Barnacle Bill (song)

Barnacle Bill (song)

“Barnacle Bill the Sailor” is an American drinking song adapted from a traditional folk song originally titled ‘Abraham Brown’ The song is structured as an exchange between Bill and a ‘fair young maiden’ The tune has inspired a Fleischer Studios Betty Boop cartoon and two films.

About Barnacle Bill (song) in brief

Summary Barnacle Bill (song)\”Barnacle Bill the Sailor” is an American drinking song adapted from a traditional folk song originally titled ‘Abraham Brown’ The song is structured as an exchange between Bill and a ‘fair young maiden’ The tune has inspired a Fleischer Studios Betty Boop cartoon and two films, as well as the name of a rock on Mars. In the first Fleischer Popeye cartoon, Popeye the Sailor, the song was used as the recurring theme for the Bluto character. A version of the song is published as lyrics only with no indication of key or meter in the public domain book Immortalia.

The earliest known recording is an expurgated adaptation by Carson Robison and Frank Luther in 1928. In 1996 it was released on CD on the album ‘Bix Beiderbecke 1927–1930’ with a version by Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five in 1938. The song was also recorded on May 21, 1930 by Bix Beiderske and Hoagy Carmichael with Carson Robisons on vocals and released as a Victor 78, V-38139-A and 25371. It is believed to be one of his finest cornet solos.