Lyr Req: Tight Like That (T Dorsey, H Whittaker)

Subject: Tight Like That
From:
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:41 AM

At one time I knew what the phrase "tight like that" means; but I forgot, and I can't recall where I saw/heard an explanation. What does it mean?

Murray (Now where could I have put that bottle of ginko pills?)

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: Les B
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:42 PM

Well... there's a saying out here in the West, "Tighter than a bull's ass in fly time !"

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:24 PM

Uh... since it started........I'll be delicate.......

INSERT LEFT HAND......INSERT RIGHT HAND......NOW CLAP

Tight ain't it?

catspaw (discussing front pocket on sweatshirt)

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: gargoyle
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:38 PM

What is the context?

The meaning is dependent upon context and time frame.

To a musician it has meant "crisp" "right" "perfect" "together."

An early 70's joke asked, "How are Sammy Davis Jr. and a Kotex alike?"

Answer: "They are both, uptight, outa sight, and in the grove."

Give the context - and you will probably have a correct answer.

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From:
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:53 PM

gargoyle: The context is: First of all there is a Leadbelly song called "Tight Like That". It is often found in blues verses. However the phrase is usually "She's tight like that." I think your musician's meaning might be the one I remember.

Catspaw. I am not sure the meaning I remember is the one implicit in your explanation.

Murray

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 10:12 PM

Sorry Murr.....just tryin' to help. In my younger days I was very interested in sweatshirts and had quite a few. Ah sweet youth..........Wait a minute...come to think about it, I'm much happier now.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: harpgirl
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 11:30 PM

...this little phrase has morphed into "she tight" among the teenage crowd...I'm assuming it means the young lady in question is attractive...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: woody
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 11:31 PM

Ya gotta listen to Tampa Red's liyrics in "It's Tight Like That" The liner notes say that there is a "double meaning" *Grin*.

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From:
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 04:51 AM

Catspaw. I think you have the beginning of a great blues song there! With the riff being "it's sweatshirts, I'm talkin' about". Tampa Red, in fact would be a good one to do the song.

Woody, it is the first (clean?) meaning of the phrase I am looking for. Do the liner notes give the two meanings?

Murray

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: woody
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 04:53 PM

Murray; Nope. Woody

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: Jon W.
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 05:07 PM

Another old folk/blues song which I recorded off the radio in the past year or so has the refrain "Oh, baby, times is tight like that" which I have taken to mean hard times from the context of the song. I'll see if I can find it and post lyrics. Blind Blake did a song which was called "Too Tight" I believe, in which the expression was used as a superlative to describe various things - women, a band, a dance, etc. Probably more in the same spirit as Tampa Red used it.

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 05:30 PM

What on earth could the clean meaning be?
Yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: harpgirl
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 05:39 PM

...I've already told you guys what the clean meaning is but you all ignored me!!!

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 11:32 AM

harpgirl, you tight, but no dissin' -- takin' de duh boyz ridin' (Compraztic?)

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 12:34 PM

chill PT, yo' mamma so skinny she hoola hoop wid a cheerio!

Subject: RE: Tight Like That
From: Woody
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 01:06 PM

Still don't know what the "clean" meaning is but, while looking for something that might tell me, I stumble on a good Tab and lyric site. If you'd like to tackle Blind Blake's "Too Tight Blues" the tab can be found at http//members.aol.com/maxxdaddy/mw3/blake2.txt keep pickin'

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Dorsey, Whittaker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 12:17 PM

Transcribed from the recording at The Red Hot Jazz Archive:

IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorsey / Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker)        
As sung by Clara Smith, Columbia 14398d, Jan. 26, 1929.

Listen here, folks. I'm gonna sing a little song,
But you mustn't get mad. I don't mean no wrong.
There's an old maid name is Liza Beck(?)
Always singin' the blues when she tumbles in bed.
  Oh, it's tight like that.
  Oh, it's tight like that.
  Hear me talkin' to you.
  I mean it's tight like that.

I know a hotel that's called the Cumberland(?) Patch,
Got a million bedbugs just to make you scratch.
Monkey woke up a quarter to three,
And he said to the flea, "Quit your pickin' on me."
  Oh, it's tight like that.
  Oh, it's tight like that.
  Ah, hear me talkin' to you.
  I mean, it's tight like that.

Mandy Lee Jones got to rappin'(?) at night,
And she never gets home till it's comin' daylight.
Old Uncle Bill came 'bout half-past ten,
Put the key in the hole, but he couldn't get in.
  He says: "It's tight like that.
  What's the matter with it, gettin' tight like that?
  Oh, hear me call you, coonyins(?).
  I mean it's tight like that."

