Ah, a Harold Arlen tune, lyrics by Dorothy Fields. From THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE. The actual title is "Can You Spell Schenectady?" You should be able to pick it up at a shop that sells sheet music from the 1950's. Best wishes, Leslie Corn NYC Genealogical Research & Due Diligence NYG&BS Library Committee & Subcommittee on Collection Development Co-Chair, Repositories, NYG&BS NYC 2000 Research Conference, April 30-May 7, 2000 http://www.citydirectories.psmedia.com/city/essay_main1.html [log in to unmask] In a message dated 10/19/99 9:27:09 AM, [log in to unmask] wrote: >A number of years ago (in the late 1960s or early 1970s) I heard a song on >a Capital District Radio Station (possibly WGY). At that time the song >was already quite old. The title and/or main refrain of the song was "I >can't >Spell Schenectady." There were references to all sorts of things that the >narrator could do--except to spell Schenectady. > I have presumed that the song had roots in Vaudeville days, but >perhaps there were reasons for Schenectady being on the nation's >mental/cultural map at the time song was written? > Is anyone on the list familiar with this song? Do you know >where I could (relatively easily) get a recording? > Thanks > >Ian McGiver >[log in to unmask]