Lyr Req: Shotgun Tickle

Subject: Shotgun Tickle
From:
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 03:59 PM

A long time ago someone sang me a song involving tickling and other nonsense between two people ending in a baby and a wedding. I don't remember much of the song, but the bit that has stuck in my head these past 30 years or so is: "...her father with a shotgun, had come to tickle me."

Any help appreciated...

Bill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shotgun Tickle
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 12:45 PM

I suspect this could be the one you want.

Transcribed from a sound sample at CDNOW.

SHE TICKLES ME

She pulled down all the window shades so no one couldn't see.
She crammed a rag in the keyhole, and boy! that tickled me.
I asked her would she marry; I'm tired of going free.
And then she turned the lights all out, and gosh! that tickled me.

[As recorded by the Dixon Brothers and available on "The Dixon Brothers, Vol. 2: 1937," Document CD 8047, 2001; also recorded by the New Lost City Ramblers on "40 Years Of Concert Recordings," Rounder CD 10481, 2001.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shotgun Tickle
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 01:02 PM

I just added a song called "I Tickled Nancy" to the thread called ADD: Uncle Dave Macon Lyrics. It's probably not the one you want, but fun nevertheless.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shotgun Tickle
From:
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 10:08 AM

Wow! I think that's it. I'm off to my local record shop to order a copy. If it's the one, I'll post the whole song.

Thanks Jim.

Bill

Subject: Lyr Add: SHE TICKLES ME (from Roy Harper)
From: wilco
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 03:00 PM

SHE TICKLES ME (Roy Harper version)
G                                  C                G
I went to see my gal one night, and stayed till after three.
    C             G                            D      G
The reason that I stayed so late, that gal did tickle me.

She looked so doggone bashful, only sixteen years of age.
She had her tables all dressed up, and britches on her legs.

She pulled down all the window shades, so no one else could see,
She crammed a rag in the keyhole, and boy, that tickled me.

I asked her if she'd marry, since I was tired of going free.
And then she turned the lights out, and boy, that tickled me.

I fumbled all round to find her, the room was black as night.
I got my arms around her, made everything alright.

I hugged her and I kissed her, and then the light went on.
I had her mammy on my arms, and my ol' gal was gone.

Then something snapped behind me. I looked around to see.
Her dad was standing in the room, come to tickle me.

I jumped right out the window into me old sedan,
Expecting every moment to be shot by her old man.

I never seed that gal again, and I'm still a-going free.
She's fourteen hundred miles away, and boy, that tickles me!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shotgun Tickle
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 03:33 PM

Correction:

In the line, given as
she had her tables all dressed up. and britches on her legs.

that should be "britches on their legs".

In Victorian times, and for some time after, "legs" were considered rather indecent. One didn't refer to someone's legs; you mentioned "limbs". When one served fried chicken, it was shocking to ask for "a leg". And yes, even tables' legs, because of the association, were suspect, and it was proper in many circles to dress those indecent appendages up with "britches".

Whereas "britches on her legs" adds nothing at all to the story.

Dave Oesterreich