If you see my man, tell him to hurry home.
I ain't had no bread since he's been gone.
I love a man slender and slim.
When he struts his stuff, why, it's too bad, Jim.
  Oh, it's tight like that.
  Oh, it's tight like that.
  Ah, hear me talkin' to you.
  I mean it's tight like that.

Oh, the little red rooster said to the hen:
"You ain't laid a egg in I can't tell when."
The little red hen said to the roosta:
"You don't come around as often as you used ta.
  Now it's tight like that. A long delay
  Makes it tight like that. Hear what I say.
  Hear me talkin' to you.
  I mean it's tight like that."

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Dorsey, Whittaker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 12:57 PM

Transcribed from the recording at The Red Hot Jazz Archive:

IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorsey / Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker)
As recorded by Jimmy Noone's Apex Club Orchestra, Vocalion 1238, Dec 27 1928.

Now the little black rooster told the little brown hen
To meet him at the bone(?) about half-past ten.

CHORUS: You know it's tight like that. Beedle-um-bum.
You know it's tight like that. Beedle-um-bum.
Don't you hear me talkin' to you?
You know it's tight like that.

I went to see my gal. She lives 'cross the hall.
Found a new mule kickin' in my stall. CHORUS

Now I had a little dog. His name was Beau(?).
I give him little taste and he wanted it all. CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Dorsey, Whittaker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 01:15 PM

IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorsey / Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker)
As recorded by McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Victor 38013, Nov. 23, 1928.

Listen here, folks. I'm gonna sing a little song.
Don't get mad. I don't mean no wrong.

CHORUS: You know it's tight like that.
Ah, it's tight like that.
Hear me talkin' to you.
I mean it's tight like that.

See my gal, tell her t' hurry home.
I ain't had no sleep since she's been gone. CHORUS

Uncle Bill came home 'bout a half-past ten
Couldn't find his key so he couldn't get in. CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Dorsey, Whittaker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 01:34 PM

IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorsey / Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker)
As recorded by Walter Barnes and his Royal Creolians, Brunswick C-2705-C, Dec. 24, 1928.

Oh, I wear my britches up above my knees,
And I shake my shimmy as ...(?) I please.

CHORUS: Oh, it's tight like that. Deedle-oh-doe.
Ah, it's tight like that. Deedle-oh-doe.
Oh, you hear me talkin' to you.
What I mean is tight like that.

I got a little dog and his name is Beau(?).
Give a little taste and he want it all. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tight Like That (T Dorsey, H Whittaker)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 02:47 PM

Re the clean meaning, the recently referenced Barrelhouse Words - A Blues Dictionary by Stephen Calt, has: A Chicago superlative recounted by Tom Dorsey ("Georgia Tom"), who helped parlay it into a best-selling race record: "there used to be a phrase used around town, you know, folks started saying, 'Ah, she's tight like that! Tight like that!'"(O'Neal and van Singel). Although the term had no express sexual connotations, it would be misconstrued...

(O'Neal and van Singel: The Voice of the Blues: classic interviews from Living blues magazine - interview with Tom Dorsey).


Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Dorsey, Whittaker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 03:41 PM

Transcribed from the recording at The Red Hot Jazz Archive:

IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorsey / Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker)
As recorded by Luis Russell and His Burning Eight, Okeh 8656, Jan. 15, 1929.

Listen here, folks. I'm gonna sing a little song
But you mustn't get mad, for I mean you no wrong.

CHORUS: Oh, it's tight like that.
Oh/Yes*, it's tight like that.
Boy/Partner*, you hear me talkin' to you?
I know/mean* it's tight like that.

I went to see my gal. She lives 'cross the hall,
And I found a new mule kickin' 'round in my stall. CHORUS

I love a love a gal. She sure is fine and slim.
When she's struttin' her stuff, why, just too bad, Jim. CHORUS

[* Wording varies with each repetition of the chorus.]

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Dorsey, Whittaker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 06:19 PM

Transcribed from the recording at The Red Hot Jazz Archive:

IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorsey / Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker)
As recorded by Zack Whyte and His Chocolate Beau Brummels, Champion 15714, Feb. 11, 1929.

Now, look-a here, folks. I want to sing a little song.
I hope you don't get mad, for I mean no wrong.

CHORUS: Oh, it's tight like that. (Yes, sir!)
Oh, it's tight like that. (Yes, sir! Hmmmmm.)
Oh, it's tight like that.

When you see a spider going up the wall,
He's goin' up there to get his ashes hauled. CHORUS

Goin' roll my britches up above my knees.
Goin' strut my stuff with whoever I please. CHORUS

My baby said she likes lovin' done
Early in the mornin' 'fore the risin' sun. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tight Like That (T Dorsey, H Whittaker)
From: KathyW
Date: 28 Dec 12 - 03:03 PM

Jim: I just happened to be listening to the Clara Smith version of this song on YouTube today, I think the line you transcribed as: "Mandy Lee Jones got to rappin'(?) at night" is more likely to be "Mandy Lee Jones does her vamping at night."

