A con artist hawks musical instruments and band uniforms to small-town America. Subscribe now to watch more classic film content from TCM spr.ly/6017cTBT
I can't imagine how hard it must be for someone who has this role to memorize the entire lyrics and then perform it without stuttering or skipping a beat or tripping on the words.
Wow, I just mulled through similar thoughts. And even though I saw this as a child in the sixties on TV, I did not make the connection when I saw him in "The Last Starfighter". Absolutely great actor. Back in the days of "Balk Line" no less.
The studio wanted to use a movie star instead of Robert Preston. Meredith Wilson was smart enough to negotiate final approval over casting and shot that idea down.
Funny thing is that in Halo 3, there is a chance a Marine will shout "We got trouble, right here in River City!" whenever they spot a large group of enemies, which is a reference to this song.
What? You’re telling me a preschool didn’t sexually abuse kids as part of a satanic ritual, or that queer people aren’t trying to brainwash children? Ridiculous.
"Our children's children gonna have trouble" indeed. The film is set in 1912, and said children appear to be in their early teens. Many of them would presumably have children of their own some ten years later. This would make the children's children around drafting age in 1941-45, when trouble was indeed afoot. Not sure how much of that had to do with pool, but this song makes it sound like it was one of the principal reasons.
The art of the con. The townspeople didn't know that pool was a different version of billiards. With billiards, the balls are knocked into leather pouches. Pool has an under-the-table tunnel system that places the balls back into one spot. The system was new and with the right words, the perfect device for Professor Hill to stir up the pot and play them all like a fiddle.
@@greencello599 And it ages so well, from '57 to '62 till now, because of the finger this song has on the pulse of moral panics. Some innocuous development's viewed with suspicion because it's novel, the billiards of the day. Then, its harmlessness becomes clear; no one can exploit it for moral panic. Then, the next, greatly similar, thing comes along, the pool of its day, and moral panic depends on casting pool as somehow the dread foe of billiards.
Lyrics : A pool table, don't you understand? Friend, either you're closing your eyes To a situation you do not wish to acknowledge Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated By the presence of a pool table in your community Well, ya got trouble my friend, right here I say, trouble right in River City, why sure, I'm a billiard player Certainly, mighty proud I say, I'm always mighty proud to say it I consider that the hours I spend with a cue in my hand are golden Help you cultivate horse sense and a cool head and a keen eye Did you ever take and try to find and iron-clad leave for yourself From a three-rail billiard shot? But just as I say It takes judgement, brains and maturity to score In a balkline game, I say that any boob Can take and shove a ball in a pocket And I call that sloth the first big step on the road To the depths of deg-ra-day I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon Then beer from a bottle And the next thing you know Your son is playing for money in a pinch-back suit And listenin' to some big outta town jasper Hearin' him tell about horse race gamblin' Not a wholesome trottin' race, no But a race where they set down right on the horse Like to see some stuck-up jockey boy Settin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil Well I should say Now friends, let me tell you what I mean You got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a table Pockets that mark the difference between a gentleman and a bum With a capital "B" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool And all week long your River City youth'll be fritterin' away I say, your young men will be fritterin' Fritterin' away their noontime, suppertime, choretime too Get the ball in the pocket, never mind gettin' dandelions pulled Or the screen door patched or the beef steak pounded Never mind pumpin' any water 'Til your parents are caught with the cistern empty On a Saturday night and that's trouble Yes you got lots and lots of trouble I'm thinkin' of the kids in the knickerbockers Shirt-tail young ones, peekin' in the pool hall window after school You got trouble, folks Right here in River City, trouble with a capital "T" And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool Now I know all you folks are the right kind of parents I'm gonna be perfectly frank Would you like to know what kinda conversation goes on While they're loafing around that hall? They be tryin' out Bevo, tryin' out cubebs Tryin' out Tailor Mades like cigarette fiends And braggin' all about how they're gonna cover up A tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen One fine night, they leave the pool hall Heading for the dance at the Arm'ry Libertine men and scarlet women, and ragtime, shameless music That'll grab your son, your daught with the arms of a jungle, animal instinct Mass-staria Friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground Trouble (oh we got trouble) Right here in River City (right here in River City) With a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool (That stands for pool) We've surely got trouble (we've surely got trouble) Right here in River City (right here) Gotta figure out a way to keep the young ones moral after school (Our children's children gonna have trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...) Mothers of River City, heed that warning before it's too late Watch for the the tell-tale signs of corruption The minute your son leaves the house Does he re-buckle his knickerbockers below the knee? Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger? A dime novel hidden in the corn crib? Is he starting to memorise jokes from Cap'n Billy's Whiz Bang? Are certain words creeping into his conversation Words like, like "swell"? (Trouble, trouble, trouble) And "so's your old man? (Trouble, trouble, trouble) Well if so, my friends, you got trouble (oh we got trouble) Right here in River City (right here in River City) With a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool (That stands for pool) We've surely got trouble (we've surely got trouble) Right here in River City (right here) Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule (Our children's children gonna have trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...) Oh we got trouble, we're in terrible, terrible trouble That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool (devil's tool) Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble (Oh yes we got trouble here, we got big, big trouble) With a "T" (with a capital "T") Gotta rhyme it with "P" (gotta rhyme with "P") And that stands for pool (that stands for pool)
Meredith Wilson wanted Robert Preston in this movie adaptation of his musical. Preston had been playing the role of Professor Harold Hill on the stage in the 1950's. This movie was made in the 1960's. Many actors have done their best as the snake in the grass Professor Hill. Preston is the gold standard.
I heard somewhere that they wanted Frank Sinatra to play the role of Harold Hill. Meredith willson told the studio if you don't take Robert Preston they will be no movie of The music Man. I really applaud Mr Wilson. I honestly don't think Frank Sinatra would have been as good.
@@aminsadeghpour1549 Harold Hill is a uniquely Midwestern con man. As the song says, "But ya gotta know the territory!", and Hill knows his marks, probably because he grew up among them, His whole cover story (Gary, Indiana Academy of Music) is centered in the Midwest. Robert Preston made a convincing Midwesterner, something Frank Sinatra, with his New York/New Jersey tough guy aura and accent, could never have pulled that off.
I saw a high school production and was floored by the kid played this role. This is a movie with a great experienced actor at the helm and the benefit multiple takes affords one on film. Seeing this done straight through, live, by a high schooler was pretty darn impressive!
we did this play in jr high. remember it like it was yesterday. We had so much fun, it was ridiculous. some kids mastered the craft and went on to become Stars.
Still one of the sexiest men I have ever seen. I love the performance. I've never cared about anyone else ever singing this song. But I still wouldn't fall for this scam.
It’s funny you say that while MSDNC and #FakeNews CNN are the King and Queen of panic-porn. They literally tacked a death count on their screen for a year and exalted crackpots who peddled junk science that ended up harming children, ripping apart families, degrading humanity and destroying hundreds of thousands of small businesses. And are now like Chicken Little breathlessly screaming about “The End Of Democracy” (we’re a Republic by the way) day in and day out. But yeah, go after Fox News. You’re so virtuous. Fool. 🙄🤦🏾♂️
Knickerbockers (or knickers in Great Britain). It's sad that people don't even know about them anymore. They were standard fashion for any schoolboy or college kid.
As paranoid as this may sound, he’s not wrong. Tell me this is not the world we find ourselves in today. It’s called the slippery slope effect. When you let one moral standard slip another will sure enough follow until you end up where we are. Look around you. The best example is the Senate dress code situation…I rest my case. 😐
Words like “so’s your old man!” People have been making ur mom jokes for millions of years
“Are you Mr Dunlap?”
“yEaEaHaA?!”
My grandfather was killed by a Billiard Hall, so this hits home for me.
“I started boys bands in Ogdenville,Brockway, and North Haverbrook and,by gum,it put them on the map!”
Underrated comment. If you know, you know.
The strangle hold this musical has on Gen Xers who went on to make adult cartoons…
North Haverbrook, where have I heard that name before?…..oh no…OH NO!!!!
“MONO-….D’OH!”
I think this more of a Shelbyville thing.
I can't imagine how hard it must be for someone who has this role to memorize the entire lyrics and then perform it without stuttering or skipping a beat or tripping on the words.
I think it's called "talent"!!
