Sam You Made The Pants Too Long

1940 

Lewis/Young/Whitehouse/Berle 

Just the thought of writing an introduction to "Sam" made me pant. My first thought was to bolt. Then I realized that I could spin a yarn as smooth as silk if I fashioned the story in the seamy style of a 1930's detective type radio show. Sew I did. Luckily my saxophone player followed suit. How many puns loom in this tune? Ask my taylor.  Sam's Mens Wear

Sam's Mens Wear 

1988
Al Simmons 

It's three stiff belts past 8 on a damp tuesday night. I'm at the corner of tinker and taylor in front of a decaying three story Building. I notice the neonsign above the door, "Sams mens Wear". Directly above it is Joey's "Speakeasy", but that another story. the glowing neon reminds me; i'm here to see my tailor about a matter that's got me steamed. To make a short storylong, Sam and i had a deal i thought was all sewn up. But When I got the goods back to my flatt i found a full length mirror Wern't long enough. To say i was overdressed would not be fabrication. Off the cuff, my tailor had me in stitches, but i wasn't laughin' so iput my Vest foot forward opened the door and surged in... listen sam it seams to me you done a sew sew job. Now I don't want to press charges or file a suit but i'm sitting on pins and needles. Button your lip sam! you'd best quit your hemming and hawing or you'll be bobbing and weavin'. Me an' you got a few wrinkles to iron out.

Sam You Made The Pants Too Long

1940 

Lewis/Young/Whitehouse/Berle

Based on a Lewis and Young blues standard from 1932 called Lord You Made the Night Too Long - "You made the river flow, the flowers grow, you made the weak and the strong, but Lord you made the night too long." In 1940 Fred Whitehouse and Milton Berle (a Vaudeville comedian) twisted the lyrics and turned it into an even bigger hit - so big that hardly anyone remembers the original.

Trousers dragging, slowly dragging thru the street 

Yes, I'm walking, but i'm walking without feet 

I'm not finding fault at all 

They're too big and I'm too small 

But sam, you promised me both ends would meet. 

You made the coat and vest fit the best 

You made the lining nice and strong 

But sam, you made the pants too long.

You made the peak lapel look so swell 

So who am I to say you're wrong 

But sam, you made the pants too long. 

They got a belt and they got suspenders 

So what can they lose? 

But what good are belts and what good are suspenders 

When the pants are hanging over the shoes 

You feel a winter breeze up and down the knees 

The belt is where the tie belongs 

Cause sam, sam, sam - you made the pants too long 

Spoken: now I know you got a lot of material on me but 

that don't alter a thing, your reputation is hanging by a thread, 

so we're either talking alterations or altercations. Now go ahead 

you've got a lot of leg work to do. 

They got a belt and they got suspenders 

So what can they loose 

But what good are belts and what good are suspenders 

When the pants are hanging over the shoes 

You feel a winter breeze up and down the knees 

The belt is where the tie belongs 

Cause sam, sam, sam - you made the pants too long.