"Won't You Fondle Me?" is a popular song from 1904, with words and music by James Kendis and James Paley.[1] The serio-comic "flirtation song" was popularized by singer Grace La Rue, and recorded by Billy Murray on Zonophone, Harry Tally on Columbia Records,[1] and Arthur Collins on Edison Records.[2] According to Edison Phonograph Monthly, the song has "somewhat of the rag-time rhythm," and was "very popular among vaudeville singers generally."[2] The song was included in the short-lived 1905 musical comedy How He Won Her.[3]
| "Won't You Fondle Me?" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Published | 1904 |
| Composer(s) | James Kendis, James Paley |
The chorus of the song was:
- Won't you fondle me, won't you fondle me,
- Throw your loving arms around me in that loving way,
- Tell me that you love me and you're going to stay.
- I'll stop flirting too, 'cause it's hurting you,
- Keep my heart's affection burning all for you,
- If you only fondle me.[2]
The song has been cited as one of the more risque, "sophisticated" songs of the day, along with "In the Naughty Altogether", "Cuddle Up a Little Closer", "You Can Go As Far As You Like With Me in My Merry Oldsmobile", and "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey, Hold Me Tight".[4][5]
References
edit- ^ a b Cohen-Stratnyer, Barbara, ed. (1988). Popular music, 1900-1919: An Annotated Guide to American Popular Songs. Gale Research Inc. p. 402. ISBN 0-8103-2595-0. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Comments on Edison Gold Moulded Records for March, 1905". Edison Phonograph Monthly. 2 (12): 9. February 1905. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Dietz, Dan (2022). The Complete Book of 1900s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 277–278. ISBN 9781538168943.
- ^ Nye, Russel (1970). The Unembarrassed Muse: The Popular Arts in America. The Dial Press. pp. 317–318. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Mooney, Hughson F. (Autumn 1954). "Songs, Singers and Society, 1890-1954". American Quarterly. 6 (3): 226. Retrieved 30 March 2024.