Yes it is. He was a wonder. I hope you've seen him in Victor/Victoria!
Wow, I just mulled through similar thoughts. And even though I saw this as a child in the sixties on TV, I did not make the connection when I saw him in "The Last Starfighter". Absolutely great actor. Back in the days of "Balk Line" no less.
The studio wanted to use a movie star instead of Robert Preston. Meredith Wilson was smart enough to negotiate final approval over casting and shot that idea down.
@cosmicray...you owe it to yourself to see Preston in "Victor/Victoria"!
Funny thing is that in Halo 3, there is a chance a Marine will shout "We got trouble, right here in River City!" whenever they spot a large group of enemies, which is a reference to this song.
Really? Lol. Thats great.
People fall for this exact con to this day, it's every moral panic there ever was.
brilliant musical - timeless.
What? You’re telling me a preschool didn’t sexually abuse kids as part of a satanic ritual, or that queer people aren’t trying to brainwash children?
Ridiculous.
Two Weeks to Flatten the Curve.
@@Clonetrooper17 Trans kids playing pool!
no its different this time because its the phones and the tiktok, completely different i swear this time!
Where is Robert Preston's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star?
_MONORAIL!!_
Mono!
LOL! Yup! There's nothing new under the sun!
mmm, that's more of a Shelbyville idea
"Our children's children gonna have trouble" indeed. The film is set in 1912, and said children appear to be in their early teens. Many of them would presumably have children of their own some ten years later. This would make the children's children around drafting age in 1941-45, when trouble was indeed afoot. Not sure how much of that had to do with pool, but this song makes it sound like it was one of the principal reasons.
The art of the con. The townspeople didn't know that pool was a different version of billiards. With billiards, the balls are knocked into leather pouches. Pool has an under-the-table tunnel system that places the balls back into one spot. The system was new and with the right words, the perfect device for Professor Hill to stir up the pot and play them all like a fiddle.
hitler was a known pool shark, that's how he paid for that art school he flunked out of. If he never played pool none of this would have happened.
The children themselves--some of 'em-- would have had their own trouble five years later, in 1917-1918.
@@stevedalbor1001 Never would have happened if they hadn't been hanging around that evil old pool hall! XD
@@greencello599 And it ages so well, from '57 to '62 till now, because of the finger this song has on the pulse of moral panics. Some innocuous development's viewed with suspicion because it's novel, the billiards of the day. Then, its harmlessness becomes clear; no one can exploit it for moral panic. Then, the next, greatly similar, thing comes along, the pool of its day, and moral panic depends on casting pool as somehow the dread foe of billiards.
'Does he rebuckle his knickerbockers BELOW the knee'? Ha. Inspired!
Lyrics :
A pool table, don't you understand?
Friend, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do not wish to acknowledge
Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a pool table in your community
Well, ya got trouble my friend, right here
I say, trouble right in River City, why sure, I'm a billiard player
Certainly, mighty proud I say, I'm always mighty proud to say it
I consider that the hours I spend with a cue in my hand are golden
Help you cultivate horse sense and a cool head and a keen eye
Did you ever take and try to find and iron-clad leave for yourself
From a three-rail billiard shot?
But just as I say
It takes judgement, brains and maturity to score
In a balkline game, I say that any boob
Can take and shove a ball in a pocket
And I call that sloth the first big step on the road
To the depths of deg-ra-day
I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon
Then beer from a bottle
And the next thing you know
Your son is playing for money in a pinch-back suit
And listenin' to some big outta town jasper
Hearin' him tell about horse race gamblin'
Not a wholesome trottin' race, no
But a race where they set down right on the horse
Like to see some stuck-up jockey boy
Settin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil
Well I should say
Now friends, let me tell you what I mean
You got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a table
Pockets that mark the difference between a gentleman and a bum
With a capital "B" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool
And all week long your River City youth'll be fritterin' away
I say, your young men will be fritterin'
Fritterin' away their noontime, suppertime, choretime too
Get the ball in the pocket, never mind gettin' dandelions pulled
Or the screen door patched or the beef steak pounded
Never mind pumpin' any water
'Til your parents are caught with the cistern empty
On a Saturday night and that's trouble
Yes you got lots and lots of trouble
I'm thinkin' of the kids in the knickerbockers
Shirt-tail young ones, peekin' in the pool hall window after school
You got trouble, folks
Right here in River City, trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool
Now I know all you folks are the right kind of parents
I'm gonna be perfectly frank
Would you like to know what kinda conversation goes on
While they're loafing around that hall?
