Oom-pah-pah

Oom-Pah-Pah

"Oom-Pah-Pah" is a lively and somewhat risqué song from Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!, sung by Nancy and the crowd at the "Three Cripples" tavern. The word "oom-pah-pah" is seemingly used euphemistically to refer to both intoxication and fornication; however, as the song points out, the word's meaning is only as dirty as the listener interprets it. Although not an original music hall song, it recalls that genre well and, in terms of both its tempo and suggestiveness, shares characteristics with such late 19th century songs as "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay".

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