Fifty million frenchmen

Posted by Antony Smythe on May 07, 2000

In Reply to: Fifty million frenchmen posted by Bruce Kahl on May 05, 2000

: : anyone know the origin of "fifty million frenchmen can't be wrong"

: Sophie Tucker, performing with the Ted Lewis Band, recorded a song with that title in 1927.

: FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN CAN'T BE WRONG
: by Rose, Raskin, & Fisher
: as sung by Sophie Tucker

: They say the French are naughty
: They say the French are bad
: They all declare that over there, the French are going mad.
: They have a reputation of being very gay
: I just got back from Paris, and I just want to say:
: When they go parley-vee and parley-vou,
: This for me, zat for you,
: Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong.
: When they go Ohh la la la la la la la
: On the bully boulevard
: Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong.
: They shake-a the hand
: They shake-a the feet
: They roll ze eyes and kiss cafe right on the street
: Even though the Irish and the Dutch
: Say it don't amount to much
: Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong.

: Fifty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong 4-27-1927 New York, New York Columbia
: Ted Lewis Band

Strangely, the population of France was nowhere near 50 million in 1927. Just show how artistic license can mislead the unwary.

It's OK Bruce. I'm not impugning the authenticity of your contribution I'm just a jaded pedant at the end of a long night shift.