# Is that what's got you down, Bubbee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-that-whats-got-you-down-bubbee/353067 "2006-04-17T21:34:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-that-whats-got-you-down-bubbee/353067/1 "2006-04-17T21:34:11Z")
There was a comic from the 50’s or early 60’s who would reel off a bunch of calamitous misfortunes in a mournful voice, accompanied by a violin rendition of _“Hearts & Flowers”_, close with the tagline, “Is that what’s got you down, Bubbee?”, then launch into an uptempo cure for all your troubles. Who was that guy? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-that-whats-got-you-down-bubbee/353067/2 "2006-04-17T22:53:40Z")
I don’t know the name, but I remember him. It would suddenly change from the mournful music to something Sousa-like for his pep talk. (Something like) “Well, pick yourself up, hold your head up high, and walk in the bright sunshine! Keep striving, and never give up, never give up, never give up…that…ship!” ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-that-whats-got-you-down-bubbee/353067/3 "2006-04-17T23:30:49Z")
Thanks to Dr. Demento, I knew I’d heard it before. The problem is that [Eddie Lawrence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Lawrence) did a number of variations on his “The Old Philosopher” routine, so there is no one canonical version of the lyric. Here is one version of the first verse and refrain: > [@](#): > > Hiya folks. > Ya say ya lost your job today? > Ya say its 4 A.M. and your kids ain’t home from school yet? > Ya say your wife went out for a corned beef sandwich last weekend - the corned beef sandwich came back but she didn’t? > Ya say your furniture is out all over the sidewalk 'cause ya can’t pay the rent and ya got chapped lips and paper cuts and your feets all swollen up and blistered from pounding the pavement looking for work? > Is that what’s troubling ya fellow? > > Well lift your head up high and take a walk in the sun with dignity and stick-to-it-ness and ya show the world, ya show the world where to get off. > You’ll never give up, never give up, never give up… that ship! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-that-whats-got-you-down-bubbee/353067/4 "2006-04-18T00:08:10Z")
[QUOTE=JohnM] Thanks to Dr. Demento, I knew I’d heard it before. The problem is that [Eddie Lawrence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Lawrence) did a number of variations on his “The Old Philosopher” routine, so there is no one canonical version of the lyric. Here is one version of the first verse and refrain: [/QUOTE] That’s the guy! There were many routines, but all were constructed the same way. I don’t think I ever heard his name, but that voice I would know anywhere. Thanks **JohnM**!