collapse

* Member Info

 
 
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
I didn't write no 'Candy Man'. That song was *revealed* to me" - Reverend Gary Davis, according to Book Binder

Author Topic: Charley Jordan Lyrics  (Read 31322 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Johnm

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 13190
    • johnmillerguitar.com
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #45 on: October 02, 2010, 02:04:18 PM »
Hi all,
Charley Jordan recorded "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" at his first session, and apart from the fact that he played it out of E position in standard tuning it is quite different from the other songs from that session, particularly in its treatment of time.  Charley employed a very syncopated Latin beat for it in the first four bars that is so different from practically everything else recorded in blues from that era that it would be fascinating to know the source of Charley's inspiration for the song.  It is, along with "Keep It Clean" one of the two most-covered songs of Charley Jordan, and deservedly so, for it is a sensational number. 
I always wondered at the meaning of "hunkie tunkie" until reading or hearing an interview with J. D. Short, in which he made it clear that "hunkie tunkie" or "hunky tunk" is a variant of what is normally referred to in Rock-A-Billy or Country songs as a honky-tonk.  Because of the rhythmic treatment in the accompaniment, the phrasing of "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" is unusual.  I could use some help with the word enclosed in the bent brackets in the next-to-last verse.



   SOLO

   Says, I'm goin' up town, tell the Chief Police
   My woman done quit me, I can't see no peace
   She keep me worried, bothered all the time
   'Cause she keep me worried, I'm bothered all the time

   Says, I love you woman, love your husband, too,
   I have to love your husband get to be with you, because
   He don't allow no playin' around his house, because
   He don't allow no playin' around his house

   Says, my mama told me, my papa, too,
   "Don't let no woman be the death of you."
   'Cause she didn't all ow me to stay out all night long
   Because she didn't allow me to stay out all night long

   What you goin' to do when they tear your barrelhouse down?
   Goin' to pack my suitcase, hunt some other town, now
   Gwine to do when they tear your barrelhouse down?
   Goin' to pack my suitcase, hunt some other town

   SOLO

   Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie blues
   Everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie blues
   Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your modern hunkie tunkie blues

   Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie baby
   You ought to see that curly-headed monkey, hear?
   Head is curly, baby, and bushy, too
   'Cause his head is curly, babe, and bushy, too

   SOLO

edited 10/2, to pick up correction from banjochris

All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: July 05, 2020, 09:07:14 AM by Johnm »

Offline banjochris

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 2578
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #46 on: October 02, 2010, 02:28:21 PM »
John -- I always heard that bracketed word as "modern".
Chris

Offline Johnm

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 13190
    • johnmillerguitar.com
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #47 on: October 02, 2010, 02:45:36 PM »
Thanks, Chris, that's what I heard too, but thought I must be wrong!  I'll make the change.
All best,
Johnm

Offline blueshome

  • Member
  • Posts: 1469
  • Step on it!
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #48 on: October 26, 2011, 06:42:00 AM »
Charley Jordan recorded Memphis Fives accompanying himself on guitar with Lee Green on piano.

Memphis 5?s

1.    Way down in Memphis corner Main and Beale 
   Way down in Memphis corner Main and Beale
        Way down in Memphis corner Main and Beale
        I met a girl they call Lucille
   B?lieve to my soul, I got those Memphis 5?s;
   Memphis 5?s

2.   Lucille the girl I always crave to see 
        Lucille the girl I always crave to see
        Lucille the girl I always crave to see
   Way she shakes it, she alright with me
   B?lieve to my soul, I got those Memphis 5?s;
   Memphis 5?s

3.   All her teeth crowned, crowned with gold x3
   B?lieve she got good jelly in her bowl
   B?lieve to my soul, I got those Memphis 5?s;
   Memphis 5?s

4.     That Frisco train makes a mile a minute
       That Frisco train makes a mile a minute
       That Frisco train makes a mile a minute
        When she pull up in Memphis, she?ll be in it
        B?lieve to my soul, I got those Memphis 5?s;
   Memphis 5?s

