Lyr Req: Trucking Little Baby / ...Woman / ...Mama

Subject: 'Truckin' Little Baby'
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 24 Feb 01 - 09:07 PM

Looking for the lyrics to the above song. Don't know the person(s) who recorded this but know it came out in the '40's. It could also be titled "Truckin' Little Mama". Any help would be highly appreciated........Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Truckin' Little Baby'
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Feb 01 - 09:24 PM

No lyrics, but sound file here. Apparently Led Zepplin also recorded one by that title, but I don't know if it's the same one. Oh, and looks like it is "Mama", not baby.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Truckin' Little Baby'
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 09:26 AM

That does sound like the song in question. The original version that we had the 78 of in the late '40's was done on what sounded like a brass-bodied National guitar. You guys have a very good website. Good luck........Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Truckin' Little Baby'
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 02:21 PM

a quick search at-

http://www.google.com

found the following sites-

* CLICK TO: TRUCKIN' LITTLE MAMA *

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Truckin' Little Baby'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Jul 02 - 12:03 AM

The title of this song varies:
Blind Boy Fuller recorded "She's a Truckin' Little Baby"
Big Bill Broonzy recorded "Trucking Little Woman"
John Hammond, Jr. recorded, "Trucking Little Boy" (sic)
John Jackson recorded "Trucking Little Baby"
--but they're all essentially the same song.

Here's what I was able to transcribe from various sound samples at CDNOW:

From TRUCKING LITTLE BABY
(John Jackson)

That little girl, she's a-named Irene.
Got good jelly but she's stingy with me.
She's a trucking little baby.
She's a trucking little baby.
She...

From TRUCKING LITTLE BOY
(John Hammond)

Now that little gal is livin' low.
I'm gonna truck some before I go.
She's a trucking little baby
She's a trucking little baby
She's a trucking little baby
Gonna tell it everywhere I go

From TRUCKING LITTLE WOMAN
(Big Bill Broonzy)

This little gal that I'm singin' about,
She's strictly tailor-made and it ain't no doubt.
She's built up round, right on the ground.
She can look up as long as you can look down.
'Cause she's a truckin' little woman, don't you know.
Yeah, she's a truckin' little woman, don't you know.
She's a truckin' little woman, yeah, from Tennessee.

From TRUCKING LITTLE WOMAN NO. 2
(Big Bill Broonzy)

Went up last night and got throwed in the can.
She come out truckin' on the witness stand.
Jury went out and came back in.
They sent her home. Now she's truckin' again.
'Cause she's a truckin' little woman, don't you know.
Oh, what a truckin' little woman, don't you know.
She's a truckin' little woman, yeah, from Tennessee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Trucking Little Baby / ...Woman / ...Mama
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 02:42 PM

From a recording at YouTube:


TRUCKING LITTLE WOMAN
(Big Bill Broonzy)

1. See that woman, her hands up over her head?
Did you hear me, what I said?

CHORUS: She's a truckin' little woman, don't you know.
She's a truckin' little woman, don't you know.
She's a truckin' little woman, here from Tennessee.

2. Wake up, boys. Don't you be no fool.
This little gal here, she's just from school.
She got plenty sense. She ain't no fool.
Got big eyes 'cause she's stubborn as a mule, but—CHORUS

3. This little gal that I'm singin' about
Is strictly tailor-made and it ain't no doubt.
She's built up round, right on the ground.
She can look up as long as you can look down, 'cause—CHORUS

4. I's just wonderin' what's that Annie got?
Where does she keep it, an' in what drawer?
Where did she get it? How much it cost?
Eyes like a big motor with a double exhaust, 'cause—CHORUS

5. See that woman goin' down the road,
Jumpin' an' jackin' like a model-T Fo'd. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Trucking Little Baby / ...Woman / ...Mama
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 02:56 PM

Used to be a staple of Ralph McTell's act. Blind Boy Fuller probably did the defining version, but Ralph's runs him pretty damn close.

Ralph does it on his live at Croydon video.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHE'S A TRUCKIN' LITTLE BABY (Fuller)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 07:58 PM

SHE'S A TRUCKIN' LITTLE BABY
As sung by Blind Boy Fuller
From the album "Blind Boy Fuller Vol. 4 1937-1938" (Document DOCD-5094)

1. I got a gal; she live 'cross that hill.
Just gonna quit me but I love her still.

CHORUS: She's a truckin' little baby.
She's a truckin' little baby.
She's a truckin' little baby; I'm gwine to tell it ev'rywhere I go.

2. That 'ere girl she's named Irene.
She got good jelly but she's stingy with me.

3. Now wake up, boys; don't be no fool.
Here's a little gal, yes, yes, comes too(?).

4. She's long and slim; she's made up round.
She can look up long as I can look down.

5. Get out, boys; let me shut the do'.
I got to truck some 'fore I go.

6. Tell you boys 'cause you my pal,
Mighty bad sign to advertise your gal.

Subject: Lyr Add: TRUCKIN' (from Prairie Ramblers)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 05:40 PM

This seems as good a place as any to put this western swing song:


TRUCKIN'
As recorded by the Prairie Ramblers, 1935.

Here's a brand-new dance sensation,
And it's sweepin' through the nation.
It's so easy; let's go to it.
Come on! Here's the way to do it:

Get yourself a sweetie; keep in time with the song.
Just learn to step; get full o' pep; keep truck-truck-truckin' along.

Learn that … rhythm; old-style dances are gone.
Fellows, hold your baby; truck-truck-truck along.

Evrybody's doin' it, doin' it now.
It's the latest craze today; come on! It's hot and how!

Listen to that music; put your arms where they belong.
You're bound to win; come on, begin to truck-truck-truck along.

Subject: Lyr Add: KEEP ON TRUCKIN' (from Smoky Wood)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 06:16 PM

KEEP ON TRUCKIN'
As recorded by Smoky Wood & His Wood Chips, 1937.

Ev'ry time I go to town,
The boys go to kickin' the gong around.
Oh, it makes no diff'rence if I am a hound;
You got to quit kickin' that gong around.

Now ev'ry time we get in the groove,
All the boys start kickin' their shoes.
It makes no diff'rence if you got the blues;
Keep on truckin' and the Suzy-Q.

On the left, and you come down.
Meet your honey; go 'round and 'round.
You swing Sue and I'll swing Kate.
Swing that gal like swingin' on a gate.


["Kicking the Gong Around" meant smoking opium. Cab Calloway recorded a song by that name, and mentioned it in his famous song "Minnie the Moocher." I wonder if the audience of this western swing band knew what it meant? As used here, it's also a parody of "They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun'." The tunes are very similar.]