They be tryin' out Bevo, tryin' out cubebs
Tryin' out Tailor Mades like cigarette fiends
And braggin' all about how they're gonna cover up
A tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen
One fine night, they leave the pool hall
Heading for the dance at the Arm'ry
Libertine men and scarlet women, and ragtime, shameless music
That'll grab your son, your daught with the arms of a jungle, animal instinct
Mass-staria
Friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground
Trouble (oh we got trouble)
Right here in River City (right here in River City)
With a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool
(That stands for pool)
We've surely got trouble (we've surely got trouble)
Right here in River City (right here)
Gotta figure out a way to keep the young ones moral after school
(Our children's children gonna have trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...)
Mothers of River City, heed that warning before it's too late
Watch for the the tell-tale signs of corruption
The minute your son leaves the house
Does he re-buckle his knickerbockers below the knee?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?
Is he starting to memorise jokes from Cap'n Billy's Whiz Bang?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation
Words like, like "swell"? (Trouble, trouble, trouble)
And "so's your old man? (Trouble, trouble, trouble)
Well if so, my friends, you got trouble (oh we got trouble)
Right here in River City (right here in River City)
With a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool
(That stands for pool)
We've surely got trouble (we've surely got trouble)
Right here in River City (right here)
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule
(Our children's children gonna have trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...)
Oh we got trouble, we're in terrible, terrible trouble
That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool (devil's tool)
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble
(Oh yes we got trouble here, we got big, big trouble)
With a "T" (with a capital "T")
Gotta rhyme it with "P" (gotta rhyme with "P")
And that stands for pool (that stands for pool)
oh, thank you.
Every time I see that someone has posted lyrics, I try to honor their efforts. Thank you, on behalf of everyone with a curious mind! :)
Meredith Wilson wanted Robert Preston in this movie adaptation of his musical. Preston had been playing the role of Professor Harold Hill on the stage in the 1950's. This movie was made in the 1960's. Many actors have done their best as the snake in the grass Professor Hill. Preston is the gold standard.
I fact almost all subsequent production consciously or subconsciously model themselves on the Robert Preston film.
I heard somewhere that they wanted Frank Sinatra to play the role of Harold Hill. Meredith willson told the studio if you don't take Robert Preston they will be no movie of The music Man.
I really applaud Mr Wilson. I honestly don't think Frank Sinatra would have been as good.
@@aminsadeghpour1549 Harold Hill is a uniquely Midwestern con man. As the song says, "But ya gotta know the territory!", and Hill knows his marks, probably because he grew up among them, His whole cover story (Gary, Indiana Academy of Music) is centered in the Midwest. Robert Preston made a convincing Midwesterner, something Frank Sinatra, with his New York/New Jersey tough guy aura and accent, could never have pulled that off.
@@StuartKoehl I honestly think the movie would have been a big flop with anybody but Robert Preston in the role of Harold Hill.
@@aminsadeghpour1549 The remake with Matthew Broderick crashed and burned.
One of the best scenes in the movie.
I saw a high school production and was floored by the kid played this role. This is a movie with a great experienced actor at the helm and the benefit multiple takes affords one on film. Seeing this done straight through, live, by a high schooler was pretty darn impressive!
IM ALWAYS MIGHTY PROUD TO SAY IT
we did this play in jr high. remember it like it was yesterday. We had so much fun, it was ridiculous. some kids mastered the craft and went on to become Stars.
Thank you Mom for showing me all these beautiful musicals. RIP ill never forget, nor will your only grandchild.
"Mono-rail! Mono-rail! MONO-RAIL!!!!"
("Mono...D'OE!!)
Rapp. I just realized he's probably the first rapper. Lol ,) love this musical.
Played for fun this is a delight. Bob Preston nails it.
His is good, but I've heard Seth MacFarlaine sung this song in 2012
When I first heard Trump speak about a product, Casino, Hotel, Trump Steaks, Trump Water, Trump University, he sounded just lime this!!@
I don't think people truly realize how difficult this song is to do. Mr. Preston did it better than anyone....ever. True Story.
