Ticklish Reuben

"Ticklish Reuben" is a folk song written by Cal Stewart in 1900. Released on the Victor Label, the song is a prime example of the "laughing song" genre. Initially, the tune starts off normally, then descends into jolly, rhythmic laughing.

Lyrics as follows

Oh,

My name is Ticklish Reuben

From way down in old Vermont

And ev'rything seems ticklish to me

I've been tickled by a feather

I've been tickled by a wasp

I've been tickled by a yellow bumblebee

I have always got a tickled sort of way about my clothes

It doesn't really matter where I be

I am tickled in the morning and I'm tickled in the night

Something's always sure to tickle me

hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah

hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah
Once I put some pepper into Dad's snuffbox

And the way he acted was a sight to see

Well he coughed and he sneezed till I thought he'd have a fit

And then he took me out to tickle me

I was always getting tickled by someone about the house

So why they take to ticklin' I could never see

And the apple-butter paddle it is all in splinters now

''Daddy wore it out a-ticklin' me
''

Other versions

The song became popular among hillbilly artists in the 1920s. Among the most influential was the version by Uncle Dave Macon as "Something's Always Sure to Tickle Me" on Vocalion Records, changing the lyrics of the first verse to name himself "little Davie" and the home state to "Tennessee". It was recorded as part of the Bristol Sessions by the Smyth County Ramberlers on October 27, 1927 and released on Victor 40144.
The song was performed by brothers Alfalfa and Harold Switzer in the Our Gang short film Teacher's Beau.
It was included on the Cathedral Quartet's 1970 album It's Music time as "Laughing Song".