Last week, Jim (NewEpicAuthor, A Unique Title For Me) set the subject of facial beauty (my choice). This week he gives us the subject of limbs – arms, legs, knees, elbows.

As soon as I read Jim’s challenge for today, I thought I’m sure I have a song where Louis Armstrong sings about Elbow Room. And after a bit of hunting, here it is.

No particular story this week, except than Louis Armstrong is one of my loves and my collection contains a fair bit of music by Pops. [Note – I’ll have to get used to not saying that. I just bought a Spotify subscription so my collection contains a fair bit of everything!]

This one is a bit of Trad Jazz, taken from the 1960 Broadway musical Wildcat. I must admit, jazz is not my favourite style of music – I wish they’d get on any play the dang song rather than showing off how good a musician they are – but I’ll gladly make an exception for Pops. It helps that the song is a real foot-tapper, and perhaps one or two of you might remember the musical? The song was originally written by Carolyn Leigh and Cy Coleman, and was performed by Lucille Ball in her only Broadway appearance. It has since been covered by a host of artists including Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and, of course, by Pops himself.

It took a bit of hunting out, so I hope you think it was worth my while. Hey, Look Me Over.

Hey look me over
Lend me an ear
Fresh out of clover
Mortgage up to here
But don’t pass the plate folks
Don’t pass the cup
I figure whenever you’re down and out
The only way is up

And I’ll be up like a rose bud
High on the vine
Don’t thumb your nose
But take a tip from mine
I’m a little bit short of the elbow room
But let me get me some
And look out world
Here I come

Yes, hey look me over
Lend me an ear
Fresh out of clover
Mortgage up to here
But don’t pass the plate folks
Don’t pass the cup
I figure whenever you’re down and out
The only way is up

And I’ll be up like a rose bud
High on the vine
Don’t thumb your nose
But take a tip from mine
I’m a little bit short of the elbow room
But let me get me some
And look out, world
Here, I, come…

Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman