# Tiptoe through the Tulips song question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899 "2014-06-28T23:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/1 "2014-06-28T23:09:33Z")
I was watching the horror film Insidious and this song is played throughout the movie a few times. It’s a very creepy song but what I don’t get is why did this song become so popular in the 1960’s? Was it well liked as a joke or did people generally like the song? It peaked at number 17 in the 1968 Billboard charts. I guess the movie Insidious plays a big part on why it’s such a creepy song but I think I would still find the song creepy had I never saw the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/2 "2014-06-28T23:19:22Z")
The song is originally from 1929, but it was revived in 1968 by the eccentric singer [Tiny Tim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Tim_(musician)), who made a big splash by performing it on _Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In_. Tiny Tim was understandably (given his freakish appearance and demeanor) dismissed as a novelty act, but he really did have a scholarly knowledge of and a sincere love for the music of that era. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/3 "2014-06-28T23:25:52Z")
It was definitely a novelty song, in the vein of “The Streak” or “Monster Mash” or “Yellow Submarine” even. Every once in a while a song comes along that doesn’t take itself too seriously. People can dig that, man. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/4 "2014-06-28T23:43:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > It was definitely a novelty song, in the vein of “The Streak” or “Monster Mash” or “Yellow Submarine” even. > > Every once in a while a song comes along that doesn’t take itself too seriously. People can dig that, man. Sock it to me! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/5 "2014-06-28T23:47:34Z")
This was from the era which gave us [“They’re coming to take me away”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4&feature=kp) and [“I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQ5sEOhbjQ) ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/6 "2014-06-28T23:56:40Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > This was from the era which gave us [“They’re coming to take me away”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4&feature=kp) and [“I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQ5sEOhbjQ) If I recall correctly, the B side of “They’re Coming To Take Me Away” was the song itself played backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/7 "2014-06-28T23:57:05Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Sock it to me! I’ll have to look that up in my Funk and Wagnalls. ---
**Author:** ![lew\_cody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e274bd/32.png) [@lew\_cody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lew_cody)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/8 "2014-06-29T00:00:19Z")
The song was introduced by Nick Lucas in the second all-Technicolor talkie, _Gold Diggers of Broadway_. Only about 15 minutes of footage survive, but it does include the “Tulips” number. The song is presented as a stage performance and has no connection with the plot. There were many, many recorded versions of “Tip-toe Thru the Tulips” in 1929, often paired with the other major hit from the film, “Painting the Clouds with Sunshine”. Nick Lucas, a guitar-playing crooner popular at the time, had a light tenor voice but didn’t perform anything like the cartoonish falsetto that Tiny Tim used. I can give a certain measure of thanks that I was familiar with the 1929 recordings before I knew much about Tiny Tim. Here’s a medley of songs from _Gold Diggers of Broadway_ for anyone who wants to hear them performed in an authentic style. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeulrRurev0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeulrRurev0) ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/9 "2014-06-29T00:13:54Z")
I can see how the song would be popular in 1929 but the fact that it became popular in 1968 is kinda strange. I guess I can see how it could be a novelty song like Monster Mash but Monster Mash was more of a little kid family song while this song is not really like that. I’m trying to imagine somebody in 1968 listening to this song while driving around and actually liking the song. I can’t see how anyone could actually like this song. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/10 "2014-06-29T01:41:47Z")
It made people laugh. Which is the point of a novelty song. It helped that it was associated with _Laugh-In_, since the image of Tiny Tim made it even funnier. You could also play it at parties and have everyone break into laughter. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/11 "2014-06-29T01:53:04Z")
For those who are too young for the remarkable variety show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, this is the version you are seeking: [Tiny Tim - Tiptoe Through The Tulips - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA) You have to imagine that for any given evening hour, there were exactly three possible television programs to choose from. Tiny Tim’s signature song would not be a universally shared experience today. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/12 "2014-06-29T02:02:16Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > For those who are too young for the remarkable variety show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, this is the version you are seeking: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA). Cripes. Tiny Tim was even weirder than I remembered him being. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/13 "2014-06-29T02:35:22Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > I can see how the song would be popular in 1929 but the fact that it became popular in 1968 is kinda strange. I guess I can see how it could be a novelty song like Monster Mash but Monster Mash was more of a little kid family song while this song is not really like that. I’m trying to imagine somebody in 1968 listening to this song while driving around and actually liking the song. I can’t see how anyone could actually like this song. Have you ever seen Tiny Tim? I remember watching his wedding to Miss Vicky on the Tonight Show. The song, the singer, the wedding - all hilarious. It was the perfect time for it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/14 "2014-06-29T02:44:11Z")
It was the 60’s man. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/15 "2014-06-29T03:02:55Z")
I recall Pepé Le Pew singing “tiptoe dans les tulips, avec moi,” but I don’t know when this cartoon was made. ETA: I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a Mel Blanc improvisation. The man was a genius! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/16 "2014-06-29T03:07:22Z")
I enjoyed Tiny Tim. And lusted after Goldie Hawn. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/17 "2014-06-29T03:19:44Z")
You bet your sweet bippy! ETA: And yes, Goldie was adorable! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/18 "2014-06-29T03:36:24Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > YETA: And yes, Goldie was adorable! She is probably the most famous alumnus of my [high school.](http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-montgomery-blair-high-school-alumni-and-students/reference) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/19 "2014-06-29T03:43:34Z")
> [@lew\_cody](#): > > The song was introduced by Nick Lucas in the second all-Technicolor talkie, _Gold Diggers of Broadway_. Only about 15 minutes of footage survive, but it does include the “Tulips” number. The song is presented as a stage performance and has no connection with the plot. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XqZ_4Xy7xXI?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque They spent more on film than choreography and dancers. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899/20 "2014-06-29T08:04:16Z")
My favorite version of the song is by [Annette Hanshaw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmujF0xTBrM). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-song-question/691899.md?page=2)