Lyr/Chords: Papa's on the Housetop (Leroy Carr)

Subject: popa's on the roof top won't come down
From:
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 11:15 PM

Looking for chords and lyrics to Jug Band songs to!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: popa's on the roof top won't
From: Stewie
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 01:48 AM

'Papa's on the Housetop' (Leroy Carr) is on Jim Kweskin 'Side by Side' Mountain Railroad MR52790.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP
From: GUEST,Gary
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 06:49 PM

I glommed this from an old Kweskin Jug Band LP.
I think I have the chords figured out below, but it sounds as if I'm-a missin one or two somewhere.
Does anyone have some guidance for a poor struggling beginner?

PAPAS ON THE HOUSETOP

 1
  Mama told Papa be quiet as a mouse
  1
  So Papa climbed up on top of the house
  4
  Made a lot of whoopee, made a lot of noise
  5                                              1
  Stood up and cheered with the rest of the boys

Baby's in the cradle, brothers gone to town
Sister's in the parlor trying on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messin' all around
Papa's on the housetop and won't come down.


Thanks.


Gary

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Papa's on the housetop
From: robomatic
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 08:16 PM

Additional lyrics (there may be more)

The blues they come, the blues they come,
Nobody knows where the blues come from.
The blues they go, the blues they go,
And everybody's happy when the old blues go.

Baby's in the cradle, Sister's gone to town,
Brother's in the parlor [surprised voice] trying on a gown?!
Mama's in the kitchen messin' all around,
Papa's on the housetop and won't come down

No he WONT COME DOWN!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Papa's on the housetop
From: Genie
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 08:01 PM

Sounds like an additional verse could tie this in with Christmas. Papa's up there trying to clean off the reindeer droppings or helping Santa get unstuck from the chimney, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Papa's on the Housetop
From: GUEST,Tamnhu
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 05:58 PM

papas on the housetop stringing lights

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Papa's on the Housetop
From: pdq
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 07:05 PM

This odd song actually comes from a Blues piano player named Leroy Carr, recorded about 1930.

Tim and Mollie O'Brien do a nice job on the song, but give attribution to "public domain".

Subject: ADD: Papa's on the Housetop (ADAPTED)
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 09:32 PM

I first learned it from Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, but I think Jane Voss and Hoyle Osborne recorded it as well as Tim and Mollie O'Brien.

I think the version I sing is an amalgamation of all of the above, plus some folk processing on my part:


PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP
(Leroy Carr, adapted by Eve Goldberg)

Mama said to Papa, be quiet as a mouse
So Papa climbed up on the top of the house
Made a lot of whoopee, made a lot of noise
Stood up and cheered with the rest of the boys

CHORUS:
Baby's in the cradle, brother's on the town
Sister's in the parlour, flying up and down
Mama's in the kitchen, messing all around
And Papa's on the housetop, he won't come down

Well the blues they come, yes the blues they come
Nobody knows where the blues come from
The blues they go, yes the blues they go
And everybody's happy when the old blues go

(chorus)

Papa saw a chicken out in the yard
He picked up a rock and he hit him hard
He hit him hard and he killed him dead
Now the chicken's in the gravy and the gravy's on the bread

(chorus)

Hush little baby don't you cry
The blues are gonna leave you by and by
Papa come in just a little bit sore
Put the baby in the cradle, tossed the blues out the door

(chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Papa's on the Housetop
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 11:46 AM

There are three versions of this on YouTube. It's an enjoyable song.
Thanks.

The oldest-sounding had 'sister's in her bedroom, tryin' on a gown.'

Subject: Lyr Add: PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP (Leroy Carr)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 06:15 PM

This video, about roof replacement, has as its soundtrack the original recording by Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. Here's a transcription, in case you care about having it exactly the way it was sung then:


PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP
(Leroy Carr)

1. Mama made Papa be quiet as a mouse.
Papa climbed up on the top o' the house,
Made a lot o' whoopee, made a lot o' noise,
Stood up an' cheered with the rest of the boys.

CHORUS:
Baby's in the cradle. Brother's gone to town.
Sister's in the parlor, tryin' on a gown.
Mama's in the kitchen, messin' all aroun'.
Papa's on the housetop, won't come down.

2. The blues they come. The blues they come.
Nobody knows where the blues come from.
The blues they go. The blues they go,
And everybody's happy when the old blues go.

3. Papa saw a chicken out in the yard,
Picked up a rock and hit him hard,
Hit him hard, killed him dead,
Now the chicken's in the gravy and the gravy's on the bread.

4. Hush-a, little baby. Don't you cry.
Blues gonna leave you by and by.
Papa came in, sure was sore(?),
Put the baby in the cradle, and the blues outdoor.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Papa's on the Housetop (Leroy Carr)
From: GUEST,Tamnhu BUI
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 08:31 AM

PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP STRING'IN UP LIGHTS
TRY'EN TO GET READY FOR ONE BIG NIGHT
EACH AND EVERY YEAR HE DOES HIS BEST
PAPA'S UP, LOOK OUT BELOOOW
PAPA NO PLEASE DON'T GO
PAPA NO PLEASE DON'T GOOOOOOOO

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Papa's on the Housetop (Leroy Carr)
From: GUEST,Mohave Blues
Date: 24 Aug 22 - 12:30 PM

More lyrics:

Papa saw a chicken out in the yard
Took a rock and killed him dead
Now the chicken's in the gravy
And the gravy's on the bread.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Papa's on the Housetop (Leroy Carr)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 03:58 PM

Anybody know when this was written? Leroy Carr was born in 1905 and died in 1935.