It is happening to me more and more as I progress through my sixties that the silliest line from a song will enter the brain and then lodge there repeating itself like a record stuck in a groove until I can find some way of placing it.

There is no doubt that if it were not for the internet I would now be possessed entirely by a combination of G and S lyrics, words from Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, and various hit songs from the fifties.

Once exorcised by discovering the other lyrics these depart, then leaving room for the next intruder.

The latest line was one that went

Number 1234- Don’t forget the number when you slumber

So off I went, into the internet and so came up with Nora Malone.
To my great luck I discovered that there was on Youtube actually a recording of the original (or so I thought ) from Ruby Murray in the late fifties.
You can hear it here

I couldn’t find a copy of the lyrics but never fear I managed to transpose them from Ruby’s excellent singing;

Nora Malone
Call me by phone
Number 1 2 3 4
(Central)
Don’t forget the number
while you slumber
Open your eyes
When you arise
Hear all the blarney
of your Barney
(Kearney from Kilarney)

Cailins are few
There’s none like you
In the old town of Athlone
(Wisha worra worra worra worra )
Old Erin’s Isle
Would not make me smile
Without Nora Malone

The song is truly addictive and someone must reissue it
(Remember that De Dannan had a great hit with Irish Molly !)

But begosh and begorra did you ever come across such paddy whackery !

I mean a chorus line going
Wisha worra worra worra worra

It is just amazing by could this possibly be from the fifties.
Surely we were a little more sophisticated then?

Further research proved this indeed to be the case.

The original version was recorded by the American Quartet in 1912
and incredibly that also exists on Youtube here

This has far more verses and makes much more sense and comes complete with the proper background scratches.

Listen to it, enjoy it, in fact play it anytime over the Christmas when you feel down.
It is pop music at its finest.