Rooty-toot-toots and rummy-tum-tums

[radhead]

Does anyone know what this [these] is [are]?

It's a line from our most ancient of all 20th century popular Christmas songs, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town." I guess it's probably the first song ever written to mention Santa Clause. Not sure.

 

[Thomas1984]

It sounds like some sort of digestive ailment.

 

[Inkachu]

Look at the line right before - "little tin horns, and little toy drums".

Those are the sounds the toy instruments are making.

Please tell me you really didn't know this.

 

[Inkachu]

And it's not the first song to mention Santa Claus, lol. This song wasn't even written until 1934. The modern "Santa Claus" character showed up in the 1800's.

 

[Thomas1984]

And it's not the first song to mention Santa Claus, lol. This song wasn't even written until 1934. The modern "Santa Claus" character showed up in the 1800's.

Hmmmm....

20th Century..........1800's.............20th Century..........1800's.....

There's a slight gap between the two, Ink. In my case, that particular song isn't very popular in England, so that's why I don't know the lyrics.

 

[Inkachu]

Not sure what the point of the first part of your post was. My point WAS the gap between the two. Rad seemed to think that a 1934 song was the first song to mention Santa Claus.

Frankly, I hate that song lol.

 

[Thomas1984]

Not sure what the point of the first part of your post was. My point WAS the gap between the two. Rad seemed to think that a 1934 song was the first song to mention Santa Claus.

Frankly, I hate that song lol.

Well, he did say he wasn't sure.

 

[radhead]

Look at the line right before - "little tin horns, and little toy drums".

Those are the sounds the toy instruments are making.

Please tell me you really didn't know this.

Well, I though the "toots" sounded like a horn. But the "tums" didn't make sense. (I can see it now, though.) I thought it was some kind of old fashioned toy.

 

[radhead]

And it's not the first song to mention Santa Claus, lol. This song wasn't even written until 1934. The modern "Santa Claus" character showed up in the 1800's.

What I mean is, there aren't any songs older than that which people are still singing. Obviously, there could have been other songs written before that which never became famous.

But songs and poems can help "create" a legendary figure like that. For example, the poem The Night Before Christmas invented a lot of things about St Nick (not even called Santa at that point). I wonder if this song from 1934 originated the idea of Santa being Omniscient. He may still have been a legend-in-the-making in 1934.

 

[HoosierCanuck]

It sounds like some sort of digestive ailment.

I was thinking the same thing!

If you've got the rooty-toot-toots...then take some rummy-tum-tums

 

[tartanarmy]

Well, I though the "toots" sounded like a horn. But the "tums" didn't make sense. (I can see it now, though.) I thought it was some kind of old fashioned toy.

Ummmm I didnt know the rum tum whatevers either:o