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Author Topic: Harlem Hamfats Lyrics  (Read 19250 times)

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gribbon

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Harlem Hamfats Lyrics
« 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.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2020, 05:19:42 PM by Johnm »

Offline Cleoma

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Harlem Hamfats Lyrics
« 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.

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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!

Offline Bunker Hill

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2006, 10:11:41 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

Offline GhostRider

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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

Offline Slack

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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.

Offline jtbrown

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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.)
« Last Edit: April 23, 2009, 08:00:28 AM by jtbrown »

Offline Rivers

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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.
« Last Edit: April 24, 2009, 04:30:08 PM by Rivers »

Offline waxwing

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2009, 10:12:10 PM »
Kazoos are starting to grow on me.

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

Wax
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it."
George Bernard Shaw

“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”
Joseph Heller, Catch-22

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CD on YT

Offline Lignite

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Re: Tampa Red/Harlem Hamfats "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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!

Offline michelle

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Help wanted "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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




Offline mr mando

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Re: Help wanted "Let's Get Drunk and Truck"
« 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"??

Offline lilkittin

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Re: Lyrics of "Weed Smoker's Dream" by Harlem Hamfats
« 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":

« Last Edit: July 03, 2020, 05:21:24 PM by Johnm »

Offline Slack

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Re: Lyrics of "Weed Smoker's Dream" by Harlem Hamfats
« Reply #13 on: May 10, 2011, 03:08:28 PM »
Welcome lilkitten!

Offline Gumbo

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Re: Lyrics of "Weed Smoker's Dream" by Harlem Hamfats
« 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

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