Here's the link to the recording I was listening to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEleM86fPtE

Awesome song! Thanks for transcribing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tight Like That (T Dorsey, H Whittaker)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Dec 12 - 03:27 PM

KathyW is right about that line.

Also, the hotel is the Slumberland Patch. The other query sounds to me like coonins, though I've no idea what the sense is.

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: TIMES IS TIGHT LIKE THAT (Bo Carter)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Jun 13 - 11:12 AM

Another recording from Spotify:

TIMES IS TIGHT LIKE THAT
As sung by Bo Carter on "Bo Carter Vol. 1 (1928 – 1931)" (Document Records, 1991) and other albums
[There is a second voice on the recording but I don't know who it is.]

Listen here, people; … come forth(?).
Times is hard and everybody knows.

CHORUS: Oh, baby, times is tight like that.

If you come to my house, just come across the field.
… don't bring me flowers; bring me meat and meal.

I worked all summer and I worked all fall.
Got to take my pistol in my overalls.

Ten-cent cotton and twenty-cent meat,
How in the world can a poor man eat?

Listen here, Maddy; want to tell you the fac'
[If you] don't bring some money … don't you come back.

Listen here, daddy; don't mean rob and steal.
… money … roll this wheel.

When I was up and had good money,
You was huggin' and kissin' and callin' me honey.

Now because I ain't got a dollar in my hand,
[You] want to do your cookin' for another man.

Listen here, baby; give me one more chance.
I'll bring some money if I have to pawn my pants.

Listen here, baby; times is so tough
I b'lieve the old woman's got to sell this stuff.

I ain't workin' 'cause times is tough.
Ain't got no money … to buy your stuff.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tight Like That (T Dorsey, H Whittaker)
From: GUEST,Bernhard H. Behncke, Hamburg/Germany
Date: 26 May 15 - 12:30 PM

Hello, there's a second 'take' of Noone's title. The lyrics are changed slightly, the first line reads:
... brown rooster..... black hen
Regards Bernhard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tight Like That (T Dorsey, H Whittaker)
From: 12-stringer
Date: 26 May 15 - 10:12 PM

The Carter recording (transcribed 6/17/2013) is a duet with Walter Jacobs. Jacobs is immediately recognizable as the vocalist from the Mississippi Sheiks. His correct name appears to be Walter Vinson, but he's also given as Vincson and Vincent on various disk labels.

I'll chip in two pretty good hillbilly versions, both individualized enough to rise above mere "cover" status.

RED'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
Tune Wranglers, San Antonio, 2/27/1936, Bluebird B-6438, lead vocal and tenor banjo by "Red Brown" (Joe Barnes), addl vcl chorus by the band in parentheses, call-response. Instrumental solos from fiddle, tenor banjo, and piano

Now I had a girl and her name was Kate
She could shake it so well, she shake like jelly on a plate
Oh, it's tight like that (tight like that), it's tight like that (tight like that)
Can't you hear me talking to you, I said it's tight like that (it's tight like that).

She could shake it so well, she laid it on the shelf
Said if you want any more, you've got to shake it yourself

Now she wouldn't and she couldn't and she didn't come at all
She pulled up her stocking and leaned against the wall

Now, apples on the table, peaches on the shelf
I'm gettin' mighty tired of sleepin' by myself

I'm not the butcher but the butcher's son
I can cut your meat until the butcher comes

Now I don't know but I've been told
That the ladies in heaven like to sweet jelly roll


TIGHT LIKE THAT
Otis Mote, hca/gtr/vcl, Richmond, VA, 10/17/1929, released on OK 45389. Mote has an almost alto voice and plays harmonica very much like Gwen Foster, taking several breaks between verses. Lyrics are similar but not identical to the first recording by Tampa Red and Georgia Tom, and he doesn't "beedle-um" in the chorus (though he scats a verse in beedle-ums).

Uncle Jack oome home 'bout half past ten
Put the key in the hole but he couldn't get it in,
It's tight like that, Lord, lord, it's tight like that
Don't 'ee hear me talkin' to you, honey, it's tight like that.

Little red rooster said [to] the little red hen
[?Make a date] at the gate 'bout half past ten.

Little brown rooster said (to) the little brown hen
You ain't laid an egg since Lord knows when

Little brown hen said [to] the little red rooster
You don't come to see me just as reg'lar as you use-ter

My ma had a dog, she named him Ball
Give him a little taste and he wanted it all

Went to see my gal, across the hall
Had another mule kickin' in her stall

If you see my gal, hurry home
Ain't had no rest since she been gone

Mote also scats a verse with variations of "beedle-um-bum," between the last two harmonica solos.