5.   Plain Jane fell down night ?fore last
        Plain Jane fell down night ?fore last
        Plain Jane fell down night ?fore last
       [Come down] now break her yes yes yes
       B?lieve to my soul, I got those Memphis 5?s;
       Memphis 5?s

6.   Just squeeze me mama, hold me tight
        Just squeeze me mama, hold me tight 
        Just squeeze me mama, hold me tight
        Cos we?re goin to do some nice work here tonight
        B?lieve to my soul, I got those Memphis 5?s;
   Memphis 5?s

Offline dj

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 2833
  • Howdy!
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #49 on: March 05, 2013, 02:42:34 PM »
Charlie Jordan recorded Twee Twee Twa for Decca in Chicago on March 29, 1937.  He was accompanied by piano and string bass.  Blues & Gospel Records list the pianist as "prob. Peetie Wheatstraw", but the playing doesn't sound particularly like Peetie to me.  The song features some great lyrics, with the second verse being particularly good, and the last verse falling into the "how did they ever let that out of the can?" category.  It's hard to tell if "Twee Twee Twa" was a mishearing of "sweet sweet twat", or if Decca figured that if they bowlderized the title no one who mattered would notice the real words.

I'd appreciate help with or confirmation of the bracketed phrases.


 

Twee Twee Twa

You left me last summer because you had a plenty of jack
You left me last summer because you had a plenty of jack
But since the weather have turned cold, you have come creeping back

Since you have come back home you say you ain't gonna leave no more
Since you have come back home you say you ain't gonna leave no more
But that's just a good line of jive, all you want is wintertime to go

So put some chicken on my table and put some butter on my bread
Put some chicken on my table and put some butter on my bread
Put a pillowslip on my pillow, and put a clean sheet on my bed

Now I'm going to give you some money, and pay your house rent too
I'm going to give you some money, gon' pay your house rent too
But if you ever let me catch you stealing, it will be too tight for you

Now she got these great big legs, and also big whoppin' thighs
She got these great big legs, and also big whoppin' thighs
She got somethin' in her sweet sweet twat will make a blind man open his eyes
« Last Edit: July 05, 2020, 09:08:08 AM by Johnm »

Offline banjochris

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 2578
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #50 on: March 05, 2013, 08:02:00 PM »
I think you've got the bracketed bits exactly right, dj.
Chris

Offline dj

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 2833
  • Howdy!
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #51 on: March 06, 2013, 03:24:15 AM »
Thanks, Chris.

Offline Gumbo

  • Member
  • Posts: 870
  • So Papa climbed up on top of the house
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #52 on: January 29, 2014, 05:54:46 AM »
Keep It Clean
Charley Jordan

I went to the river, couldn't get across
I jumped on your papa ?cause I thought he was a horse, now
Roll him over, give him a Coca-Cola
Lemon soda, saucer of ice cream
Takes soap and water for to keep it clean.

Up she jumped, down she fell
Her mouth flew open like a mussel shell, now

Your sister was a tabby, your daddy was a bear
Put a muzzle on your mama ?cause she had bad hair, now

If you want to hear that elephant laugh
Take him down to the river and wash his yas-yas-yas, now

If you want to go to heaven when you D-I-E
You got to put on your collar and your T-I-E, now

If you want to get the rabbits out of the L-O-G
You got to pull on the stump like a D-O-G, now

Run here doctor, run here fast
See what's the matter with his yas-yas-yas, now

has anyone else got a take without the elephant verse or the rabbit verse? it clocks in at 1.56, and I'm wondering if it's an edited version or if there was a different take.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2014, 05:31:58 AM by Gumbo »

Offline Bluesgal

  • Member
  • Posts: 24
  • Howdy!
Re: Charley Jordan Lyrics
« Reply #53 on: November 09, 2019, 01:58:49 PM »
I've always sung "Dollop of ice cream" - now I know better...
Yours for the blues!

Annette

Tags: Charley Jordan 
 


SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal