Author Topic: Harlem Hamfats Lyrics (Read 18814 times)

gribbon · « **on:** November 09, 2004, 08:27:05 AM »

I have been listening to this song for a long time now, but I still can't make out all the lyrics. This is how far I got, and here is "Let's Get Drunk And Truck":

Sittin’ on a million
Sittin’ on it every day
Can’t make no money givin’ your
stuff away
Why don’t you do now
like the millionaires do?
Put your stuff on the market
And make a million too

? ? ? ? that woman
? ? ? ? ? ?
She’s trickin’ money for you, every-
where she land (?)
Why don’t you do now
like the millionaires do?
Put your stuff on the market
And make a million too

? ? ? ? a good-lookin’ ? ? ? ?
She lives down by the jail
? ? ? ? she got
her stuff for sale
Why don’t you do now
like the millionaires do?
Put your stuff on the market
And make a million too

Would be very grateful if someone could help me fill in the blanks.
I realize that this song is not exacly blues, but I guess that at least some of ou are familiar with it.

Cleoma · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2006, 01:23:37 AM »

Anybody got the words? What is he singing in the bridge:
"If we should accidentally get too high to go home,
I've got an extra dollar, to buy a ......"

Thanks,
Suzy T.

uncle bud · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2006, 07:19:20 AM »

The second time around for the bridge it sounds like "I've got an extra dollar to rent a [park it] room". First time round the last word sounds more like "tune". Hard to say!

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2006, 10:11:41 AM »

Quote from: uncle bud on October 20, 2006, 07:19:20 AM

The second time around for the bridge it sounds like "I've got an extra dollar to rent a [park it] room". First time round the last word sounds more like "tune". Hard to say!

Seesh, hard to say indeed. FWIW I think I'm hearing:

If we should accidentally get too high to go home,
I've got an extra dollar, to rent 'partment room

but not really convinced

GhostRider · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2006, 12:20:58 PM »

Hi all:

Tim Williams does this one. I asked him about it and here's his reply

"Alex : As near as I can make out, and what I sing, is : "I've got an extra dollar to buy us all some 'pone."

Corn pone, and it's much more delectable cousin made from sweet potatoe, is a starchy sweet side-dish or dessert from the southern states whose properties as a "hang-over food" are widely
regarded.

Tim "

Alex

Slack · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2006, 12:46:44 PM »

Quote

"I've got an extra dollar to buy us all some 'pone."

This is a great line regardless.

jtbrown · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2009, 07:51:15 AM »

In the Hamfats version, I'm pretty sure it's actually "I've got an extra dollar to buy us all some corn," that is, some corn liquor (which was often referred to simply as "corn," at least in song). This also ties in more directly to the theme of the song, and to what he sings two lines later ("another gallon to wake up on"). Tampa Red is definitely saying "to rent a?" rather than "to buy us," but I can't really make sense of the next three syllables. (Though the last one does sound like "room," which would make a lot of sense.)

Rivers · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:56:32 PM »

First time through, first bridge, I heard "I've got an extra dollar, to rent a pas de deux"

Horizontal dancing for $$?

Second bridge, ". . . to rent a party room", definitely, pronounced 'partay'. As in "too drunk to go home after closing time, the party continues in the bar's private function room upstairs". [edit: second time through, that's what he's singing in the first bridge as well. Shame, I liked 'pas de deux'!]

I'm listening to the Tampa Red Bluebird Recordings version. And thanks for inspiring me to dig it out. Kazoos are starting to grow on me.

waxwing · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:12:10 PM »

Quote from: Rivers on April 24, 2009, 03:56:32 PM

Kazoos are starting to grow on me.

That's a very serious condition, Riv. You should see a doctor right away.

Wax

Lignite · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2009, 12:20:27 PM »

I always sang it "To rent an apartment room" the place to reteat to if too high for "plenty of kisses and other fun". I haven't played that song in years. I had a small group (called The Jenadoos) in the late 1980s with another guitar player and a bass for a one shot gig in Chapel Hill, N.C. at a bookstore/diner called the Skylight Exchange. Anyway, we played Let's Get Drunk And Truck and people in the audience actually started booing which I thought was strange. Asking around later, I found out that the venue was a popular A.A. hangout because it did not serve booze and allowed smoking at the time. That song sure seemed to hit the wrong nerve with that crowd!

michelle · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:41:19 PM »

Hello

Hope everybody's live & kickin'
I'm trying to transcribe Lil Johnson's "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
and "Feel My Legs" (Don't You Make Me High)
I'd be most appreciative if anybody can help...

:(are the lines that I can't make out. So many!

<Let's Get Drunk and Truck>

Let?s Get Drunk and Truck

:(Plenty of liquor and a gallon of beer
:(Cozy corner and a word of cheer
:(No one?s to bother cuz here?s my dear
Let?s get drunk and truck

You know my other man is out of town
Your other woman she?s not around
Now is the time to break ::)on down
Let?s get drunk and truck

If we should accidentally get to high to go home
I got an extra dollar to rent us apartment room

:(Plenty of chicks and other fun
:(And a gallon to raise a fun
:(No better nothing to be waiting home
Let?s get drunk and truck, yeah

mr mando · « **Reply #11 on:** September 15, 2010, 06:24:29 AM »

Hi Michelle,

the middle 8 of this song was discussed in this topic: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=60&topic=2723.0 refering to the versions by the Harlem Hamfats and Tampa Red. I think Lil Johnson sings ...to rent a partying room similar to what Rivers hears in the Tampa Red version.

