Singin' in the Bathtub

"Singing in the Bathtub" is a song written in 1929 by Michael H. Cleary, with lyrics by Herb Magidson and Ned Washington for the film The Show of Shows.[1] The Show of Shows was Warner Bros.' answer to MGM's The Hollywood Revue of 1929, and "Singing in the Bathtub" spoofs Hollywood Revue's song "Singin' in the Rain".[2] In Show of Shows, the number features an enormous bathtub and is performed by Winnie Lightner and a chorus of male performers (some dressed as women) wearing antiquated bathing suits.[3]

"Singing in the Bathtub"
Song
Published1929
Songwriter(s)Herb Magidson
Ned Washington
Composer(s)Michael Cleary

The song was recorded by many performers of the time, including Guy Lombardo,[4] Dorothy Provine,[5] Dick Robertson,[6] King Ben Nawahi,[7] Gracie Fields,[8] Vaughn De Leath,[9] The Georgians,[10] and Danny Kaye, and more recently by Robert Crumb,[11] John Lithgow,[12] Mic Conway and Mandy Patinkin.[13] In Vaughn DeLeath's rendition of the song, she sings the line "the ring around the bathtub is a rainbow to me" as "a rainbow from me", substantially changing its meaning.[14]

The lyrics often include a quotation of the title air from "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles".

The song is also briefly sung by Melvyn Douglas' character in the 1932 horror movie The Old Dark House, as the car he is in is stranded in a downpour.[15]

Use in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies

"Singing in the Bathtub" is featured in the first-ever Looney Tunes animated short, "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (1930). The song appeared in 20 Warner Bros. animated shorts in total. Warner Bros.' ownership of the copyright saved royalty payments. The song is frequently sung by Tweety Bird.

Cheap Suit Serenaders album

Singing in the Bathtub is also the 1993 re-release title of an album by R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders. The album was originally released in 1978 as R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders No. 3.[11]

John Lithgow album

Singin' in the Bathtub is additionally the title of a children's album released in 1999 with songs performed by John Lithgow.[16]

Track listing:

  1. Everybody Eats When They Come To My House (Adaptation)
  2. At The Codfish Ball
  3. Singin' In The Bathtub
  4. A-You're Adorable
  5. The Gnu Song
  6. You Gotta Have Skin
  7. Triplets
  8. No One Loves You Any Better Than Your M-O-Double-M-Y (Adaptation)
  9. Swinging On A Star
  10. I Had A Rooster
  11. From The Indies To The Andes In His Undies
  12. Big Kids
  13. The Hippopotamus Song
  14. The Inchworm

Notes
  1. Sinkin' in the Bathtub Archived 2007-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
  2. NY Times, Movies
  3. NY Times movie review
  4. Warner Chappell Music
  5. Warner Chappell Music
  6. jcgi.pathfinder.com
  7. MrGosh Playlist
  8. Vitaphone Varieties
  9. Vitaphone Varieties
  10. "The Georgians". redhotjazz.com. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  11. Amazon.com
  12. Singin' in the Bathtub at Amazon.com
  13. Starpulse.com
  14. Vitaphone Varieties
  16. Amazon.com
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