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Lyr Req: The Joke
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Joke From: GUEST,janeydotcom Date: 27 Feb 24 - 10:25 AM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyhMTxhDKNo |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Joke From: GUEST,David Sullivan Date: 18 Feb 18 - 07:35 AM Thanks to Jim Dixon for posting these lyrics to Reggie Hall's "The Joke," and to others for the discussion. I recently (around Mardi Gras, naturally) re-heard the song on the "More New Orleans Party Classics" compilation CD (the predecessor to that CD, same title minus "More," is absolutely essential, but that probably goes without saying around here), and looked for its lyrics, which led me to this site and this old thread. Much appreciated. And of course its tune is "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands," which makes its chorus lyric / punchline "But he really was a real estate man" all the more enjoyable. As a final note, the song is now on YouTube: Reggie Hall, "The Joke" |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE JOKE From: Jim Dixon Date: 03 Jan 12 - 11:50 AM THE JOKE As sung by Reggie Hall on the various-artists album "New Orleans Twist Party" (1995) Now here's a story I'm gonna tell, And it's a joke that I know you well: They say that Wyatt Earp rode a horse, But that's not so; he drove a car. They say that Big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real-estate man. They say that Rudolph Valentino was a lover, But that's not so; it was his brother. Sayin' Jesse James had a gang, But he really had a ragtime band. They say that old Bat Masterson carried a cane, But that's not so; he drove a plane. They say that Big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real-estate man. They say that old big Paladin have gun will travel, But that's not so; he shoveled gravel. Sayin' Jesse James had a gang, But he really had a ragtime band. They say that Perry Mason won all his cases, But that's not so; he sold shoelaces. They say that Big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real-estate man. They say that Robin Hood lived in the forest, But that's not so; he was a lawyer. Sayin' Jesse James had a gang, But he really had a ragtime band. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: PoppaGator Date: 24 Jul 08 - 11:42 AM I became aware of Reggie Hall at the 2006 French Quarter Festival and NO Jazz Festival, where he appeared as bandleader of "Reggie Hall and the Twilighters." Reggie stood near the front of the stage behind his keyboard, but did not "front" the band as vocalist. His featured singer was absolutely terrific, a visibly aged dude with tremendous vocal chops in the blues-shouter tradition. I wish I could remember his name ~ he had at least two nicknames, in parentheses, between his real first and last names, one of which referred to his signature song, something about "doin' the dog." For the rest of that summer, Reggie and the Twilighters and their featured singer made numerous appearances, but I haven't heard about any of them since. My best guess is that at least one key person may have passed away ~ if not Reggie himself, perhaps the singer, who really did look to be on his last legs two years ago. Even though he was able to "deliver the goods" very effectively as a vocalist, he looked pretty old and feeble offstage, and especially exhausted by the end of each show. The most common reason for New Orleans musicians disappearing from the local scene is displacement by the levee-failure floods that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but that can't be blamed for this band's fairly sudden absence. They actually made their big splash, appearing at multiple local festivals, during the spring and summer immediately after Katrina. I understand that Reggie toured with Fats for many years. Dave Batholomew, who co-wrote most of Fats' hits, wrote all the arrangements, etc., is generally credited as Fats' lifelong "bandleader," but I don't know that he always went on the road with his protege ~ brother-in-law Reggie may have played that role, at least on a few tours. A website called "MunckMusic" has CDs for sale of live shows from a number of different bands and events. Here's a link to their page of New Orleans Jazz Festival recordings, including the 2006 appearance of Reggie and the Twilighters: https://www.munckmusic.com/wms/jazzfest/index.html |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST,Gene Date: 24 Jul 08 - 10:42 AM Thanks Jim, I had a whale of a time understanding those lyrics... G More ears are better! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: Jim Dixon Date: 24 Jul 08 - 08:28 AM I listened to several sound samples, and transcribed these lyrics: ...but he really had a ragtime band. They say that old Bat Masterson carried a cane, But that's not so: he drove a plane. They say that Big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real estate man. They say that old big Paladin, have gun will travel, But that's not so: he shoveled gravel.... * * * ...They say that Wyatt Earp rode a horse, But that's not so: he drove a car. They said that Big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real estate man. They say that Rudolph Valentino was a lover, But that's not so: it was his brother. Sayin' Jesse James.... * * * The samples I listened to came from: Various Artists, "More New Orleans Party Classics," Rhino CD 75506, 1999—where THE JOKE is performed by Reggie Hall. Various Artists, "Funky Funky New Orleans, Vol. 2," Funky Delicacies CD 0018, 2002—where THE JOKE is performed by Leonard Harris. THE JOKE, performed by Reggie Hall, is also on: Various Artists, "Chess New Orleans," MCA CD 9355, 1995 (a 2-CD set) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST,Gene Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:19 PM Have at it Rusherman. Typos, misheard lyrics and undecipherable lyrics happen to all of us... I once posted halves of two different songs.. I had gotten out the guitar and started singing and writing the lyrics and chords and sometime after I posted them to COWPIE CORRAL I got an email stating it wasn't the way they remembered it. Sure enuff I had mixed up part of a Carl Smith Song and A Freddy Hart song.....UGH!!