Come on-a My House for New Year's Eve

Part of every Armenian holiday celebration is an abundant table covered with delicious food. And that was the theme of the 1951 hit song Come on a My House, originally recorded (reluctantly) by Rosemary Clooney. Composed by two famous Armenian-Americans, Ross Bagdasarian (who would later create the children's favorite Alvin and the Chipmunks under his David Seville stagename) and his cousin, William Saroyan. It was Saroyan's one and only effort at popular songwriting for an off-Broadway musical titled The Son. The tune had a little bit of sexual inuendo, though it was subtle enough for the conservative fifties. There's even a reference to a Christmas tree!

Here's some excerpts from the original lyrics:

Come on-a my house my house,
I´m gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house,
I´m gonna give a you apple a plum and apricot-a too eh
Come on-a my house, my house ,
I´m gonna give a you figs and dates and grapes and cakes eh
Come on-a my house my house,
I´m gonna give you Christmas tree
Come on-a my house, my house,
I´m gonna give you marriage ring and a pomegranate too ah
Come on-a my house, my house,
I´m gonna give you everything - everything - everything


Armenians in Armenia still keep the time-honored tradition of visiting each other's homes on New Year's day. And they don't even have to say "Ari im toon," "Come on to our house" in Armenian. Anyone who knocks at your door is a guest, though we don't advise you to give everything like the song suggests.

You can hear the tune on this EZ-Tracks player, too.



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We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Shnorhavor Nor Tari!

Irina Petrosian & David Underwood