Here is my transcription of Grayson and Whitter's recording. I recall reading somewhere that many of the lyrics for 'Shout Lula' were quite risque and it was a favourite of kids for that reason. There is a hint of that in this dance version. There is a spirited banjo rendition by Mrs Louise Foreacre on Mike Seeger's collection 'Close To Home' [Smithsonian/Folkways SF CD40097] that shares some of the G&W lyrics. Does anyone have any scurrilous verses?

The bits in square brackets in the following transcription are spoken or yelled.


SHOUT LULA

Shout, Little Lula, shout, shout
Tell me what you're shoutin' about

[Swing, Wilbur, swing. Whoa]

How many nickels will it take
To see Little Lula's body shake
It takes a nickel, it takes a dime
To see Little Lula's body shine

[Shout Lula! Yee-haw! Shake that thing! Swing that girl, Henry! Wow!]

Shout, Little Lula, shout, shout
Tell me what you're shoutin' about

Shout, Little Lula, shout and sing
Your old grandmother's gone to swing

[Whoop that fiddle!]

Shout, Little Lula, shout your best
Your old grandmother's gone to rest

[Come on, Lula, swing! On my way somewheres. First couple out! Swing!]

Shout, Little Lula, shout, shout
Tell me what you're shoutin' about

[Whooo! Swing, Lula, swing! Shout Lula! Yee-haw! Say, Henry when you gonna pass that bottle?]
['Bout ten minutes.]
['Bout time.]

[Shake that thing!]

Shout, Little Lula, shout, shout
Tell me what you're shoutin' about

[Whooo! Come on, Lula, shout, Lula, shout]

Shout, Little Lula, shout and sing
Your old grandmother's gone to swing

Source: transcription of G.B. Grayson & Henry Whitter 'Shout Lula' recorded on 10 October 1928 in NYC and issued as Gnt 6373 in March 1929. Reissued on Grayson & Whitter 'Complete Recorded Works Vol I' Document DOCD-8054.

--Stewie.