd put this tune in the "Disaster Ballad" grouping, with other favorites, albeit featuring different modes of travel, "Casey Jones" and "The Wreck of the Old 97." Those were the days when people truly understood what a ballad is. Fabulous accompanying images.
Kaufman performed as a youngster in vaudeville and later with his brothers as the "Kaufman Brothers". His earliest recording was in 1914 (age 24). This must have been his disaster disc since "Casey Jones" is on the reverse side, a duet with his brother Jack Kaufman!
Trombonology Erstwhile my oldest Irving is from 1917
And Steamboat Willie!
Johnny Mercer? I tried looking his version up but couldn't find it
How did we go from great music like this to Taylor Swift?
Taylor swift is good but I agree with you this music has such a wonderful vibe to it
this reminds so much of disneyland!!! i love Disneyland
I have this on one of the Columbia client labels... can't remember which. I'll have to edit this once I find it going thru my records
Mickey Mouse brought me here
Wonder if that Railroad man was named one Casey Jones.
Though in all seriousness both in lyrics and melody the songs are similar, but for the life of me i cant rember which inspired which but i believe Steamboat Bill came first.
From what I’ve heard, Casey jones came out first and steamboat bill got mildly inspired by it.
A tune that everyone now associates with Mickey Mouse.
i dont
More accurately, most people don't know that Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks were tipping their hats and making a homage reference to Steamboat Bill. They were not exactly subtle when they named the first Mickey Mouse cartoon "Steamboat Willie" (Willie is a common alternate form of the name Bill).
@@GreyWolfLeaderTW So they used a song that wasn't in the public domain at the time the cartoon was made.
@@yosefdemby8792, probably licensed at the time.
This song is what steamboat willie whistles.
you were the 69th comment
how do you feel about this?
**cuts to Bill Cipher whistling**
Steamboat bill (1919) to steamboat willie: starting Mickey Mouse (1928)
Why did I laugh when Mickey showed up there?
People keep calling this song racist. It literally isn't. Are they that stupid... 😑
Even the whistling melody is the same...
I have to think at Piron's West Indies Blues, The same chorus.
same year felix the cat came out
Was waiting for this
Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse!
蒸気船ウィリーの原曲か！
Yes
Really does sound more like Billy Murray. How dat?
At 0.5 speed it sounds like Billy Murray singing
It sounds like a low-budget Casey Jones to me.
You probably came here because of a mouse that lost copyright
Sounds Like Mickey
my great great grand pa
Michael Smith Great Great Grand Dad? Mikeie Mawse?
are you actually related to him?
The very First Mickey Mouse Cartoon (by release date order)
Ignoring Mickey Mouse, I get “Ballad of Casey Jones” vibes from this after I read the comments and realized it was about the real tragedy. Only difference is I know more about trains than steamboats so I can’t tell if Bill was a hero who did reckless things just to be on schedule like Casey Jones did back in the day.
The theme song of the mascot of the most evil corporation ever
I feel bad for Mickey, getting slandered by his dumbass parents
@@hamq9716 yeah Walt never made another Mickey show after Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
@@itpspringbonniethebunny636 Walt was already dead by that point
@@hamq9716 bro mickey is old as frick, he doesn’t need parents
Its amazing how this tune went from Steamboat Bill - Mississippi, to Disney's Original Mickey Mouse to *FRIDAY NIGHT FUNKIN'S WEDNESDAY'S INFIDELITY*
Which one better
The Ballard of casey jones 🚂
Or
Steamboat bill🚢
disney brought me here
don't lie, Mickey Mouse brought you here!
MICKEY MOUSE DETECT
alejandro garcia seoane 😄
alejandro garcia seoane 👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻
Creepiest song ever 😅
なぜか数字で笑ってしまいました
SPEED 1 24 ITS MICKEY
これが蒸気船ウィリーの元ネタか＼(〇O〇)／
This basically a hack on "Casey Jones", pretty much verse-for-verse.
Steam boat bill
Or steam boat Micky?
Mickey mouse have the same music
O. Steamboat. Willie. Mickey
0:40
Anyone have the lyrics?
Here is the sheet music: webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/metsnav/inharmony/navigate.do?pn=3&size=large&oid=http%3A%2F%2Ffedora.dlib.indiana.edu%2Ffedora%2Fget%2Fiudl%3A527225%2FMETADATA
This song plays whenever I get my phone taken away or I haven't watched horror stuff then him telling me Good Job. Because when I see him being proud of me because I haven't watched Five Nights at Freddy's Stuff, When he told me good job, I see him as a lie
I like aurther Collins version better
My name is Colin arthur
this is like older than christ
Actually Jesus is older then this song he is 2020 years old and this song is 123 years old
@@lazerpeabody8062 french fries
@@youvanced6593 lmfao i love how you responded with “french fries”
@@lazerpeabody8062 jesus isn’t 2020 years old btw
@@overpricedhealthcare :)
i came here from mickey fnf references
mickey mouse
this is a reference from mickey mouse exe fnf
you're wrong
Get Out
@@ChannelIsntGonnaPostAnymore we must yeet the child
I think this was joke
bait used to be believable…
"She was named for General Robert E. Lee, General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States"
A song praising a racist boat. Cool cool cool. Racism pressed in a vinyl.
This was literally in the 20's. JIM CROW WAS IN USE! People need to stop viewing past events in a modern light.
@@NunyaMcBusiness no we don't because otherwise we repeat the same mistakes.
This is racism. That's all. Maybe not back then for those who listened and eventually hate non-white people. You do realize that even in 1889 you had people and WOMEN fighting for equality? Were they wrong then?
History is the past. Can't change it. But we can sure as hell call it what it is: racism
Wow you deleted your reply. Anyways, I'm staunchly opposed to the traitors that tore apart the USA in the 1860's, and this account is used by my racist as hell brother as well as me. Plus, the song mentioned that steamboat bill tore up the Mississippi. That river is huge! That means that the Robert E. Lee was at least damaged.
bro the song was made in 1919 grow up
@@2fortcow tell me again oh wise one the main reason for the Civil War
CATCHY AS HELL! Seriously modern movies and music just suck. To f@@@ing PC today its cancer.
0:40