100%. He was a marvel.
Listen to everything he does. His diction and annunciation is perfect. Nothing is mumbled .
Still one of the sexiest men I have ever seen. I love the performance. I've never cared about anyone else ever singing this song. But I still wouldn't fall for this scam.
3:53 Remember my friends, listen to me, because I’ve passed this way but once!
It’s cuz “I passed this way but once”
As in this is the only time I’ll be here to warn you.
@@ACDC392333 Okay, but I've also heard that in a demo of The Book of Mormon's "the Bible: Part 3"
I once saw packets of Sen-Sen at a vintage candy store about fifteen years ago, and The Music Man was the first thing I thought of 😂
All the songs in this musical are GREAT! I also love Lida Rose!
Got damn ok im sold! I need a pool table!
Robert Preston is absolutely perfect!
Greetings musician! You have been recruited by the Music League to defend the good folk against Minnesota Fats and the Pool-Table armada.
I *AM* The First Airbender! ruclips.net/video/gdPr2ab11Lk/видео.html
Marvellous!
4:07 Buddy Hackett (AKA Scuttle from The Little Mermaid)
He also played Tennessee in The Love Bug! :)
So's your old man! lol
Hill valley was crazy in the 1910s…
This is so great and I had the same thought. Is this the birth of rap music? Totally inspired.
A new movie called Spirited has a song called Bringing back Christmas and it's a similar vibe to this. You should check it out!
Robert Preston was Professor Harold Hill!
With Seth MacFarliane being a possible successor to Capt. Preston/Prof. Hill (since his version of it in July of 2012 was very good)
GOD HELP US!
Hyperbole much.... love this musical.
The film's alternate title: "Fox Newsical, The Musical"
It’s funny you say that while MSDNC and #FakeNews CNN are the King and Queen of panic-porn. They literally tacked a death count on their screen for a year and exalted crackpots who peddled junk science that ended up harming children, ripping apart families, degrading humanity and destroying hundreds of thousands of small businesses. And are now like Chicken Little breathlessly screaming about “The End Of Democracy” (we’re a Republic by the way) day in and day out. But yeah, go after Fox News. You’re so virtuous. Fool. 🙄🤦🏾♂️
Don't forget MSNBC!
What the heck is it with pants above knees
You must be to young
Knickerbockers (or knickers in Great Britain). It's sad that people don't even know about them anymore. They were standard fashion for any schoolboy or college kid.
@@debbielitz3100 Yeah probably under 90.
@@irixperson Actually, in the U.K., "knickers" is slang for women's panties.
3:59 Marian enters
How do you sing without rhyming? and still sound like rhyming?
So... Robert Preston invented rapping?!
In the first minute is anyone getting SPAMTON G SPAMTON vibes
yep
YOU'RE GODDAMNED RIGHT YOU LITTLE [slime]
You know its bad when you find yourself agreeing with him
I ask the group would any wife have a problem with a husband knowing this musical from start to finish. It happened to me....
Was it that you knew it, or that you performed it everyday? :P
@@lasennui i didn't perform it everyday. She. is a selfish person.
I was in this musical when I was 10. (Obviously not the original). One of the most memorable experiences ever
No appreciation for the arts anymore... T^T
4:12 Gotta figure out a way to keep the young ones moral after *SCHOOL*
Buy a pool table and keep them at home. Balls released after homework completes... Approved friends only get to come over.
this is mf doom
Spamton moment
This is straight-up the first rap-song.
Bitcoin! the dollar is in t.......
-------How politics works.
This is where Ramaswamy got his whole act... except for his racism. He learned that from the klan.
As paranoid as this may sound, he’s not wrong. Tell me this is not the world we find ourselves in today. It’s called the slippery slope effect. When you let one moral standard slip another will sure enough follow until you end up where we are. Look around you. The best example is the Senate dress code situation…I rest my case. 😐
Wanna buy some band uniforms? 🤑
He’s definitely right! (I do love playing pool though lol)
_HAROLD HILL:_ and now you're owned
The most annoying song ever ? Maybe just in the top 10 ? Lol