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Lyr Req: Lorelei (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan

04 Aug 17 - 12:07 AM (#3869814)
Subject: Lyr Req: Lorelei (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan
From: Joe Offer

The estimable Roger the Skiffler posted these lyrics. His transcription is good, but I have my disagreements. Please listen to the recording and suggest corrections to my transcription.

Thread #99646   Message #1988038
Posted By: Roger the Skiffler
06-Mar-07 - 08:12 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: songs by Lonnie Donegan
Subject: Lyr Add: LORELEI (Leiber & Stoller)

This is Leiber & Stoller's Lorelei transcribed from Lonnie's recording. It is very fast so I'm not surprised Claude had problems, I had to listen to it in bits:

LORELEI
(Leiber & Stoller)

I kissed a girl in Burma, in a town they called Rangoon
Her lips were hot as curry in the heat of the afternoon
Her kisses were so spicy I thought my lips would fry
(CHORUS:) But I never knew what kissing was till I kissed Lorelei
Loerelei,Lorelei, Lorelei.

I kissed a girl in Africa, I only had a hope [?]
And every time I kissed her my ears would turn to soap
She kissed me oceans deeply and she kissed me mountains high
But... (CHORUS)

I kissed a girl in London town, right underneath Big Ben
And as our lips were touching the clock was striking ten
She kissed me there in April and it lasted till July
But...(CHORUS)

I kissed a girl in the Holy Land in the Sea of Galilee
She fed me dates and olives underneath a lemon tree
She kissed me till my sunburnt lips were parched and dry
But...(CHORUS)

You think that I'm just lying and you think she don't exist
But if she kissed you boy you'd know that you'd been kissed
For kissing is her speciality, her one and only dish
For Lorelei's a mermaid, half a woman, half a fish
Lorelei, Lorelei, Lorelei.


RtS

Lonnie Donegan recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHXxOZS21KY

04 Aug 17 - 12:09 AM (#3869816)
Subject: Lyr Add: LORELEI (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan
From: Joe Offer

Here's my transcription:

LORELEI
(Leiber & