He was born Irving Shelasky in Springfield, Massachusetts to Rebecca (née Sack) and Abraham Shelasky, Russian Jewish immigrants.
When Irving was 13 or 14, he sang in synagogues and churches as a boy soprano. By his final high school year in 1940, he heard about a dramatic school in Boston for those who were not quite draft age and who were tall and had deep voices, so he immediately received a scholarship. In 1942, he worked in the chorus of the St. Louis Muny Opera.
Irving made his debut in the original 1943 production of Oklahoma!, only to be drafted days later to serve in the United States Army in World War II. He received this role when one of the original actors lost his voice and Irving went on as his replacement. He explains the following: "I wrote to The Theatre Guild when they were casting Oklahoma! and asked them to remind Oscar Hammerstein that he knew me a little, and I got an audition and was cast in the chorus". Irving is best known to Broadway audiences for his role as opposite Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell (successively) in Irene (1974), and his Tony nominated performance as Sir John in Me and My Girl (1987).
In 2008, Irving recreated the three roles he originally played in the ill-fated 1976 Joseph Stein musical So Long, 174th Street, now reworked, revised, and with its original title Enter Laughing at Off-Broadway's York Theatre Company, and received rave reviews for his rendition of "The Butler's Song". Irving performed his one-man cabaret show to great acclaim at Feinstein's in New York City in November 2008. On December 8, 2008, aged 86, Irving received the 17th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre.
Productions
Oklahoma! (1943)
Call Me Mister (1946)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949)
Two's Company (1952)
Can-Can (1953)
Me and Juliet (1953)
Bells Are Ringing (1956)
Shinbone Alley (1957)
Irma La Douce (1960)
Bravo Giovanni (1962)
Romulus (1962)
Tovarich (1963)
Anya (1965)
The Happy Time (1968)
An Evening With Richard Nixon and... (1972)
Irene (1973 revival)
So Long, 174th Street (1976)
Once in a Lifetime (1978 revival)
I Remember Mama (1979)
The Pirates of Penzance (1981 revival)
Copperfield (1981)
On Your Toes (1983 revival)
Me and My Girl (1986)
Busker Alley (2005)
A Wonderful Life (2005)
Promenade Off Broadway 1969
One of his most prominent non-Broadway roles was a voice-over for The Year Without a Santa Claus, in which he played the embittered Heat Miser opposite Dick Shawn's Snow Miser. He did another voice-over for Rankin-Bass as Mister Geppetto in Pinocchio's Christmas and was the narrator of the animated cartoon series Underdog, as well as the voice of Running Board on Go Go Gophers. He also voiced Captain Contagious in Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure. Irving has also narrated the popular Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Audio Books.
Irving returned to television in 2008 after an absence of more than a decade to reprise his role as Heat Miser in a new sequel to The Year Without a Santa Claus, A Miser Brothers' Christmas, which premiered on December 13, 2008, on cable's ABC Family. The show served as the network's first-ever original animated special. The production was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children by the Los Angeles Chapter of the International Animated Film Society.
Irving was familiar to television audiences of the 1970s as a result of his memorable guest-starring appearances on All in the Family as Russ DeKuyper, the loudmouthed husband of Edith Bunker's cousin Amelia. He was also a regular in the cast of the short-lived 1976 sitcom The Dumplings. Irving also did some work in commercials for White Owl Cigars in the early 1970s.
Irving was married to Maria Karnilova from 1948 until her death in 2001. They had a son, Alexander of Oceanside, California, a daughter, Katherine Irving of South Salem, New York, and three grandchildren.
Irving died in Manhattan of heart failure on December 26, 2016 at the age of 94.
The Curse
George S. Irving Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the black-eyed boy hangs by his feet
the scarlet draining out, from a lacerated throat, you can feel the heat
of excrement and his cold dead soul,a pudgy little piglet, grab him by the snout
with the index and the thumb, hack it off in one go
your heartbeat is a drum, so cut the rest off slow
back and forth goes the blade like a piece of stale bread
through the top of the spine and off comes his head
back to the splatter, there's more to this crime
slash his arms and legs
there's a torso and a cock
take 'em to the kitchen, throw 'em in a pot
let it boil, watch the skin peel
set the table, for a real meal
out comes the boy, candied apples and gravy
serve him to your brother, serve him to his lady
the same lady you raped the night before
and this man raped his daughter, and there's a lot more to the story
it just keeps on getting gory
when father kills son kills mother kills husband kills daughter, in the name of glory
FRENZY STRIKING FRENZY
LIGHTNING CRAZE THE MIND
BATHTUB FULL OF BLOOD
DESTINIES ENTWINED
IN THE ARMS OF THE FURIES (x3), IT'S A CURSE
LA RAGE NOURRIT LA RAGE
LA FOUDRE NOUS FRAPPERA
LA BAIGNOIRE EST PLEINE DE SANG
NOS DESTINS DANS LES BRAS
DES FURIES, DES FURIES
IT'S A CURSE, IT'S A CURSE
destinies entwined in the arms of the Furies here they come!
hurdling through the sun-starved night
queen hornets swarming in their wingless flight
through the waves crashing, Aegean Sea
so beautiful to look at, so horrible to see
do they want to fuck me? or tear me from limb to limb
rip off my cock, fill their cup to the brim
with my hot blood, with my lifeblood
it's a Furious flood of revenge
on the cannibals who eat their children
on the parents who kill their children
you stole our future, now they're closing in
THE FURIES (x4), IT'S A CURSE (x3)
SEX AND DEATH, LOSE MY BREATH (x9)
what kind of world did you leave us? what kind of values did you teach us?
how much blood did you spill for us? for us? no, for you!
you stole our future and you left us, in the arms of the Furies
Quel monde nous avez-vous laissé? Quelles valeurs nous avez-vous enseignées?
Combien de sang pour nous versé? Pour nous? Non, pour vous!
Vous avez volé notre avenir et laissés, Dans les bras des Furies"
The lyrics of George S. Irving's song "The Curse" delve into a dark and disturbing narrative that explores themes of violence, revenge, and the cyclical nature of brutality. The imagery painted in the lyrics is graphic and visceral, describing a gruesome scene of ritualistic murder and cannibalism. The opening lines set the tone for the song, as the singer describes a heinous act of butchery, symbolizing a descent into primal desires and bloodlust. The lyrics evoke a sense of morbid fascination as they detail the process of dismembering a victim and preparing him as a meal, highlighting the depravity and cruelty inherent in the characters' actions.
As the song progresses, the narrative unfolds to reveal a web of interconnected atrocities committed by various characters, each consumed by their own desires for power and control. The references to rape, incest, and familial betrayal emphasize the twisted nature of the relationships depicted in the lyrics, suggesting a cycle of violence that spans generations. The repetition of the phrase "FRENZY STRIKING FRENZY" underscores the chaotic and frenetic energy of the events unfolding, as the characters succumb to their darkest impulses and perpetuate a cycle of destruction.
The introduction of the Furies, mythical figures from Greek mythology associated with vengeance and retribution, adds a mythic dimension to the lyrics. The Furies are depicted as avenging spirits, punishing those who have committed heinous acts and seeking justice for the innocent victims. Their arrival signals a reckoning for the perpetrators of violence, as they are confronted with the consequences of their actions and the weight of their sins. The lyrics suggest a thematic parallel between the ancient mythological realm and the contemporary world depicted in the song, blurring the lines between past and present as the characters grapple with the repercussions of their choices.
In the final verses of the song, the singer reflects on the legacy of violence and betrayal passed down through generations, questioning the values and moral code that have led to such atrocities. The repeated refrain of "SEX AND DEATH, LOSE MY BREATH" encapsulates the themes of carnal desire and mortality that pervade the lyrics, underscoring the destructive forces at play within the narrative. The song ends on a haunting note, as the singer laments the loss of innocence and the insidious grip of the Furies on their lives, leaving a lingering sense of unease and foreboding in its wake.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time to feed the blood fever, use a saw or a butcher's cleaver
Prepare to indulge in violent urges, utilizing sharp tools to inflict harm
the black-eyed boy hangs by his feet
A victim is displayed in a vulnerable and gruesome manner
the scarlet draining out, from a lacerated throat, you can feel the heat
Blood spills from a deep wound, evoking a sense of intense emotion
of excrement and his cold dead soul, a pudgy little piglet, grab him by the snout
Reference to the victim as an object, emphasizing the brutality of the act
with the index and the thumb, hack it off in one go
Removing a body part swiftly and forcefully
your heartbeat is a drum, so cut the rest off slow
The rhythm of the heart intensifies the gruesome act
back and forth goes the blade like a piece of stale bread
The repetitive motion of the blade, likened to a mundane task
through the top of the spine and off comes his head
Decapitating the victim with a precise strike
put it on a platter, save it for another time
Preserving the severed head for future use
back to the splatter, there's more to this crime
Implies that the act is just the beginning of an ongoing series of atrocities
slash his arms and legs
Inflicting further mutilation on the victim's body
there's a torso and a cock
Acknowledging the presence of remaining body parts
take 'em to the kitchen, throw 'em in a pot
Turning the body parts into a grotesque meal preparation
let it boil, watch the skin peel
Cooking the flesh and observing its transformation
set the table, for a real meal
Preparing to serve the cooked body parts as a disturbing feast
out comes the boy, candied apples and gravy
Presenting the cooked victim as a sickening dish
serve him to your brother, serve him to his lady
Offering the victim's remains to others for consumption
the same lady you raped the night before
Implied connection between sexual violence and the gruesome act
and this man raped his daughter, and there's a lot more to the story
Revealing a pattern of heinous crimes within the narrative
it just keeps on getting gory
The violence and horror escalate with each action
when father kills son kills mother kills husband kills daughter, in the name of glory
Illustrating a cycle of familial violence justified by twisted ideals
FRENZY STRIKING FRENZY
Intense madness provoking further madness
LIGHTNING CRAZE THE MIND
Sudden and uncontrollable impulses clouding judgment
BATHTUB FULL OF BLOOD
A horrifying image of bloodshed and violence
DESTINIES ENTWINED
Fates linked in a tragic and gruesome manner
IN THE ARMS OF THE FURIES (x3), IT'S A CURSE
Suffering under the vindictive wrath of supernatural forces
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Paul Spera, Philippe Combret
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angelxo698
Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark
0:00 - The Big Toe
2:58 - High Beams
5:48 - Cold As Clay
8:23 - The Hearse Song
9:40 - Me Tie Dough-Ty Walker!
