Accordion References In Music.

[Stephen Hawkins]

I'm not entirely sure that this is the right thread for this topic, but I feel sure that I will be advised if it isn't.

In an idle moment, the tune "Cruising Down The River" (on a Sunday Afternoon) began to permeate my thoughts. I sang it through a couple of times, and it suddenly dawned on me that an accordion was mentioned in the lyrics.

Like many of you, I listen to quite a bit of accordion music, but I cannot think of any other tune which references accordions in the lyrics.

Cruising Down The River was written by Eily Bendell & Nell Tollerton in 1945, and entered into a public song writing competition in the UK. It was recorded in 1946, and was a smash hit by the time I was born shortly after its release.

The relevant line in the song is: "The old accordion playing .. a sentimental tune ... Cruising down the River, on a Sunday Afternoon."

Surely this can't be the only song which mentions accordions ............. Can it? If you know different, please share that knowledge.

 

[Howie]

Van Morrison's "Autumn Song" - the old accordion man plays mellow and bright ...

There are probably plenty more, but that's the only one I can think of.

 

[Howie]

Oh one more - Travelling Wilburys "Cool Dry Place" -
I've got guitars basses amplifiers and drums
accordions and mandolins and things that sometimes hum

 

[Soulsaver]

http://www.lyrics.com/lyrics/accordion

 

[JIM D.]

This is been around before I was born ---


&

 

[Morne]

Heres a 1940 German song Antje, mein blondes Kind, which refers to and is played on an accordion:


It uses the word Schifferklavier which translates to something like sailors (skippers) piano, which refers to an accordion.

The part in question:

Antje, Antje, hörst Du nicht
von Ferne das Schifferklavier
Antje, Antje das Lied soll Dich
grüßen von mir

Which translates (unpoetically!) into something like:

Antje, Antje, do you not hear
From afar the accordion
Antje, Antje, this song shall be
My greeting to you

 

[debra]

Some of the clearest references in music:

Accordion Joe: shows an accordion quartet arrangement, but there are many more videos.
We play it with accordion quintet.

In Dutch: Hij speelde accordeon (He played the accordion): (video by Luc Steeno)

Crazy Accordion: made famous by De Kermisklanten.

There are just some that come to mind because they not only reference the accordion but they reference it in the title.

 

[Morne]

Here is a Russian song В землянке (In the dugout) written in 1941. It refers to the garmon, a Russian diatonic button accordion.



You can see some English lyrics here, but theyve used the word concertina instead of garmon:

The fire is flickering in the narrow stove
Resin oozes from the log like a tear
And the garmon in the dugout
Sings to me of your smile and eyes.

 

[Maren]

My first thought was Edith Piaf: L'accordéoniste. Also (a bit obvious) The Who: Squeezebox

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Wow !!!! Thank you, one and all. You have far exceeded my expectations.

I have been scratching my head for a couple of days, unable to think of any other song which referenced accordions. Very well done to all of you.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[JIM D.]

 

[hais1273]

Just picked up on this thread. How about Accordeon by Serge Gainsbourg, also recorded by Dan Newton and his band..I have the lyrics here in French and English. They're sooooo much better in French

Mais un soir par lassitude, il laissera la solitude
Se pointer a l'horizon de l'accordeon
Il en tirera 50 centimes a la brocante
On entendra plus causer de l'accordeon

But one evening by lassitude he'll leave
The accordeon all alone
He'll get 50 centimes from the junk shop
And we will hear no more of the accordeon.

Poor thing!! Translated by Mike James in Yann Dour's Diatonic tutor Vol 1

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

An overwhelming response ... Thank you all once again; I value your input.

One or two songs mentioned here are familiar, but the majority were unknown to me. I will certainly reference this thread in the future.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[geoff45789]

"Fiesta" by the Pogues, first verse

I am Francisco Vasquez Garcia
I am welcome to Almeria
We have sin gas and con leche
We have fiesta and feria
We have the song of the cochona
We have brandy and half corona
And Leonardo and his accordione
And kalamari and macaroni

 

[JerryPH]

The Squeezebox, sung by the Who:

...mama plays the squeeze box daddy never sleeps at night,

 

[AccordionUprising]

Thought you just wanted songs that referenced accordion but didnt have accordion in them (a finer group.)

Adolph Hofners 1942 western-swing version of Sam the Old Accordion Man doesnt include an accordion, which is odd since sometimes they had one.

And The Be Good Tanyas 2012 Canadian hit version of Geoff Berners Light Enough to Travel, lacks the accordion it references: I had to throw down my accordion to get away from the police.


Geoffs original on his record has plenty of accordion. Hes one of my favourite songwriters. http://www.geoffberner.com/

 

[barkis]

Two Swedish ones:

Flottarkärlek

Jag har spelat på mitt handklaver för flottare vid ån...
I have played on my accordion for floaters by the river...

Jag ska spela på mitt bälgaspel så länge jag finns till...
Im gonna play on my accordion as long as I live...

Johan på Snippen:

Nu Johan på Snippen har köpt sej klaver me åttifyra basar och fint fanér.
Now Johan på Snippen have bought himself an accordion with 84 basses and fine veneer.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Bruce,

Yes, I was really only interested in song lyrics which mentioned accordions, but I am quite happy for the thread to develop in other ways.

Thank you for your contribution.

Stephen.