"The Begat" lyrics question

[karen24]

"The Begat" lyrics question #1

Posted: 1/2/10 at 9:17pm

I recently saw this revival and really enjoyed it. I wanted to look up the lyrics to "The Begat" online, but can't seem to find anything that looks completely accurate. For instance, allmusicals.com has this for the last lines:

Income tax adjusterers begat
To vetuler unnatelor to begat.
And sometimes a bachelor, he begat!
And didn't matter which-a-way they begat,
Son of a bitch away, begat.

Oh! Bless them Lord!
Who know do that,
And heed the call
of the begat!

I've been listening to my original B'way cast recording and I really can't make out what they are singing in the second line, although I'm sure it isn't nonsense like "To vetuler..." It almost sounds like two names--does anyone know?
And I'm positive Harburg did not write "Son of a bitch away, begat"--good grief. I've always thought the line was "Sons of habitues begat"--can anyone confirm that?
I'm not sure "Who know do that" is right, either.
I would love to go in and correct these mistakes but I want to make sure I have it right. I realize these are not burning issues but I suspect that some of you will share my dismay at seeing Harburg's lyrics massacred.
Thanks!
The Begat lyrics

Maggie-the-schnoodle

[Smaxie]

'The Begat' lyrics question #2

Posted: 1/2/10 at 9:27pm

Pretty sure the lyrics are:

T'was natu'lar and natu'lar to begat
Sometimes a bachelor he begat
It didn't matter which way they begat
Sons of habitues begat

So bless them all
Who go to bat
And heed the call
Of the begat


The "sons of habitues" line is an old burlesque joke. Saying that a particular act will be familiar to habitues of the theatre. Not to mention "you sons of habitues".

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[karen24]

'The Begat' lyrics question #2

Posted: 1/2/10 at 9:58pm

Thanks, Smaxie, that is just about exactly what I thought. I didn't know that about "sons of habitues" being a burlesque joke. I wonder how many other references I'm missing?

Maggie-the-schnoodle

[givesmevoice]

'The Begat' lyrics question #3

Posted: 1/2/10 at 9:59pm

I thought this was going to be a question about the line I always misheard. Instead of "It pleased the League of Women shoppers in Duluth," I always heard "It pleased the Negro women shoppers in Duluth." Sometimes I heard another n word, though.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[karen24]

'The Begat' lyrics question #4

Posted: 1/2/10 at 10:21pm

"The League of Women Shoppers" is one of those references that probably means nothing to most people hearing it today. This was a group active from the mid-30s to the late 40s, which was dedicated to improving labor conditions and making high-quality goods available at low prices. I believe it disbanded right around the time "Finian" came out, actually.

Maggie-the-schnoodle