13:01 - The Hook
15:00 - Alligators
17:18 - The Slithery Dee
18:06 - Old Woman All Skin and Bone
19:56 - Room For One More
22:04 - The Dead Man's Brains
24:22 - A New Horse
27:00 - Wait Till Martin Comes
29:16 - What Do You Come For?
30:44 - Aaron Kelly's Bones
35:15 - The Viper
36:36 - The Babysitter
39:13 - A Man Who Lived In Leeds
More Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark
40:17 - Something Was Wrong
41:50 - The Wreck
43:58 - One Sunday Morning
47:18 - Sounds
49:49 - A Weird Blue Light
51:37 - Somebody Fell From Aloft
57:43 - The Little Black Dog
1:01:20 - Clinkity-Clink
1:07:46 - The Bride
1:09:23 - Rings On Her Fingers
1:11:36 - The Drum
1:17:10 - The Window
1:21:44 - Wonderful Sausage
1:24:30 - The Cat's Paw
1:26:30 - The Voice
1:27:55 - Oh, Susannah!
1:29:31 - The Man In the Middle
1:31:14 - The Cat In A Shopping Bag
1:32:58 - The Bed By the Window
1:35:26 - The Dead Man's Hand
1:37:30 - A Ghost In the Mirror
1:40:04 - The Curse
1:44:47 - The Church
1:46:55 - The Bad News
1:48:33 - Cemetery Soup
1:50:47 - The Brown Suit
1:52:04 - Ba-Rooom!
1:52:45 - Thumpity-Thump
Scary Stories 3: More Tales To Chill Your Bones
1:56:13 - The Appointment
1:57:43 - The Bus Stop
2:00:13 - Faster and Faster
2:02:23 - Just Delicious
2:05:52 - Hello, Kate!
2:07:42 - The Black Dog
2:11:34 - Footsteps
2:13:23 - Like Cats' Eyes
2:14:40 - Bess
2:17:13 - Harold
2:22:42 - The Dead Hand
2:28:32 - Such Things Happen
2:34:37 - The Wolf Girl
2:40:23 - The Dream
2:43:42 - Sam's New Pet
2:46:21 - Maybe You Will Remember
2:53:58 - The Red Spot
2:55:10 - No, Thanks
2:56:43 - The Trouble
3:08:30 - Strangers
3:09:19 - The Hog
3:11:02 - Is Something Wrong?
3:12:39 - It's Him!
3:15:20 - T-H-U-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-!
3:17:40 - You May Be the Next...
@aroseinwinter05
Where are all my fellow 90s kids/teens who grew up with this stuff? Man, I miss being 9 years old!🧡🖤❤️
@SergioLopez-vu5lv
ok me to i had the book
@RichardKeeps
I had nightmares over these when I was young
@aroseinwinter05
@@RichardKeeps lol awww💙🤗
@adammartinez376
Yes!!! Miss those days. Reading these awesome stories in my room. In the dark!! I need a time machine 🎃
@aroseinwinter05
@@adammartinez376 same! you described my childhood, too! lol chilling in my “safe place”/bedroom closet with glow stars, blanket, & flashlight. Books were always my life since age 3!💚if only we could turn back time….🙏🏻
@XYZ_is_taken
the fact this guy is also the voice of Heat Miser shows how amazing George S. Irving’s vocal range is.
@aprilmarsh2574
Is that who's reading it?
@XYZ_is_taken
@April Marsh yes
@michaelcoulter1725
That's cool I didn't know he played the Heat Miser I heard these on audiobook back in the fourth grade but I had no clue that he played the Heat Miser