The Anthem
of The Oyster Foundation
This song, "An
Oyster's Tale" by Cole Porter, is from "Fifty Million Frenchman,"
a show that opened on Broadway on Thanksgiving, 1929. This
1975 recording is by the Orchestra New England, and Kay McClelland
is the soloist.
Members of The
Oyster Foundation are asked to be sufficiently familiar with this
song so that they can hum along and perhaps tap their feet when it
is played.
The format of
the audio file looks for a program called Windows Media Player.
Most people running Windows, even 95 and 98, have it. If you can't
play the song on your computer, we still love you.
From FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN
by Cole Porter
Down by the sea lived a lonesome oyster,
Every day getting sadder and moister,
He found his home life awfully wet
And longed to travel with the upper set.
Poor little oyster.
Fate was kind to the oyster we know.
One day the chef from the Park Casino
Saw that oyster lying there
And said I'll put you on my bill of fare.
Lucky little oyster.
See him on his silver platter,
Watching the queens of fashion chatter.
Hearing the wives of millionaires
Discuss their marriages and their love affairs.
Thrilled little oyster.
See that bivalve social climber
Feeding the rich Mrs. Hoggenheimer,
Think of his joy as he gaily glides
Down to the middle of her gilded insides.
Proud little oyster.
After lunch Mrs. H. complains,
And says to her hostess,
"I've got such pains,
I came to town on my yacht today,
But I think I'd better hurry back to Oyster Bay."
Scared little oyster.
Off they go through the troubled
tide,
The yacht rolling madly from side to side.
They're tossed about till that poor young oyster
Finds that it's time he should quit his cloister.
Up comes the oyster.
Back once more where he started from,
He murmured, "I've haven't a single qualm,
For I've had a taste of society
And society has had a taste of me."
Wise little oyster.