Raymond Hitchcock
"Ain't It Funny What a Difference a Few Hours Make?"
Columbia A5231
"Ain't It Funny What a Difference a Few Hours Make?" was also recorded by Billy Murray.
The song was performed by Raymond Hitchcock when he played the role of Abijah Booze. the American Consul in Puerto Plata. The show was titled A YANKEE CONSUL. The song is a lament about having to rise early.
When the sun starts to rise in the faroff eastern skies
And the wakening little birdies teem
When each poor sad-eyed clerk has to hustle down to work
It is then that I begin to need my sleep
All the noise that is made in the busy marts of trade
Seems to lull me like a mother's soft refrain
But at night, say at three, it is little bright-eyed me
There's a difference that I really can't explain!
Ain't it funny what a difference just a few hours make?
In the morning I'm so tired I'm nearly dead!
But as day grows into night I begin to feel all right
Just about the time I ought to go to bed!
As a businessman I know I'd make an awful hit
If they'd let me work when I am wide awake!
If some system could be found just to turn the time around
Ain't it funny what a difference just a few hours make?
My old bunk is the place, when I seek its soft embrace,
Whence my troubles and my cares take flight!
And I regularly say, as I tumble out each day,
"Now I'm going to get a lot of sleep tonight!"
I resolve without doubt to cut dissipation out,
But I make my resolution all in vain!
For it ain't any use: there is always some excuse,
It's a problem that I really can't explain!
Ain't it funny what a difference just a few hours make?
All my clothes look mighty seedy in the day!
But when evening shadows fall, why I don't look bad at all!
All the wrinkles and the grease spots fade away!
Then I loose my tired feelings, and I find my tired friends
And I hit it up toll morn begins to break!
But when noon time comes along, I'm for Carrie Nation strong!
Ain't it funny what a difference just a few hours make?
Raymond Hitchcock was born on October 22, 1865.
He was once famous as a stage personality, but he is unknown today except by a handful of theater historians.
In Broadway shows he introduced a few songs that enjoyed some success though such songs are forgotten today.
He made silent films, too.
The recordings he made for Victor and Columbia did not sell well, and they are not memorable.
Hitchcock was married to Freda Bowen from 1891 to 1903 and then was married to actress Flora Zabelle (1880-1968) from 1905 to his death in 1929.
He died suddenly on November 24, 1929, at his home in Beverly Hills, California.
Raymond Hitchcock "Ain't It Funny What a Difference a Few Hours Make?" (1910) Columbia A5231
