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"Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking,
Said his wifey dear,
Now that all is peaceful and calm,
Soon our boys will be back on the farm.
Mister Reuben started winking,
And slowly rubbed his chin,
He pulled his chair up close to Mother,
Asked her with a grin
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no?
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no, oh no
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Jazzin' around,
And painting the town?
How ya gonna keep 'em
Away from harm?
That's the mystery,
They'll never want to see a rake or a plow,
And who the deuce can parley-vous a cow?
And how ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paris?
Reuben, Reuben, you're mistaken,
Said his wifey dear,
Once a farmer, always a jay, and
Farmers always stick to the hay.
Mother Reuben, I'm not fakin',
Though you may think it strange.
But wine and women play the mischief,
With a boy who's loose with change!
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down,
Oh no, oh no
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down?
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Jazzin' around,
And painting the town?
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm?
That's the mystery
Imagine Reuben when he meets his pa,
He'll pinch his cheek and holler "Ooh la la!"
How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paris, Paris?
Said his wifey dear,
Now that all is peaceful and calm,
Soon our boys will be back on the farm.
Mister Reuben started winking,
And slowly rubbed his chin,
He pulled his chair up close to Mother,
Asked her with a grin
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no?
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no, oh no
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Jazzin' around,
And painting the town?
How ya gonna keep 'em
Away from harm?
That's the mystery,
They'll never want to see a rake or a plow,
And who the deuce can parley-vous a cow?
And how ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paris?
Reuben, Reuben, you're mistaken,
Said his wifey dear,
Once a farmer, always a jay, and
Farmers always stick to the hay.
Mother Reuben, I'm not fakin',
Though you may think it strange.
But wine and women play the mischief,
With a boy who's loose with change!
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down,
Oh no, oh no
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down?
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Jazzin' around,
And painting the town?
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm?
That's the mystery
Imagine Reuben when he meets his pa,
He'll pinch his cheek and holler "Ooh la la!"
How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paris, Paris?
Lyrics submitted by peopledontdance
Track duration: 05:04
"How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm" as written by Walter/lewis Donaldson
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, IAN WHITCOMB SONGS
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Whilst the spirit of your comment is correct, the facts are wrong. The song was actually written some 30+ years prior to WWII by Joe Young, Sam M. Louis and Walter Donaldson (music). It is actually commenting on post WWI troops returning home.
The original adaptations were jolly bandstand ensembles. Which is why Bird's interpretation and arrangement is so interesting.
library.jhu.edu/collections/specialcollections/sheetmusic/musictours/singingwar/…
Notice Paris is spelled "Paree," which, I imagine is a sort of mocking.
"Absolutely love this song. It's about a post WWII farm couple discussing whether or not their sons will be returning to life on the farm. Lots of funny lines, my favorite being "and who the deuce can parle-vous a cow?" excellent song."
It's also worth noting that Andrew Bird is playing off the old children's rhyme:
Rubin, Rubin, I've been thinkin'
What on earth have you been drinkin'
Looks like water, tastes like wine
Oh my gosh, it's turpentine
(Different variations of the rhyme exist, of course)