University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

Private Arkansaw Bill

Title
Private Arkansaw Bill - Lyrics
Composer
Garrett, Lloyd  
Lyricist
Garrett, Lloyd  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.   
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
  • The preacher, perplexed, said, “Brethren, my text is yip-i-yip and a too-ra-le-ay!” Refrain Verse
  • So what’s the use tryin’ and what’s the use cryin’, it’s yip-i-yip! And a too-ra-le-ay! Verse: Arkansaw Bill went to church one day, and as he walked down the main aisle, HE hummed his little old yip-i-ay till he made ev’rybody there smile. The organist soon memorized the tune, the choir then joined in the lay
  • That foolish refrain gets into your brain, it’s “Yip-i-yip and a too-ra-le-ay.” Refrain: Yip-i-yip and a too-ra-le-ay! Yip-i-yip! You can hear it all day. When that haunting strain gets in your weary brain ev’ry now and then you start to sing again. Yip-i-yip and a too-ra-le-ay! No use! You can’t drive it away
  • The only tune he was known to play was a little, old Arkansaw song. And now ev’rywhere that song’s in the air, you hear it all night and all day
  • Private Arkansaw Bill (Yip-I-Yip- and a Too-Ra-Le-Ay) Verse: Arkansaw Bill came to camp one day, and brought his old fiddle along
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 19, Folder 2
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_600
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/eeb60e20-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-8

Descriptive Information

Title
Private Arkansaw Bill
Alternative Title
Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay
Composer
Garrett, Lloyd  
Lyricist
Garrett, Lloyd  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.). Folio.
Comment
The only marketing appears to have been on the covers of other Lloyd Garrett songs, where this title was listed together with others as “Songs of the Camps.” But there is no mention in trade journals, and the song appears to have made little impact.
Historical Note
The song was included in McKinley’s Army and Navy Song Folio No. 1 (August 1918). On the cover of “Private Alexander,” “Private Arkansaw Bill” is listed together with other Lloyd Garrett titles as “Songs of the Camps.” “Private Alexander” was issued after May 1918.
Musical Note
A conventional waltz song with chromatic inflections and skilled use of stop-time articulations.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Novelty songs  
  • Humorous songs  
  • Stereotypes (Social Psychology) -- Southern States  
Subject - Geographic
Arkansas  
Lyrics
  • Private Arkansaw Bill (Yip-I-Yip- and a Too-Ra-Le-Ay) [Verse] Arkansaw Bill came to camp one day, And brought his old fiddle along
  • The only tune he was known to play Was a little old Arkansaw song. And now ev’rywhere that song’s in the air, You hear it all night and all day
  • That foolish refrain gets into your brain, It’s “Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay.” [Refrain] Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay! Yip-i-yip! You can hear it all day. When that haunting strain gets in your weary brain Ev’ry now and then you start to sing again. Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay! No use! You can’t drive it away
  • So what’s the use tryin’ and what’s the use cryin’, It’s yip-i-yip! And a Too-ra-le-ay! [Verse] Arkansaw Bill went to church one day, And as he walked down the main aisle, He hummed his little old Yip-i-ay Till he made ev’rybody there smile. The organist soon memorized the tune, The choir then joined in the lay
  • The preacher, perplexed, said, “Brethren, my text Is yip-i-yip and a too-ra-le-ay!” [Refrain] [Verse] Ev’ryone’s looking for poor old Bill For starting that song all around
  • A hundred fellows have said they’d kill The poor devil as soon as he’s found. Why only last night his dog took a bite, Bill got hydrophobia, they say
  • And poor old dog Tray broke out the next day With “Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay!” [Refrain]
Musical Genre
  • Novelty song
  • Comic song
  • Waltz ballad
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
Seven US soldiers, informal but uniformed, singing.
Back Cover Description
[Continues the score.]
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 19, Folder 2
Local Identifier
2014_12996_600
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitlePrivate Arkansaw Bill
Alternative TitleYip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay
ComposerGarrett, Lloyd  
LyricistGarrett, Lloyd  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.). Folio.
CommentThe only marketing appears to have been on the covers of other Lloyd Garrett songs, where this title was listed together with others as “Songs of the Camps.” But there is no mention in trade journals, and the song appears to have made little impact.
Historical NoteThe song was included in McKinley’s Army and Navy Song Folio No. 1 (August 1918). On the cover of “Private Alexander,” “Private Arkansaw Bill” is listed together with other Lloyd Garrett titles as “Songs of the Camps.” “Private Alexander” was issued after May 1918.
Musical NoteA conventional waltz song with chromatic inflections and skilled use of stop-time articulations.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Novelty songs  
  • Humorous songs  
  • Stereotypes (Social Psychology) -- Southern States  
Subject - GeographicArkansas  
Lyrics
  • Private Arkansaw Bill (Yip-I-Yip- and a Too-Ra-Le-Ay) [Verse] Arkansaw Bill came to camp one day, And brought his old fiddle along
  • The only tune he was known to play Was a little old Arkansaw song. And now ev’rywhere that song’s in the air, You hear it all night and all day
  • That foolish refrain gets into your brain, It’s “Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay.” [Refrain] Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay! Yip-i-yip! You can hear it all day. When that haunting strain gets in your weary brain Ev’ry now and then you start to sing again. Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay! No use! You can’t drive it away
  • So what’s the use tryin’ and what’s the use cryin’, It’s yip-i-yip! And a Too-ra-le-ay! [Verse] Arkansaw Bill went to church one day, And as he walked down the main aisle, He hummed his little old Yip-i-ay Till he made ev’rybody there smile. The organist soon memorized the tune, The choir then joined in the lay
  • The preacher, perplexed, said, “Brethren, my text Is yip-i-yip and a too-ra-le-ay!” [Refrain] [Verse] Ev’ryone’s looking for poor old Bill For starting that song all around
  • A hundred fellows have said they’d kill The poor devil as soon as he’s found. Why only last night his dog took a bite, Bill got hydrophobia, they say
  • And poor old dog Tray broke out the next day With “Yip-i-yip and a Too-ra-le-ay!” [Refrain]
Musical Genre
  • Novelty song
  • Comic song
  • Waltz ballad
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover DescriptionSeven US soldiers, informal but uniformed, singing.
Back Cover Description[Continues the score.]
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 19, Folder 2
Local Identifier2014_12996_600
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Download Options

  Zip of Original Files…   Zip of JPEGs PDF
Private Arkansaw Bill - Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Private Arkansaw Bill - Page 2
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Private Arkansaw Bill - Page 3
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Private Arkansaw Bill - Back Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Private Arkansaw Bill - Lyrics
Original File (PDF)
Email Curator About This Item