Uploaded March 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sounds of my Grandparents Era
"My Little Old Shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota" from Capitol 78 RPM Record No. 1216 sung by Yogi Yorgesson with Johnny Duffy and The Scandahoovians. Released September 1950 as a parody of "My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekue, Hawaii" - Ted Fio Rito & His Orchestra (1934) .
Played on a Victrola Talking Machine with a Tungs-Tone Stylus. Videography by Dane C. Sorensen.
There are probably far better sounding recordings of this song, but this video gives you an idea what an average persons in the 1940s would have been able to listen to on their home talking machine. This record belonged to my Grandparents - Frederick and Genevieve Robertson.
Lyrics:
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
(A-wahoo-de-hoo!)
With the Petersons and Bjornsons and the Olsons that I knew long ago.
(Dear hearts and gentle people!)
I can see those Swedes all dancing.
Them blonde girls sure look cute.
Oh, I can hear those big Swedes hooting,
With a "hey-nonny-Svenska" and a "poop-poop-a-doop."
Oh, how I yearn to return to my shack by the river.
(Hoo-hoo-de-hoo!)
Ja, Hetty Jensen's waiting there for me.
(Oh, holy gee!)
We'll be wed in Minneapolis sometime next fall.
We'll spend our honeymoon in a hotel in Saint Paul.
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Where the mackerel and the pickerel and the lutefisk go swimming by.*
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
(Ska-doody-doody-doody!)
Where Hetty Jensen's waiting patiently.
(She's my sweet patootie.)
She sits and cracks her knuckles looking forward to the day
When I'll arrive there shouting,
"Got a pocket full of Sen-Sen for my sweetheart Hetty Jensen."
I'll go back to the shack that I built down by the river,
(Ja, sure!)
Where life is sweet and Swedes are always gay.
(Hey, hey, hey, hey!)
We'll spend the time romancing each night away,
Then we'll go fishing ev'ry day.
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Where the mackerel and the pickerel and the lutefisk go swimming by,
Where the mackerel and the pickerel and the lutefisk go swimming by.
Sounds of my Grandparents Era
"My Little Old Shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota" from Capitol 78 RPM Record No. 1216 sung by Yogi Yorgesson with Johnny Duffy and The Scandahoovians. Released September 1950 as a parody of "My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekue, Hawaii" - Ted Fio Rito & His Orchestra (1934) .
Played on a Victrola Talking Machine with a Tungs-Tone Stylus. Videography by Dane C. Sorensen.
There are probably far better sounding recordings of this song, but this video gives you an idea what an average persons in the 1940s would have been able to listen to on their home talking machine. This record belonged to my Grandparents - Frederick and Genevieve Robertson.
Lyrics:
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
(A-wahoo-de-hoo!)
With the Petersons and Bjornsons and the Olsons that I knew long ago.
(Dear hearts and gentle people!)
I can see those Swedes all dancing.
Them blonde girls sure look cute.
Oh, I can hear those big Swedes hooting,
With a "hey-nonny-Svenska" and a "poop-poop-a-doop."
Oh, how I yearn to return to my shack by the river.
(Hoo-hoo-de-hoo!)
Ja, Hetty Jensen's waiting there for me.
(Oh, holy gee!)
We'll be wed in Minneapolis sometime next fall.
We'll spend our honeymoon in a hotel in Saint Paul.
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Where the mackerel and the pickerel and the lutefisk go swimming by.*
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
(Ska-doody-doody-doody!)
Where Hetty Jensen's waiting patiently.
(She's my sweet patootie.)
She sits and cracks her knuckles looking forward to the day
When I'll arrive there shouting,
"Got a pocket full of Sen-Sen for my sweetheart Hetty Jensen."
I'll go back to the shack that I built down by the river,
(Ja, sure!)
Where life is sweet and Swedes are always gay.
(Hey, hey, hey, hey!)
We'll spend the time romancing each night away,
Then we'll go fishing ev'ry day.
I want to go back to my little old shack in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Where the mackerel and the pickerel and the lutefisk go swimming by,
Where the mackerel and the pickerel and the lutefisk go swimming by.
