Yeah, clearly a related song. I think this version usually starts with "Miss Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell. The steamboat went to Heaven and Susie went to ...."
I have found earlier, dirtier, versions of the Irishmen song online, but without the Hello, operator verse (which really wasn't possible before 1871 when the first telephone exchange was established). But what a boon to the innuendo song when that finally happened!
Oh wow! Once you know the first line you can find all kinds of versions online. Here's a nifty modern version (traditional beginning but updated to include a television reference) performed as hand-clapping game. I think it's so cool that even in the modern world these old child traditions persist.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2022-09-27 06:22 pm (UTC)I have found earlier, dirtier, versions of the Irishmen song online, but without the Hello, operator verse (which really wasn't possible before 1871 when the first telephone exchange was established). But what a boon to the innuendo song when that finally happened!
Oh wow! Once you know the first line you can find all kinds of versions online. Here's a nifty modern version (traditional beginning but updated to include a television reference) performed as hand-clapping game. I think it's so cool that even in the modern world these old child traditions persist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T_HYbva-HQ