Another historical oddity, Under the Anheuser Bush, was a song written around 1903, with words by Andrew B. Sterling and music by Harry Von Tilzer. This version is sung by Billy Murray and is a 1903 Old Edison Recording.
Here’s the lyrics:
Talk about the shade of the sheltering palms
Praise the bamboo tree and it’s wide spreading charms
There’s a little bush that grows right here in town
You know it’s name it has won such renown
Often with my sweetheart just after the play
To this little place then my footsteps will stray
If she hesitates when she looks at the sign
Softly I whisper, “Now Sue, don’t decline….”Rave about the place where you swells go to dine
Picture you and me with our sandwich and stein
Underneath the bush where the good fellows meet
Life seems worth living, our joy is complete
If you’re sad at heart take a trip there tonight
You’ll forget your woe and your eyes will grow bright.
There you’ll surely find me with my sweetheart, Sue.
Come down this evening, I’ll introduce you.Come, come, come and make eyes with me
Under the Anheuser Bush
Come come drink some Budwise with me
Under the Anheuser Bush
Hear the old German Band
Just let me hold your hand YAH!
Do, do come and have a stein or two
Under the Anheuser Bush!
Here’s Verse 1:
And Verse 2:
Below is yet another version, a little more scratchy than the other one, but is also sung by Billy Murray. It was recorded in Philadelphia on January 15, 1904 and is Take 4. I found it at the National Jukebox at the Library of Congress.
This one was recorded on vinyl by Monarch Records.
Can’t get to the Monarch recording – Flickr blocked it, & I had to to go thru Yahoo to get at it; methinx there’s there’s a glitch in that link. Take 3 was the best musically of the 3 I did hear; on the other 2, the digital transfer “cleanup” work was incredibly good. BTW, earliest 78’s were recorded only on one side, & the recording surface was hardened vinyl over a core of compressed & hardened cork/paper. Solid vinyl & 2-sided recording arrived about the time of radio stations (1920). I own a lot of 78’s of varying vintages, & have seen the interiors of some that met unfortunate ends due to user (including me) carelessness.