Constantinople (1928)

A 1928 popular song.
Words and music by Harry Carlton.

Lyrics

1. Mister Noel Know-all was the teacher in a school
Giving a lesson one afternoon
LIttle Tommy Tomkins was the dunce and what a fool
Didn't know which was the sun or moon
Teacher said to Tommy Tomkins, "Well
See if you can sing this while you spell"

Chorus
Constantinople
C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E
Constantinople
It's as easy to sing it as saying your A B C
C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E
Show your pluck now try your luck
And sing it loud with me
Constantinople
C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E

2. You may laugh at Tommy Tomkins
'Cause he couldn't spell Constantinople
But wait and see
If there's anyone who thinks that they can do it
Well, come on and try it along with me
You can show me just how much you know
Are you ready, everybody? Go!"

-----------------------------------------------

Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein.
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne.
Get the sheet music and MIDI at:

[BELCAN]

Connecticut radio legend Bob Steele used to play this song on occasion. I completely forget about it. Thanks !

[jasobres]

25 years later, the song "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" was written as a response since two years after the song was published, Constantinople fell to the Republic of Turkey and was renamed Istanbul. Of course, "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" would find later fame in the 1990s when it was covered by They Might Be Giants.

[boundless-vintage-music]

Don't know if this is inspired by an earlier musical hall song "Constantinopole" by Arthur Lloyd involving the spelling of the word. And Lloyd himself on the stage would act like a teacher and invite the children below to join the stage. That song was compiled in American "College songs" in 1887