"Not in Nottingham" (Disney's Robin Hood) - Saddest song ever? (not a joke)

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I know this may seem completely ridiculous, but this is the only song (with the exception of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?") that brings tears to my eyes. Everything about it -- the melody, the chord changes, the lyrics -- is beautiful and sad as hell, and the fact that it is sung by a cartoon rooster (Roger Miller) doesn't change this.

― Nigel (Nigel), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 15:02 (twenty years ago)

That's a great song actually -- my brother put it on a mix for me recently and I realized how good it was.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

That's sweet.

― Nigel (Nigel), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

Definitely the best Disney film. Brilliant song too.

― wmlynch (wlynch), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)

Oh my GOD!!!! YES!!!!

the Disney Robin Hood is one of my all-time favorites and that song still gets to me as an adult. I can't believe I'm not the only one in the world.

― Brett Hickman (Bhickman), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

A great song, like all the other songs in that movie, and every Roger Miller song I can think of. But you can't really consider it the saddest song ever when the chorus goes "Not in Nottingham." And it's got a balanced and reasonable view of heartbreak: "Sometimes ups outnumber the downs"...

But yeah, awesome song. My favorite Disney movie is Jungle Book, though, and I think "My Own Home" is the best and most haunting (if sexist) song in any movie I can think of, especially in the context.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

"But you can't really consider it the saddest song ever when the chorus goes 'Not in Nottingham.' And it's got a balanced and reasonable view of heartbreak: 'Sometimes ups outnumber the downs'"

What's unsad about the words "not in Nottingham"? Also, sometimes up outnumber the downs, but not in Nottingham. That's why it's sad.

― Nigel (Nigel), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

I used to have Disney's Robin Hood on one of those ViewMaster-y type things where you hand cranked a filmstrip while pointing at a light source.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

yousendit plz? or do i have to put that type of request on the ysi requests thread?

thanks either way.

― marc h., Wednesday, 29 June 2005 23:54 (twenty years ago)

GASP! I love Roger Miller, and Robin Hood is one of my fave Disney movies for that very reason. Definitely one of the saddest songs ever.

Every town
Has its ups and down
Sometime ups
Outnumber the downs
But not in Nottingham
I'm inclined to believe
If we were so down
We'd up and leave
We'd up and fly if we had wings for flyin'
Can't you see the tears we're cryin'?
Can't there be some happiness for me?
Not in Nottingham

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 30 June 2005 00:54 (twenty years ago)

yousendit plz?

agree.

I think I have never seen this Disney movie, though I've seen quite a lot.

My favourite Disney movie would be the Sword in the Stone, even though there were no great songs in that one.

― Ludo (Ludo), Thursday, 30 June 2005 07:46 (twenty years ago)

SEIZE THE FAT ONE!

AH-HA! AH-HA!

Classic song, obv.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 30 June 2005 07:48 (twenty years ago)

Oh, Jesus! I live and work in central Nottingham, am utterly hacked off with the place, and have never heard of this song. YSI PLEEEEEZE!

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 30 June 2005 09:21 (twenty years ago)

http://www.wavsite.com/sounds.asp?id=65

― brittle-lemon, Thursday, 30 June 2005 09:56 (twenty years ago)

I have a new theme song. Thanks, brittle-lemon.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 30 June 2005 10:23 (twenty years ago)

You can get a version in French too.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 30 June 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

Where can I find the French version?

― Nigel (Nigel), Thursday, 30 June 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

Here, maybe.

http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0K6C5POD78C10VCC2OTZC5XM1

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 30 June 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

I guess this kind of thing is very personal but I didn't find that sad at all. There is a definite note of hope to it, at least in the music if not the lyrics. It does the typical country and blues thing which is to sing about the most depressing subject in the world in a way that's somehow comforting.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Thursday, 30 June 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

thanks for the link and the YSI :)

― Ludo (Ludo), Thursday, 30 June 2005 17:38 (twenty years ago)

Definitely the best songs in any Disney movie. I get "Oo-De-Lally" and "Whistle Stop" stuck in my head all the time.

― Deric W. Haircare (Deric W. Haircare), Thursday, 30 June 2005 18:37 (twenty years ago)

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