What exactly does “Ta ra ra boom de ay” mean? I read somewhere that Ta-ra-ra was after some guy/person, but that is all I can recall.
Help.
It’s from the French, meaning “Goo goo ga joob.”
Which translates through babelfish to " I am the walrus"
As a kid, my brother had a video called “It’s Potty Time.”
If you do not know this film… I envy you. That phrase (ta ra ra etc) is ruined for me.
No cites, but I recall this as the refrain from the Howdy Doody Show theme song.
It’s Howdy Doody time
It’s Howdy Doody time
blah blah blah blah-blah
blah blah blah blah-blah
Ta ra ra boom de ay
Ta ra ra boom de ay
etc.
Was a song book we used to sing along to in primary school.
If I remember correctly the cover had French can can dancers on the front.
Ta ra ra boom de ay!
Did you get yours today?
I got mine yesterday
That’s why I walk this way.
**Chickenhead **, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis made an overseas version of that one called, “It’s Potty Time: Italian Style.”
From the Big Bands Database:
Making it all the more possible that Colibri’s answer is the right one. 
Shirley Ujest wrote:
“…Which translates through babelfish to " I am the walrus” …"
Help, I’ve been hi-jacked.
Walrus
It probably comes from the same place we get “ba-da-BOOM”. That is, it is in imitation of the sounds the instruments make when the song is played.
There are at least two versions of Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay.
We have the original US version and an English lyric written by Richard Morton for Lottie Collins, a British music hall singer and comedienne.
Lottie Collins was swept to national stardom in 1891 by her performance of this song at the Tivoli Music Hall.
Anyone who has a copy of Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra’s Waltz Darling (1989) may be interested to learn that the lyric of the title track is almost an exact copy of the US version of Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay, chorus excepted, by the aforementioned Henry Sayers. It goes without saying that the arrangement differs somewhat from the original.
Mr. McLaren does not credit Mr. Sayers on the CD sleeve notes, which give the writers of Waltz Darling as Malcolm McLaren and David Lebolt.
Waltz Darling introduces Lourdes and Pretty Fatt on vocals. I recommend the CD most strongly.
http://www.pdmusic.org/1800s/91trrbda.txt
The Original Creation
“Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay!” (1891)
by Henry J. Sayers
As Sung by Miss Lottie Collins
in “Miss Helyett”
1.
A smart and sty[l]ish girl you see,
Belle of good society;
Not too strict, but rather free,
Yet as right as right can be!
Never forward, never bold–
Not too hot and not too cold,
But the very thing, I’m told,
That in your arms you’d like to hold!
CHORUS
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay,
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay,
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay,
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay,
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
I’m not extravagantly shy,
And when a nice young man is nigh,
For his heart I have a try–
And faint away with tearful cry!
When the good young man, in haste,
Will support me round the waist;
I don’t come to, while thus embraced,
Till of my lips he steals a taste!
(CHORUS)
I’m a timid flow’r of innocence,
Pa says that I have no sense–
I’m one eternal big expense;
But men say that I’m just immense!
Ere my verses I conclude,
I’d like it known and understood,
Tho’ free as air, I’m never rude–
I’m not too bad and not too good!
(CHORUS)
You should see me out with Pa,
Prim, and most particular;
The young men say, “Ah, there you are!”
And Pa says, “That’s peculiar!”
“It’s like their cheek!” I say, and so
Off again with Pa I go–
He’s quite satisfied–although,
When his back’s turned–well, you know–
(CHORUS)
When with swells I’m out to dine,
All my hunger I resign;
Tast the food, and sip the wine–
No such daintiness as mine!
But when I am all alone,
For shortcomings I atone!
No old frumps to stare like stone–
Chops and chicken on my own!
(CHORUS)
Sometimes Pa, says, with a frown,
“Soon, you’ll have to settle down–
Have to wear your wedding gown–
Be the strictest wife in town!”
Well, it must come by-and-by–
When wed, to keep quiet I’ll try;
But till then I shall not sigh,
I shall still go in for my–
(CHORUS)