Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Down in Tennessee
Performer: Irving Kaufman
Songwriting: Ira Schuster and Ed G. Nelson
Columbia, 1921
MP3 1,367K
Irving Kaufman recorded under many names other than his own,
including "chorus" and "vocal accompaniment." As he remarked to
his wife, "what do you care, as long as the checks are made out to Irving Kaufman?"I can't really see why this should be regarded as a train record. Well, yes, I get Dapper Dan (that Pullman porter man), but why all the sheet music for Ten Little Fingers has a big ol' steaming engine on the cover is a mystery.
I'm not overly fond of this one, but it does have one strikingly weird characteristic: the song refers to the baby as "it" until the last chorus, when "it" finally becomes "he." Seems a little peculiar for a goopy baby song, don't it?
I met a pal from Tennessee,
And with a smile he greeted me,
For he was feeling happy, mighty snappy,
Jumping up and down with glee;
He got good news from home today,
And that's the reason he felt gay,
I thought it was simply great,
Just had to congratulate,
When I heard him say:
I've got ten little fingers, and ten little toes,
Down in Tennessee,
Waiting there for me,
I never had a baby call me "Da-da",
How proud I know I'll be,
When I hear it calling me, Oh gee!
I'll miss every finger,
I'll kiss every toe,
At home sweet home I'll linger
For they'll need me there I know;
Although it only weighs ten pounds and just one day old,
I wouldn't give it up for all the world and its gold,
For I've got ten little fingers, and ten little toes,
Waiting down in Tennessee for me.
He said "I'm leaving town today,
I hope and pray there's no delay,
I'm going to get my ticket,
Double quick it,
Not a thing could make me stay;
I long to see my little prize,
And look into those baby eyes,
Just try to imagine me,
Back home in Tennessee,
Oh, what paradise:
I've got ten little fingers,
And ten little toes,
Down in Tennessee,
Waiting there for me,
Oh, how I'll hold it,
In my arms enfold it,
When night time shadows creep,
I will lull it fast asleep,
And then I'll count every finger,
I'll count every toe,
Close to his side I'll linger
For he'll want me there I know,
And if he looks like his mother what a child he must be,
Ah, but listen, if he looks like me then he's got my sympathy,
For I've got ten little fingers and ten little toes
Waiting down in Tennessee for me.