Put the Blame On Mame

Rita Hayworth

About Put the Blame On Mame

"Put the Blame on Mame" is a song by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher, originally written for the classic film noir Gilda in 1946, in which it was sung by the title character, played by Rita Hayworth with the singing voice of Anita Kert Ellis dubbed in. In keeping with the film character Gilda being "the ultimate femme fatale", the song sung by her in two scenes facetiously credits the amorous activities of a woman named "Mame" as the true cause of three well-known cataclysmic events in American history: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the Great Blizzard of 1888 in New York City and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Mame is also credited with causing the fictional shooting of Dan McGrew during the Yukon Gold Rush, an event derived from a short narrative poem published in 1907 by Robert W. Service. The song was later reprised as an instrumental version in another quintessential noir film, 1953's The Big Heat, when Gilda star Glenn Ford first meets Lee Marvin's character in a bar. It was later also recorded by:  


Year:
2012
1:51
65 

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When Mrs. O'Leary's cow
Kicked the lantern in Chicago town
They say that started the fire
That burned Chicago down
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
Mame kissed a buyer from out of town
That kiss burned Chicago down
So you can put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame

Remember the blizzard, back in Manhattan
In eighteen-eighty-six
They say that traffic was tied up
And folks were in a fix
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
Mame gave a chump such an ice-cold "No"
For seven days they shovelled snow
So you can put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame

When they had the earthquake in San Francisco
Back in nineteen-six
They said that Mother Nature
Was up to her old tricks
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
One night she started to shim and shake
That brought on the Frisco quake
So you can put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame

They once had a shootin' up in the Klondike
When they got Dan McGrew
Folks were putting the blame on
The lady known as Lou
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
Mame did a dance called the hoochy-coo
That's the thing that slew McGrew
So you can put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame

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Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American dancer and film actress who achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars. Appearing first as Rita Cansino, she agreed to change her name to Rita Hayworth and her natural dark brown hair color to dark red to attract a greater range of roles. Her appeal led to her being featured on the cover of Life magazine five times, beginning in 1940. more »

2 fans

Written by: ALLAN ROBERTS, DORIS FISHER

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Year
"Put the Blame on Mame" is a song from the 1946 American black-and-white film "Gilda," starring Rita Hayworth.
Voiced By
While Rita Hayworth performed the song in the movie, the song was actually sung by Anita Ellis, a professional playback singer. Rita lip-synched to the recording.
Written By
The song was written by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher, a popular songwriting duo in the 1940s.
Film Importance
The song appears twice in the film and plays a significant role in expressing the character of Gilda, portrayed by Hayworth.
Historic and Cultural Impact
Often associated with Rita Hayworth, "Put the Blame on Mame" was one of the highlights of her career and has remained a symbol of her persona in American popular culture.
Academy Awards Inclusion
"Put the Blame on Mame" was considered for an Academy Award Nomination in 1946, but it did not make the final list.
Multiple Versions
There are two famous versions of "Put the Blame on Mame." In one version, Hayworth strums a guitar, while in the other she does a striptease.
Cultural Reference
It is referenced frequently in culture, including in the novel "The Grifters" by Jim Thompson, and in the movie of the same name.
Cover Versions
Many popular artists have covered "Put the Blame on Mame," including Lansbury's Broadway replacement Karen Morrow, Marty Paich, Julie London, and Diana Ross.
Inspirational for Costumes
Rita Hayworth’s appearance while performing the song has inspired many glamorous costume designs for the stage and screen, especially the black satin dress worn during the striptease version of "Put the Blame on Mame."
Symbol of Femme Fatale
The song, combined with Hayworth's performance, helped cement her image as the quintessential femme fatale of 1940s cinema.
Blame on Mame Lyrics
The song's lyrics humorously suggest blaming all of men's problems on women, reflecting the character Gilda's treatment in the film as a scapegoat for the ills of the male characters around her.

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