"O Mein Papa", once a hugely popular song (about the dead of a clown/father), was composed by Swiss composer Paul Burkhard (1911-1977) for the musical "Der Schwarze Hecht" (a.k.a. "Feuerwerk" in Germany), that premiered in April, 1939. The song reached #1 on the Sheet Music chart, and stayed in the chart for 26 weeks.
The song has been performed and recorded by Alan Breeze, Annette Klooger, Billy Cotton, Billy Vaughn, Connie Francis, Diana Decker, Eddie Calvert, Eddie Fisher, the Everly Brothers, Harry James, Ken Mackintosh, Lys Assia, Malcolm Vaughan, Muriel Smith, Ray Anthony & his Orchestra, Russ Morgan & his Orchestra, The Beverley Sisters, The Brasshats, The Radio Revellers, and many more.
"Papa wie ein Pfeil sprang hinauf auf die Seil. Eh la hopp, eh la hopp, eh la hopp! Er spreizte die Beine ganz breit auseinand', sprang hoch in die Luft und stand auf der Hand. Eh la hopp, eh la hopp, eh la hopp! Lachte: Haha! Und machte: Haßa, ganz sachte Haßa, und rief: Eh la hopp! Eh la hopp! Eh la hopp! Er ritt auf die Seil ganz hoch in die Luft. Eh la hopp, eh la hopp, eh la hopp! Das konnte er machen, zwölf mal ohne Mih! Er lachte dazu und fürchte sich nie! Eh la hopp, eh la hopp, eh la hopp! O mein Papa war eine wunderbare Clown. O mein Papa war eine große Kinstler. Hoch auf die Seil, wie war er herrlich anzuschau'n! O mein Papa war eine schöne Mann! Wie, wie er lacht, sein Mund sie sein so breit, so rot und seine Aug' wie Diamanten strahlen. O mein Papa war eine wunderbare Clown. O mein Papa war eine große Kinstler! Hoch auf die Seil, wie war er herrlich anzuschau'n! O mein Papa war eine schöne Mann! Ein schöner Mann! Ein schöner Mann!"
The English lyrics were written by Geoffrey Clarmont Parsons and John Turner Phillips (together with Charles Chaplin, they wrote the beautiful song "Smile" from the 1936 movie "Modern Times"). Parsons and Turner also wrote the words to Rudi Revil's "The Little Shoemaker"—a tune FZ's mother used to play over and over again at home—see "The Real Frank Zappa Book" (1989), and "Edgard Varèse: The Idol of My Youth", an article by FZ in Stereo Review (June 1971).
The English version goes like: "Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful. Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so good. No one could be, so gentle and so lovable. Oh, my pa-pa, he always understood. Gone are the days when he could take me on his knee and with a smile he'd change my tears to laughter. Oh, my pa-pa, so funny, so adorable, always the clown so funny in his way. Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful. Deep in my heart I miss him so today."
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