Speaking of Lil Johnson, do you have the lyrics to "Hottest Gal in Town"??

lilkittin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2011, 10:14:07 AM »

I believe the first line you have question marks on is: "May's a bettin' woman, she bets on every hand"

the second set of question marks I believe is: "May's a good-lookin' frail, she lives down by the Jail, and no-one knows she's got, hot stuff for sale."

I just learned today that "frail" was slang for a woman back in the 30's... Learn something new every day!

Here is "Weed Smoker's Dream":

Slack · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2011, 03:08:28 PM »

Welcome lilkitten!

Gumbo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2011, 05:12:03 PM »

that's the good stuff, lilkitten, and it come's to those who wait!

on the second verse i concur:
May's a bettin' woman, she bets on every hand

and then i believe it's
she's a trickin mother for you every where she lands

on that third verse ... I also concur ...
May's a good lookin frail, she lives down by the jail

and then it goes

Out of the back .. door she got .. hot stuff for sale

davet · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2011, 02:47:05 PM »

We have been playing this song for some time. We spent a while sorting out the words and this is what we came to.

Sittin? on a million
Sittin? on it every day
Can?t make no money givin? your stuff away
Why don?t you do now
like the millionaires do
Put your stuff on the market
And make a million too

Fay's a betting woman
She bets on every hand
She?s a trickin? mother for you every-where she land
Why don?t you do now
like the millionaires do
Put your stuff on the market
And make a million too

May's a good-lookin? frail
She lives down by the jail
On her back though she got hot stuff for sale
Why don?t you do now
like the millionaires do
Put your stuff on the market
And make a million too

Hope this helps

davet

Gumbo · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2011, 05:25:01 PM »

Ooooh! We almost agree !

Pan · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2013, 10:01:35 AM »

Hi all

Here's my attempt at the lyrics of this tune. You'll find the chord changes discussed in the "minor chords" thread, along with a YouTube link: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=892.msg79893;topicseen#msg79893

Any corrections are most welcome! Here is "Delta Bound":

DELTA BOUND Rosetta Howard and The Harlem Hamfats

Down on the Delta, where there is shelter,
no Helter Skelter, no Blues around.
That?s why I?m homing, I?m tired of roaming,
I?m Delta bound.

When night is falling, my Delta?s calling,
and keep on calling, I?m going down.
I?m on my way now, most any day now,
I?m Delta bound.

Every time I close my eyes,
I seem to see Louisiana.
I can hear the folks down there,
singing in their free and easy manner.

I?ve been a rover, but now that?s over,
knee-deep in clover I?ll soon be found.
I?m on my way now, most any day now,
I?m Delta bound.

Cheers

Pan

Gumbo · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2013, 02:09:37 PM »

Sounds right to me, Pan. Thanks for posting and especially for the chords in the other thread. It's always more fun to play along

Pan · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2013, 05:13:07 PM »

Quote from: Gumbo on May 18, 2013, 02:09:37 PM

Sounds right to me, Pan. Thanks for posting and especially for the chords in the other thread. It's always more fun to play along

Thanks for looking through my lyrics transcription Gumbo!

Cheers

Pan

mr mando · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2013, 09:42:21 AM »

I can't seem to figure out the changing line in this Harlem Hamfats song. It's got a nice eight bar structure:

| I | I | I | I | IV7 V7| IV7 V7| V7 | I V7||

Here's what I got so far, and here is "Black Gal You'd Better Use Your Head":

Black gal you'd better use your head
Black gal you'd better use your head
The ?? you're pullin' and the way you're ??
Black gal you'd better use your head

Black gal you'd better use your head
Black gal you'd better use your head
??
Black gal you'd better use your head

Black gal you'd better use your head
Black gal you'd better use your head
All you do is mow (?) doin' anything for Joe
Black gal you'd better use your head

Black gal you'd better use your head
Black gal you'd better use your head
While you're havin' your ?? it's something 'bout ??
Black gal you'd better use your head

a YouTube link in case you don't have the song.

bird to whistle · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2013, 10:07:13 AM »

Black gal you better use your head.
Black gal you better use your head.
The stuff you're pullen, the way you bullen.
Black gal you better use your head.

Black gal you better use your head.
Black gal you better use your head.
You walking the block, cussin out the cop.
Black gal you better use your head.

Black gal you better use your head.
Black gal you better use your head.
All you do is mope, do anything for a jug.
Black gal you better use your head.

Black gal you better use your head.
Black gal you better use your head.
While you havin your blame, getting something for that thing.
Black gal you better use your head.

mr mando · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2013, 11:00:04 AM »

Thanks a lot, bird to whistle. What does "The stuff you're pullen, the way you bullen" mean??

Johnm · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2013, 01:56:00 PM »

Hi mr mando,
I believe the line is, "The stuff you're pullin' and the way you're bullyin'"
Evidently, she is being fractious and trying to push the singer around.

I think that 3.3 is: All you do is mope, do anything for a JOKE

I think 4.3 is: While you havin' your FLING, getting something for that thing
All best,
Johnm

bird to whistle · « **Reply #24 on:** July 03, 2013, 09:00:47 PM »

Quote

I believe the line is, "The stuff you're pullin' and the way you're bullying'"
Evidently, she is being fractious and trying to push the singer around.

I'm not sure. Bullyin has too many syllables. I think the line means "the stuff you are trying to pull, the way you bullshit". I agree with those other corrections John, good ears.

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Author Topic: Harlem Hamfats Lyrics (Read 18814 times)

gribbon