"Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long" is a

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its sub ...

of the song " Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long", written in 1932 by

Victor Young Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. Biography Young is commonly said to ...

with lyrics by

Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis (October 25, 1885 – November 22, 1959) was an American singer and lyricist. Career Lewis was born Samuel M. Levine in New York City, United States. He began his music career by singing in cafés throughout New York City, and be ...

. The lyrics play as a lament that a tailor named Sam, while highly skilled at fitting a suit's coat and vest, inadvertently made the trousers far too long. The parody is of uncertain origin, with Milton Berle and Fred Whitehouse usually credited as having written it in 1940, but with

Joe E. Lewis Joe E. Lewis (born Joseph Klewan; January 12, 1902 – June 4, 1971) was an American comedian, actor and singer.Obituary ''Variety'', June 9, 1971, page 54. Early life Lewis was born was born into a family of Russian immigrants on Januar ...

claiming credit and performing it as early as 1937. Even earlier there is a report of "Oh Sam, You Made My Pants Too Long" being performed at a revue by dance pupils in Richmond, Indiana, on June 19, 1935."Hadley Pupils To Give Revue At Tivoli Today" The Richmond Item, Richmond, Indiana, 19 Jun 1935, Page 6 col. 4
/ref> Versions were released by Ziggy Talent & the

Vaughn Monroe Vaughn Wilton Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was an American baritone singer, trumpeter, big band leader, actor, and businessman, who was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for rec ...

Orchestra, the Buffalo Bills, and—heavily modified—

Allan Sherman Allan may refer to: People * Allan (name), a given name and surname, including list of people and characters with this name * Allan (footballer, born 1984) (Allan Barreto da Silva), Brazilian football striker * Allan (footballer, born 1989) (Al ...

. For many years, it was a staple of comedian

Red Buttons Red Buttons (born Aaron Chwatt; February 5, 1919 – July 13, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his supporting role in the 1957 film '' Sayonara''. He was nominated for awards for his acting work ...

. In 1966,

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

included a part of the song (as part of a 13-song medley) on her album ''

Color Me Barbra ''Color Me Barbra'' is the seventh studio album by singer Barbra Streisand released on Columbia Records in 1966. It reached number 3 in the US albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was also the title of Streisand's second CBS TV sp ...

''.

References

{{reflist 1940s jazz standards Musical parodies Songs about occupations 1937 songs Barbra Streisand songs