Verse:
In Russia there's a river
called the Volga
and on its banks
there lives a girl named Olga
Every day she goes rowin'
Olga on the Volga
And she's not alo-ne
Chorus:
When you're floatin' down the Volga with Olga
and she looks at you with Russian eyes of blue
And you're floating down the Volga with Olga
There's really only one thing to do (kiss sound effect)
So you do not wish to leave Miss Olga
and for her love you pine
You had better ask her quickly
to be your wedded one
Or Olga to Volga
Olga to Volga
I'll ask Olga to be mine
I obviously thought that translating "I'll go" with "Olga" was terribly clever. It was terrible all right.
That summer, I even wrote a song to the Y.M.C.A. camp where I was a cabin leader. In two parts no less – Soprano and Harmony.
Chorus: (Mercifully there is no verse.)
Our lips
will sing your praise.
Our hearts will always
hold a special place for you.
We'll dream
of happy days
in which we always gained
by learning something new.
The years will pass
yet even as they wane
The pleasant memories
will still remain
But now
when we are boys
we'll fondly say your name
and sing this song to you
Camp Brooklyn, you!
While I was a cabin leader, I met the son of a well-known square dance caller who told me that, when I went to a N.Y. music publisher to play my songs, (which I did) someone in an adjoining room would be transcribing it in case it was any good. I still don't know whether to believe that or not.
* * * *
Clearly overwhelmed by creative zeal, I even made a song from Chopin's Etude in E.
