Topic: Romeo Nelson Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Romeo Nelson was a wonderful pianist who only recorded a handful of solo numbers.  He was rediscovered in the '60s, I believe, but had given up playing by that time.  His "Gettin' Dirty Just Shakin' That Thing" is pretty hard to beat for hard-grooving eccentricity and stream of consciousness lyrics.  Here it is, and if you hear some of the lyrics differently, please let me know, since I'm not sure of all of them by any means.



INTRO

Now, Sister Fullbosom, man, and Brother Low-down
You broadcast and you're signifyin', you're breakin' her down
Kind mama just pizened [sic] you, sick and tired, the way you do
Sprinkle goofer dust around your bed, in the morning find your own self dead
Gettin' filthy just shakin' that thing

I know a sister called Miss Lou, shook so she had the German Flu
Another sister by, they call Miss Spoon, shook so you couldn't stay in her room
Gettin' filthy just shakin' that thing

Say, mama cooked some cabbage, didn't have no meat, and she throwed 'em on 35th Street
Old folk, go run and get your glass, catchin' the juice from his too black bad

Say, mama killed a chicken and she thought he was a duck, put him on the table with his heel cocked up
Old folk, go run and get your glass, catchin' the juice from his too black bad

SOLO

Mmmm-mmm mama, spoke like this, shake your shoulders, shake your wicked knees
And gettin' filthy just shakin' that thing

Clap hand, here come Nelson, clap hands, here come Nelson,
Clap hand, here come Nelson, now

Clap hands, here come Nelson, clap hands, here come Nelson, now

Too tight, just won't, too tight, just won't
Too tight, just won't, right now

Edited 4/2 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Head Rag Hop", Romeo Nelson simply supplied the remarkable piano playing with Tampa Red providing commentary, joined every so often by a woman or man imitating a woman.  Nelson's playing is so terrific, wow!  Here is the track:



PIANO SOLO (throughout)

Tampa Red:  That's it, Nelson!  I'm gonna take me down to this Head Rag Hop.  We gonna have some fun, after all.  We gonna have some fun, now! 

Woman:  Daddy, that make me feel so boogie-woogieish!

Tampa Red:  I know it, baby.  Gonna make you feel some more other way, too.

Woman:  Oh, daddy, how long, how long!

Tampa Red:  Won't be very long now, baby.  Say, you look good over there with the black dress on.  Come right over here and stand up by me, I wanta show you how to do that Head Rag Hop.  Turn 'round--that's it.  Now, let's get it.  Shake it!  Shake it fast, that's just what I'm talkin' 'bout!  Baby, you's throwin' your mess now.  I thought you told me, didn't know how to do that fishtail!  Now, you're doin' the Head Rag Hop, now!  Kinda good like that, too.  Ah, somebody oughta knock a jug on this little Head Rag Hop.  They oughta knock a jug sometime, look like, 'cause this . . . .  Look out for the landlady, give her a break! 

Woman:  Daddy, how am I doin' it?

Tampa Red:  Ah baby, it's tight.  I don't think it could be beat!  That' just what I'm talkin' 'bout.  Yeah, ha!  Ah, this is the way you do the boogie-woogie.  Yes, that's it.  Yeah, I'm tellin' you. 

All best,
Johnm   

[banjochris]

John -- some suggestions for "Gettin' Dirty":

Now, SISTER FULLBOSOM, man, and Brother Lowdown
You broadcast and you're signifyin', you're breakin' her down
Kind mama just pizened [sic] you, sick and tired, the way you do
Sprinkle GOOFER dust around your bed, in the morning find your own self dead
Gettin' FILTHY just shakin' that thing

I know a sister called Miss Lou, SHOOK SO she had the German Flu
Another sister by, they call Miss SPOON, SHOOK SO you couldn't stay in her room
Gettin' FILTHY just shakin' that thing

Say, mama cooked some cabbage, didn't have no meat, and she THROWED 'em on 35th Street
Old folk, go run and get your glass, catchin' the juice from HIS too black bad [I think from the context he's using "too black bad" the same way lots of folks use "yas-yas-yas"]

Say, mama killed a chicken and she thought he was a duck, put him on the table with his heel cocked up
Old folk, go run and get your glass, catchin' the juice from HIS too black bad

SOLO

Mmmm-mmm mama, spoke like this, shake your shoulders, shake your WICKED knees
And gettin' FILTHY just shakin' that thing

Clap hand, here come Nelson, clap hands, here come Nelson,
Clap hand, here come Nelson, now

Clap hands, here come Nelson, clap hands, here come Nelson, now

Too tight, just won't, too tight, just won't
Too tight, just won't, right now

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris!  I can tell without re-listening that those are all on the money.  I'll make the changes.  Thanks!  Wasn't he a great piano player?
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris!  I can tell without re-listening that those are all on the money.  I'll make the changes.  Thanks!  Wasn't he a great piano player?
All best,
Johnm

Absolutely. One of my all-time favorites. I wish he had recorded more.

[banjochris]

This one is one of the most unusual piano pieces I?ve heard, it?s more like a guitar piece on the order of Roll and Tumble. I wish he had skipped the cheesy crying, it cheapens the whole effect somewhat.

Also unfortunately, the copy the reissue is from is really whupped, and unusually it gets harder to hear as it goes along. In particular, I?m not entirely sure if the word ?bed? is ?bed? or ?face? ? I expect it?s the same word in the verse it appears in, and I lean toward ?bed? for both verses. [UPDATE: Pretty sure it's "bed" both times now.]

I?d appreciate some help particularly with the last tagline.


Dyin? Rider Blues

I got a letter from my rider, what do you reckon it read?
I got a letter from my rider, what do you reckon it read?
You hurry home papa, kind girl?s almost dead.

And I walked slowly, to my dyin? girl rider?s bed.
And I walked slowly, to my dyin? rider?s bed.
These are the words, the dyin? rider said.

You are gon? miss me papa, like you done before,
You are gon? miss me papa, like you done before,
I got a message from the angel, I guess I have to go.

And I walked back, to my dyin? rider?s bed.
And I walked back, to my dyin? rider?s bed.
These are the words the dyin? girl heard me say.

Crying

And I goodbye mama, meet you some old day,
Goodbye mama, meet you some old day,
Good man grieving, you soon will pass away.

Crying


Updated with correction from JohnM

[Johnm]

Hi Chris,
It sounds to me like he's singing
   Good man grieving, you SOON WILL pass away
in the tagline to the last verse.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

It sounds to me like he's singing
   Good man grieving, you SOON WILL pass away
in the tagline to the last verse.

I do believe you've got it -- thanks!
Chris