Grouch0 Marx sings Arlen/Harburg song " Lydia the Tattooed Lady" For the 1939 Marx brothers romp "At the Circus", Arlen and Harburg fashioned a song spoof for Groucho Marx. Marx was a friend of E.Y.Harburg and got the idea for the number after an evening at Groucho's house devoted to , of all people, Gilbert and Sullivan. Harburg said that Groucho " Would gather us there, play complete operas and sing along with them." Seeing the comic's verbal dexterity, Harburg felt he could show off his own cleverness with " the rhyming schemes and verbal juggling." The results was one of Arlen's favourite Harburg lyrics, the clever and sly " Lydia the Tattooed Lady." In the movie, Marx is accompanied by brothers Harpo and Chico and a few hangers on.
It is a delightful and zany number with clever rhyming of historical and geographical references throughout.
When asked which singer he felt was the most favourite singer of his own songs, Arlen ever the diplomat, would simply reply " Groucho Marx."
Please savour this Marxian descent into verbal and musical anarchy so characteristic of the Marx brothers' inventive comedy style and Harburg's own lyric wit in full flight.
LINK : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4zRe_wvJw8
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