The Music of Toyland, Part 1

Fans of early musical theater have often bemoaned that no complete recording of the score of Babes in Toyland has been made available. That doesn't mean, however, that there have not been recordings of the songs and score. Alongside the look at various adaptations, we'll also be looking at different recordings of the score that I can turn up.

This is four tracks from a 1935 recording, provided to me by David Maxine of Hungry Tiger Press, a big Babes in Toyland fan. He wrote a little about the musical (and shows his original poster for it) at his blog. David notes that what makes this collection special is that the vocalist on "Toyland" is none other than Bessie Wynn, the original Tom-Tom from 1903.

Lyrics:

Toyland
When you've grown up my dears,
And are as old as I,
You'll often ponder on the years
That roll so swiftly by, my dears,
That roll so swiftly by.
And of the many lands,
You will have journeyed through,
You'll oft recall
The best of all,
The land your childhood knew!
Your childhood knew...

Toyland. Toyland.
Little girl and boy land.
While you dwell within it,
You are ever happy then.
Childhood’s joy-land.
Mystic merry Toyland,
Once you pass it’s borders,
You can never return again.

When you've grown up, my dears,
There comes a dreary day.
When 'mid the locks of black appears
The first pale gleam of gray, my dears,
The first pale gleam of gray.
Then of the past you'll dream
As gray-haired grown-ups do,
And seek once more
Its phantom shore,
The land your childhood knew!
Your childhood knew...

Toyland. Toyland.
Little girl and boy land.
While you dwell within it,
You are ever happy then.
Childhood’s joy-land.
Mystic merry Toyland,
Once you pass it’s borders,
You can never return again.

Floretta

I am a Romany Rye, A timorous sprite of the wildwood, I dabble in magic, Both comic and tragic, A witch I have been from my childhood Great is my mystical might, The blizzard and avalanche mind me, I'm also a voodoo, At casting a hoodoo, A qualified artist you'll find me! Floretta! Floretta! The gypsy am I, the past or the future To tell you I'll try! Your fortune I'll read from Your palm at a glance, Pray notice I also Collect in advance! Are you unhappy in love? And does she presume to ignore you? I'll give you a philtre Which quickly will wilt her And cause her to madly adore you! If to be painfully rich You'll find yourself ready and willing, You may acquire millions, Or billions or trillions, By buying this charm for a shilling! Floretta! Floretta! The gypsy am I, the past or the future To tell you I'll try! Your fortune I'll read from Your palm at a glance, Pray notice I also Collect in advance!

Go To Sleep
Jane: See that shadow sway!
Alan: There is nothing, dear.
Jane: You must near me stay!
Alan: I am watching here.
Jane: Hark, the fairies call!
Alan: No, that cannot be.
Jane: See that ogre tall!
Alan: 'Tis a cypress tree.

Tree Spirit: Go to sleep
Slumber deep!
Little girl, o, sleep, while watch we keep
Dream and rest, That is best
Till you hear the morning song from bough and nest!

Jane: Look what's passing by!
Alan: I can nothing see.
Jane: I could really cry!
Alan: Come then close to me.
Jane: Is the morning near?
Alan: 'Tis not far away.
Jane: Much the night I fear!
Alan:  Soon will dawn the day.

Tree Spirit: Go to sleep
Slumber deep!
Little girl, o, sleep, while watch we keep
Dream and rest, That is best
Till you hear the morning song from bough and nest!