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST,Rusherman Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:28 PM I would like to thank Gene for his help on this song. He was great. He sent up most of the lyrics to me and I have tried to decipher the rest as best as I can. I will upload them to Mudcat as long as I don't have to swear that it is 100%. Thank you all for your help. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Plea From: Helen Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:31 AM You can listen to a sample of the track here: More New Orleans Party Classics: The Joke Well done, Gene! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST,Rusherman Date: 20 Jul 08 - 11:17 PM Really that is the name and singer. Man if it is I will be extremely grateful to you. I have emailed you and thank you for the information and kind offer. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST,Gene Date: 20 Jul 08 - 10:28 AM It's called "The Joke" done by Reggie Hall (Fats Domino's brother-in-law) in 1962. It was big in New Orleans. for mp3: Email cn8gv9@aim.com Gene (it is a 3 meg file) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Plea From: Helen Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:19 PM I thought it might have been Nervous Norvus, the one who had a one-hit wonder called Transfusion, but I just found info on a CD of his called Stone Age Woo and the possible songs on it don't seem to match. I though the one called I Listen to Red in Bed might have been the one, but no. You can listen to samples here: Nervous Norvus: Stone Age Woo We had the 78 rpm record of Transfusion when I was a kid. I also Googled and found lots of requests (from Raymond?) for info on the song, but no answers. The other possibility is Spike Jones, maybe. Helen |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST Date: 18 Jul 08 - 12:27 PM Hello all. To answer some questions best I can anyway. To Peace, I had it on a 45 record I would have gotten from a cleaned out jukebox as I got all my records back then. A Fellow gave them to me for free when he changed formats. To Sinsul, I will check out Jimi Hendrix but it might have been a bit befor his time. Gets awful murky back there though. To PoppaGator. I will write down the info you have put up here as it is the only lead I have gotten in a while. Other ideas and leads went noplace. Thank you all for your help and at least I have a new hope of catching up to this song.
Thanks. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: PoppaGator Date: 15 Jul 08 - 12:28 PM There's a great rocking nonsense song in the New Orleans R&B tradition, probably recorded at J&M Studios (and perhaps by Huey Smith and Clowns or Smiley Lewis), whose verse concludes with the phrase "but he really was a real estate man." I think it's different from what's being asked about here, because I'm pretty sure there are no lyrical references to those cowboys and indians mentioned above. But maybe it's a version sharing the same or similar tune, etc. I'll have to ask around, do some research, or just hope it gets played on WWOZ when I happen to be in my car with the radio on. (This is a record that gets occasional airplay on 'OZ ~ which you can get on your computer at www.wwoz.org.) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: SINSULL Date: 15 Jul 08 - 08:42 AM Jimi Hendrix did something similar but... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: Peace Date: 15 Jul 08 - 07:56 AM I searched using Mr Google and came up with zip (other than essentially the same question on an oldies thread). Did you hear the song on radio, TV, record? |
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Subject: Lyr Req: Looking for a song From: GUEST Date: 15 Jul 08 - 12:39 AM refresh |
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Subject: Lyr Req: Song Name of a 50's Funny Rocker Please From: GUEST,Raymond Date: 14 Jul 08 - 01:38 PM Part of lyrics "They say Red Ryder Rode A horse but it just ain' so, he drove a car and they say Cheyenne shot up the land but he really was a restate man" "they say Bat Masterson Carried a cane but that's not so he drove a train They say that old Cheyenne shot up the land but he really was a real estate man. I think the song ended with something like " it's ain't a lie it's a joke" Just cannot remember name from 1950's or 60's These are some of the likely mixed up lyrics I can remember. It was a rocking good tune that I would love to get. That is impossible without the Title and who sang it.It is not the Bat Masterson Theme or Long Tall Texan. Anyone who can help with this I would really appreciate it as I have spent way to much time over 20 years fretting on it. Thank you and sing on. |
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Subject: Req. Song Title some lyrics below 50's From: GUEST,Rusherman Date: 07 Sep 06 - 03:40 PM They say Red Ryder rode a horse. It just ain't so He drove a car and they say Cheyenne Shot up the land. But he really was a real estate man. That's about all I can remember of it. It seemed to be an early sort of bluesy rock number and I might be able to find it again if someone just knew the title of it. Thanks for listening and I hope I wasn't to badly out of tune. |
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