He was born as William Thomas Murray in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation's major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there.
In 1906 he waxed the first of his popular duets with Ada Jones. He also performed with Aileen Stanley, the Haydn Quartet, the Premier Quartet, and the American Quartet (the latter two actually being the same group), in addition to his solo work.
He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect.
While he often performed romantic numbers and ballads which sold well at the time, his comedy and novelty song recordings continue to be popular with later generations of record collectors.
Murray's popularity faded with changes in public taste and recording technology; the rise of the electric microphone in the mid 1920s coincided with the rise of the crooners. His "hammering" style, as he called it, essentially yelling the song into the recording horn, did not work in the electronic era, and it took him some time to learn how to soften his voice. While he continued to work, his singing style was considered "dated" and less in demand. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he also did voices for animated cartoons, especially the "follow the bouncing ball" type which incorporated songs from his salad days. He also did radio work.
Murray made his last recordings in 1943 and retired to Freeport, Long Island, New York in 1944. He died in nearby Jones Beach.
Don't Bring Lulu
Billy Murray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But with this invitation, there is a stipulation.
When you attend this party, you'll all be treated right,
But there's a wild and wooly woman you boys can't invite.
You can bring Pearl, she's a darn nice girl,
But don't bring Lulu!
You can bring Rose with the turned-up nose,
Lulu always wants to do
What the folks don't want her to.
When she struts her stuff around,
London bridge is falling down!
You can bring cake or a porterhouse steak,
But don't bring Lulu!
Lulu gets blue and goes cuckoo
Like the clock upon the shelf.
She's the kind of smarty breaks up every party,
Hullabaloo loo, don't bring Lulu,
I'll bring her myself!
Last week we had a party, a real high-toned affair,
And then along came Lulu, wild as any Zulu.
She started in to Charleston, and how the boys did stare,
But when she did the hula-hula, then she got the air.
You can bring Flo, her dad's got dough
But don't bring Lulu!
You can bring Lil, she's an awful pill,
But don't bring Lulu!
Lulu has the reddest hair, auburn here and henna there.
How can we boys keep our heads?
Bulls go wild when they see red.
You can bring peas and crackers and cheese,
But don't bring Lulu!
When she gets sore and slams the door
The plates fly off the shelf.
She can make a feller wild on sarsaperilla.
Hullabaloo loo, don't bring Lulu,
She'll come here herself.
You can bring ham and crackers and jam
But don't bring Lulu!
Lulu goes wild, and when she's wild
She climbs upon the shelf!
She can make a pastor be a dancing master.
Hullabaloo-loo, don't bring Lulu,
I'll bring her myself!
From Victor #19628 recorded 19 March, 1925
Transcribed by Dilly
The song "Don't Bring Lulu" by Billy Murray is a humorous warning to party hosts about looking out for a certain wild and uncontrollable woman named Lulu. The song relays the story of a previous party where Lulu caused chaos and disrupted the festivities, which is why the invitation instructs to not bring her. The lyrics describe Lulu as being disobedient and causing trouble whenever she is around, and the chorus repeatedly emphasizes the need to leave her out. However, the final line of the verse suggests that the singer himself will bring her along, implying that even though he knows how much trouble she can cause, he cannot resist her.
The use of Lulu's name in the song is significant because it was a popular name during the time the song was written and was associated with being wild and flashy. The lyrics also mention various other guests that can attend the party, but Lulu remains the focus of the warning. The song's catchy melody and funny lyrics made it a hit during its time and have enabled it to remain a favorite in classic music.
Line by Line Meaning
Your presence is requested, wrote little Johnny White,
Johnny White has written an invitation for you to attend this party.
But with this invitation, there is a stipulation.
However, there is a condition you must abide by if you want to come.
When you attend this party, you'll all be treated right,
If you attend the party, you'll be treated well and have a good time.
But there's a wild and wooly woman you boys can't invite.
Do not invite Lulu, because she's wild and uncontrollable.
