"Bell Bottom Trousers" is a reworking of the

folksong Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

" Rosemary Lane". A sea shanty version has bawdy lyrics, but a clean version of the tune was written in 1944 for modern audiences by bandleader Moe Jaffe.

Moe Jaffe version

This version enjoyed great popularity during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, and has been recorded by different performers. ''Bell Bottom Trousers'' was the last song with a military connection to be featured on the popular radio and television broadcast ''

Your Hit Parade ''Your Hit Parade'' was an American radio and television music program that was broadcast from 1935 to 1953 on radio, and seen from 1950 to 1959 on television. It was sponsored by American Tobacco's Lucky Strike cigarettes. During its 24-year ru ...

.'' The recording by

Tony Pastor Antonio Pastor (May 28, 1837 – August 26, 1908) was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. He was sometimes referr ...

's orchestra was made on April 4,

1945 1945 marked the end of World War II and the fall of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. It is also the only year in which Nuclear weapon, nuclear weapons Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have been used in combat. Events Below, ...

and released by

RCA Victor Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Ari ...

as catalog number 20-1661, with the flip side "Five Salted Peanuts". It first reached the

Billboard magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the musi ...

Best Seller chart on May 10, 1945 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2. The recording by

Kay Kyser James Kern Kyser (June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985), known as Kay Kyser, was an American bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s. Early years James Kern Kyser was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Emily ...

's orchestra was recorded on April 2,

and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36801, with the flip side "Can't You Read Between the Lines?". It first reached the

Best Seller chart on June 7, 1945 and lasted 6 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5. The recording by

Guy Lombardo Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was an Italian-Canadian-American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racer. Lombardo formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor, and oth ...

's orchestra was recorded on April 20,

, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 18683, with the flip side "Oh, Brother!". It first reached the

Best Seller chart on June 14, 1945 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6. The recording by Jerry Colonna was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 204, with the flip side "I Cried for You". It first reached the

Best Seller chart on July 26, 1945 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9. The recording by the

Louis Prima Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he forme ...

orchestra was recorded in February, 1945, and released by

Majestic Records Majestic Records was a mid-20th century record label based in New York City, incorporated in 1945 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Majestic Radio & Television. The label enjoyed its greatest commercial success in the 1940s until expansion and supp ...

as catalog number 7134, with the flip side "Caledonia". It reached the

Best Seller chart on June 7, 1945 at #10, its only appearance on the chart. It was also recorded by: * Lee Bedford Jr. and the Big D Ranch Hands, released by

Imperial Records Imperial Records is an American record company and label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd. The label was reactivated in 2006 by EMI, which owned the label and back catalogue at the time. Imperial is owned by Universal Music Group. Early years to ...

as catalog number 1111, with the flip side "Cowboy Loop". * The Four Blues, released by De Luxe Records as catalog number 1000. * The Jesters, recorded June 26,

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in Nor ...

and released by Decca Records as catalog number 4452, with the flip side "The Bunyon Brigadiers". * George Paxton & his Orchestra, (vocal: Alan Dale), released by Guild Records as catalog number 120, with the flip side "Counting the Days until Tomorrow". Several other versions were also recorded.

Other versions

Alternate titles

The earliest versions of this song are titled "The Servant of Rosemary Lane". Other titles include: *"Rosemary Lane", as recorded by Bert Jansch, who lists the first printing date as ca. 1780, and as recorded by Anne Briggs *"The Oak and the Ash" oud 269;Laws K43 for a few versions collected in the twentieth century, for example as sung by Jumbo Brightwell on

The Voice of the People ''The Voice of the People'' is an anthology of folk songs produced by Topic Records containing recordings of traditional singers and musicians from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The series was first issued in 1998 as 20 CDs, compiled by Dr ...

Vol 2 (not to be confused with "The Oak and the Ash" oud number 1367recorded by ''

The Watersons The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies. They have been called the "most famous fam ...

'' on their eponymously named second album and on the BBC documentary ''Travelling for a Living'').

Lyrical adaptations

* The

10th Mountain Division The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is a light infantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. Formerly designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only one of its size in the US military to re ...

of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

adapted this song to feature a mountain-village setting and adopted the result, "Ninety Pounds of Rucksack", as its official fighting/drinking song.See, ''e.g.''

Original Lyrics

There once was a waitress from the Prince George Hotel
Her mistress was a lady, her master was a swell They knew she was a simple girl and lately from a farm
And they watched her carefully to keep her from all harm Chorus:
''Singing a bell bottom trousers, coats of navy blue''
''Let him climb the rigging like his daddy used to do'' The 42nd Fusilers came marching into town
And with them came a complement of rapists of renown They busted every maidenhead that came within their spell
But they never made the waitress from the Prince George Hotel ''Chorus'' Next came a company of the Prince of Wales Hussars
They piled into a whorehouse they packed along the bars Every maid and mistress and wife before them fell
But they never made the waitress from the Prince George Hotel ''Chorus'' One day came a sailor just an ordinary bloke
A bulging at the trousers, a heart of solid oak At sea without a woman for seven years or more
There wasn't any need to ask what he was looking for ''Chorus'' He asked her for a candlestick to light his way to bed
He asked her for a pillow to rest his weary head And speaking to her gently as if he meant no harm
He asked her to come to bed just so to keep him warm ''Chorus'' He lifted up the blanket and a moment there he lie
He was on her. he was in her, in a twinkling of an eye He was out again, and in again, and plowing up a storm
And the only word she said to him was "I hope you're keeping warm" ''Chorus'' Early in the morning the sailor he arose
Saying here's a 2-pound note my dear for the damage I have caused If you have a daughter bounce her on your knee
If you have a son send the bastard out to sea! ''Chorus'' ''(Extra verse)'' Now she sits beside a dock with a baby on her knee
Waiting for a sailing ship coming a-home from sea Waiting for the jolly tars in Navy uniform
All she wants to do my boys is keep the Navy warm! ''Chorus''

Recorded versions (Moe Jaffe version)

*Joe Edwards * Four Blues *

Oscar Brand Oscar Brand (February 7, 1920 – September 30, 2016) was a Canadian-born American folk singer-songwriter, radio host, and author. In his career, spanning 70 years, he composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Ca ...

* Jerry Colonna * The Jesters * Art Kassel *

and his Royal Canadians (

) *

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

and the Gang *

George Olsen George Edward Olsen Sr. (March 18, 1893 - March 18, 1971) was an American bandleader. Born in Portland, Oregon, Olsen played the drums and attended the University of Michigan, where he was drum major. There he formed his band, George Olsen an ...

and his orchestra *

* Diane Renay * Sun Harbor's Chorus

References

{{authority control 1945 singles British folk songs Sea shanties Songs of World War II 1944 songs Guy Lombardo songs