What tune does the worlds smallest violin play?

January 9, 2006 6:41 PM

What tune does the smallest violin in the world play?

I seem to remember many years ago hearing/seeing the cliche'd "sad violin" tune in a movie (comedy I think?) when someone was explaining some long, sad, tear-jerking exaggerated tale of woe.
And thus miming the playing of a violin used to be a way of sarcastically indicating to someone that you don't really care what they were carrying on about. These days it seems like people care so little that they use the smallest violin in the world to project their sarcasm! But still, I think that violin would still be playing the same cliche'd sad tune. I'd love to know what it is. I can hum the first few notes of this tune. In fact the people I've seen doing the violin mime and humming the tune all seem to be humming the same tune so I believe its a real tune not just one my memory has imagined. But I've tried using the Parson's code for the tune on search sites and so far haven't found it. Does anyone have any clues? Am I right that this is a real piece of music, or maybe it was just a snippet used for that one scene. I was *sure* it was more widespread than that though.

posted by fossphur to sports, hobbies, & recreation (17 comments total)

"My heart bleeds for you"!
posted by jennyjenny at 6:45 PM on January 9, 2006

I thought it was "My Heart Cries for You."
posted by epugachev at 7:34 PM on January 9, 2006

Is that the one that Fat Tony plays in the Simpsons episode where Krusty's daughter turns up?
posted by tomble at 7:36 PM on January 9, 2006

I think it's called "Hearts and Flowers".
posted by flying kumquat at 7:40 PM on January 9, 2006

The classic is either a tiny violin gesture, or more likely, rubbing the thumb and forefinger in circles. "It's the world's smallest record player, playing my heart bleeds for you." That's how old that joke is, record players were state of the art. (It was a high school joke, 100 years ago.)
posted by unrepentanthippie at 7:48 PM on January 9, 2006

"'Hearts and Flowers,' just for you."
posted by klangklangston at 7:51 PM on January 9, 2006

Sympathy for the Devil
posted by caddis at 7:56 PM on January 9, 2006

Here's a midi of Hearts and Flowers - wait a few seconds for the bit you're probably most familiar with.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 7:58 PM on January 9, 2006

... playing "My Heart Bleeds Purple Peanut Butter For You".

You with the Purple Panther Piss, you come from tough people.
posted by Dunwitty at 8:01 PM on January 9, 2006

More information on the worlds smallest violin here.
posted by I Foody at 8:29 PM on January 9, 2006

Wow! "Hearts and Flowers" really is that "I lost all the money that was supposed to save the orphanage from being run over by the train and thrown into the river and now the orphans can't afford the operation that would let them walk again. And it's snowing." music.
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:20 PM on January 9, 2006

Freebird.
posted by squirrel at 11:12 PM on January 9, 2006

I doubt it's what you're looking for, but to me the world's smallest violin must be playing the Losing Horns from The Price Is Right. But without the horns. And with more violin.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:55 PM on January 9, 2006

Philip Glass.
posted by loquacious at 3:07 AM on January 10, 2006

Wow, we never specified...we always said "Hear that? It's the world's smallest violin playing the world's saddest song."
posted by justonegirl at 4:32 AM on January 10, 2006

"a sad, sad song" and demonstrated by rubbing the backside of the middle thumb knuckle with the index finger of the same hand, back and forth in a sawing motion. Used to sarcastically a "boo freaking hoo" emotion.
posted by vanoakenfold at 7:20 AM on January 10, 2006

HOORAY thanks so much guys. Hearts and Flowers is definitely it. But I'll look up the other tunes mentioned. I'll now be able to sleep at night. You people are my heroes.
posted by fossphur at 6:56 AM on March 1, 2006