You can bring Pearl, she's a darn nice girl,
You are allowed to bring Pearl, who is a lovely girl.
But don't bring Lulu!
However, do not bring Lulu.
You can bring Rose with the turned-up nose,
You are also allowed to bring Rose.
Lulu always wants to do
Lulu always wants to do things that she's not supposed to do.
What the folks don't want her to.
She likes to go against what others tell her to do.
When she struts her stuff around,
Lulu is showing off and behaving in a way she shouldn't.
London bridge is falling down!
She causes chaos wherever she goes.
You can bring cake or a porterhouse steak,
Feel free to bring cake or steak to the party.
But don't bring Lulu!
But again, don't bring Lulu.
Lulu gets blue and goes cuckoo
Lulu gets upset and goes crazy.
Like the clock upon the shelf.
Just like a clock that's been neglected for so long it goes off track.
She's the kind of smarty breaks up every party,
Lulu's the type of person who ruins every party she goes to.
Hullabaloo loo, don't bring Lulu,
So please, don't bring Lulu to this party either.
I'll bring her myself!
I'll be the one to bring her.
Last week we had a party, a real high-toned affair,
At our last party, we had a really fancy and sophisticated get-together.
And then along came Lulu, wild as any Zulu.
However, Lulu came and she was acting crazy like a Zulu warrior.
She started in to Charleston, and how the boys did stare,
She began to dance the Charleston, and all the men were amazed.
But when she did the hula-hula, then she got the air.
But when she started doing the hula-hula dance, people wanted her to leave.
You can bring Flo, her dad's got dough
You can also bring Flo, whose father is wealthy.
But don't bring Lulu!
But again, do not bring Lulu.
You can bring Lil, she's an awful pill,
It's okay to bring Lil, even though she's not very pleasant.
Lulu has the reddest hair, auburn here and henna there.
Lulu's hair is a mix of red colors, including auburn and henna.
How can we boys keep our heads?
How can we boys keep sane being around her?
Bulls go wild when they see red.
Bulls get furious when they see the color red.
You can bring peas and crackers and cheese,
You can bring peas, crackers, and cheese.
But don't bring Lulu!
But again, do not bring Lulu.
When she gets sore and slams the door
When Lulu gets angry and slams the door shut.
The plates fly off the shelf.
The plates and other things on the shelves fly off and break.
She can make a feller wild on sarsaperilla.
Lulu can drive a guy to madness just like the effects of sarsaparilla.
Hullabaloo loo, don't bring Lulu,
Please, don't bring Lulu to this party either.
She'll come here herself.
If Lulu's not invited, she'll come uninvited anyway.
You can bring ham and crackers and jam
You can bring ham, crackers, and jam.
But don't bring Lulu!
But once again, do not bring Lulu.
Lulu goes wild, and when she's wild
Lulu becomes uncontrollable when she's acting crazy.
She climbs upon the shelf!
She even starts to climb on top of the shelving.
She can make a pastor be a dancing master.
Her wild behavior can turn a pastor into a dancing master.
Hullabaloo-loo, don't bring Lulu,
So please, don't bring Lulu to this party.
I'll bring her myself!
I'll be the one to bring Lulu.
Contributed by Sydney T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bill Lynch
Haha haven’t heard this song since I was a kid in the 50s. Never knew all the lyrics. Great song.
Coolboy1224
Discovered this a year ago. Love it. Thanks for posting
Old music channel
Coolboy1224 I love it too
Old music channel
This is still much much better than shit of today’s charts
George Cohan Fan
What a very catchy tune! Beautifully sung by Billy Murray.
Henri de Lagardère
1:21 "and then along came Lulu, wild as any Zulu." There is also a Dutch-language version by Kees Pruis, from the same year, 1925, where he sings "she's got the head of a Zulu."
stan ochocki
@Giorgio Rosa Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
Giorgio Rosa
When I sing this song I just scat this area as I wont sing the lyrics.
Casper Rabbit
I love the exasperation in his voice 🤣
Old music channel
This is cooler than modern charts music