Sherman was just a television producer, most famous for the quiz show "I've Got a Secret," not at all known as a comedian or performer, and it shocked everyone in the know when songs from his album My Son, The Folk Singer became popular. In fact, president John F. Kennedy was heard singing the song Sarah Jackman. Sherman's overnight popularity suddenly ended when the nation's attention focused on Kennedy's assassination, and the nation was too sad for such up-beat musical offerings.
Sherman then slipped back into his longtime depression, and died, quietly, at the young age of 48.
Sarah Jackman
Allan Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this 418-9749?
(Speaking)
Sarah?
(Yeah)
Sarah Jackman, Sarah Jackman,
How's by you? How's by you?
She's nice too She's nice too
(Jerry Bachman, Jerry Bachman,
So what's new? So what's new?)
Whatcha doing Sarah?
(Reading John O'Hara)
He's nice too
(He's nice too)
Sarah Jackman, Sarah Jackman,
How's by you? How's by you?
How's your brother Bernie?
(He's a big attorney)
How's your sister Doris?
(Still with William Morris)
How's your cousin Shirley?
(She got married early)
How's her daughter Esther?
(Skipped a whole semester)
How's your brother Bentley?
(Feeling better ment'ly)
How's your cousin Ida?
(She's a freedom rider)
What's with uncle Sidney?
(They took out a kidney)
How's your sister Norma?
(She's a non-conforma)
How's yours cousin Lena?
(Moved to Pasadena)
How's your uncle Nathan?
(Him I got no faith in)
I ain't heard from Sonja
(I'll get her to phone you)
How's her daughter Rita?
(A regular Lolita)
How's your cousin Manny?
(Signed up with Vic Tanny)
How's your nephew Seymour?
(Seymour joined the Peace Corps)
He's nice too He's nice too
Sarah Jackman,
Sarah Jackman,
How's by you? (Jerry Bachman,)
How's by you? (Jerry Bachman,)
Give regards to hi now (So what's new?)
Gotta say goodbye now(So what's new?)
Toodle-oo (Give regards to Moe now)
Toodle-oo (Well I gotta go now)
Toodle-oo (Toodle-oo)
Toodle-oo (Toodle-oo)
Toodle-oo (Toodle-oo)
The lyrics to Allan Sherman's song "Sarah Jackman" are a conversation between the singer and Sarah, in which the singer asks about various members of her family and friends. The song is a humorous, lighthearted take on the concept of a catch-up phone call, as the singer runs through a laundry list of people he would like to know more about. The lyrics are designed to be relatable to anyone who has ever had a similar conversation, with the singer peppering Sarah with questions about her loved ones and their various activities and accomplishments.
There is a strong sense of community and familial ties at play in the song, and the singer's interest in the lives of those connected to Sarah suggests that he himself is part of the same extended network. Each mention of a name is accompanied by a brief description of the person in question, and while some of these descriptions are straightforward (such as Sarah's sister being nice), others are more playful (such as Manny signing up with Vic Tanny and Seymour joining the Peace Corps).
Overall, "Sarah Jackman" is a charming and humorous song that serves as a snapshot of a particular time and place, in which phone calls were a much more common form of communication and people relied on their friends and families for news and updates on their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
(Hello?)
Opening the conversation
Is this 418-9749?
Asking for confirmation of the phone number
(Speaking)
Acknowledging the person on the phone
Sarah?
Addressing the person by her name
(Yeah)
Confirming the identity
Sarah Jackman, Sarah Jackman,
Repeating the name for emphasis
How's by you? How's by you?
Asking how the person is doing
How's by you the family? How's your sister Emily?
Inquiring about the person's family and specific relatives
She's nice too She's nice too
Comments on the person's sister being nice just like the person on the phone
Jerry Bachman, Jerry Bachman,
Switching to ask about another person
So what's new? So what's new?
Asking about any updates or news
Whatcha doing Sarah?
Asking what Sarah is doing
(Reading John O'Hara)
Providing the answer to the question posed
He's nice too
Commenting on author John O'Hara being nice as well
How's your brother Bernie?
Returning to inquire about relatives
(He's a big attorney)
Answering the question about Bernie's profession
How's your sister Doris?
Continuing to ask about other relatives
(Still with William Morris)
Providing an update on Sarah's sister's relationship status
How's your cousin Shirley?
Moving on to ask about another relative
(She got married early)
Answering the question about Shirley's marital status
How's her daughter Esther?
Asking about Shirley's daughter
(Skipped a whole semester)
Providing an update on Esther's academic issues
How's your brother Bentley?
Going back to asking about brothers
(Feeling better ment'ly)
Providing an update on Bentley's mental health
How's your cousin Ida?
Asking after another cousin
(She's a freedom rider)
Providing Ida's activism efforts
What's with uncle Sidney?
Asking about an uncle
(They took out a kidney)
Informing the listener of Sidney's health issue
How's your sister Norma?
Asking about yet another sister
(She's a non-conforma)
Describing Norma as unconventional
How's yours cousin Lena?
Asking about one more cousin
(Moved to Pasadena)
Updating on Lena's residency
How's your uncle Nathan?
Returning to uncles
(Him I got no faith in)
Expressing a lack of trust in Nathan
I ain't heard from Sonja
Bringing up another relative
(I'll get her to phone you)
Offering to have Sonja call the listener
How's her daughter Rita?
Asking about Sonja's daughter
(A regular Lolita)
Making a playful comment about Rita's behavior or appearance
How's your cousin Manny?
Switching to another cousin
(Signed up with Vic Tanny)
Providing Manny's employment status
How's your nephew Seymour?
Inquiring about a nephew
(Seymour joined the Peace Corps)
Updating the listener on Seymour's recent activity
He's nice too He's nice too
Commenting positively on Seymour
Give regards to hi now
Sending greetings to another person
(So what's new?)
Asking for the latest updates
Gotta say goodbye now
Announcing that the conversation is ending
(Give regards to Moe now)
Sending more greetings to someone else
Well I gotta go now
Reiterating that it's time to end the conversation
Toodle-oo
Saying goodbye in a lighthearted way
(Toodle-oo)
Repeating the goodbye phrase
(Toodle-oo)
Repeating the goodbye phrase
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., GET SONGS DIRECT, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BUSCH LOU, ALLAN SHERMAN, LOU BUSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@t.c.bramblett617
Born many years after this but I have always loved it! A great slice of a time in history
@jeffreybaker100
Hilarious! I love this tune!
@cherylellero
Love it!!
@sgtjeff56
I first heard it in Hebrew School which I left in '66 so it was before that. From My Son the Folk Singer. I still have the album but haven't had a record player in over 30 years!!!LOL
@garymichael1950
In Allan Sherman's Bio, he stated that he knew he was famous when he heard that John Kennedy was heard singing Sarah Jackman. How cool is that!?!
@MJTheDJ1964
This was much earlier like late 1962. It preceded "Hello Muddah" which was a huge hit in 1963.
@petergromlich6529
I remember being about age 3 listening to this not knowing what too-da-loo meant or what was a Lolita.
@TheIgnatzz
This isa bit older than Kennedy's assassination. My Son the Folk Singer was the fastest selling record album of all time, until the JFK Memorial Album.
@MrTrashcan1
It's so sad that JFK's assassination ended Allan Sherman's career. People stopped buying comedy albums.
@christopherlundgren3499
@@MrTrashcan1you should've told Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield and several others that nowone bought comedy albums