Inspired by an old traditional English rhyme for children, “Mairzy Doats” is a 1943 composition by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston.
The unintelligible lyrics of “Mairzy Doats” have a very pleasant melodic line and can be decrypted as “Mares Eat Oats”. Here are the lyrics:
Marezedotes,
doezedotes
littlelambszedyvy
kidzedyvy too.’
Mares eat oats;
Does eat oats;
Little lambs eat ivy;
Kids eat ivy too.
The song was first heard on the radio in New York at WOR station, sung by Al Trace and was then taken over in popular culture by various artists. Along with the notable Merry Macs band, The Pied Pipers where the ones that made the song popular (1944).
“Mairzy Doats” Lyrics
I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty,
others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:
Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing “Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy”
Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?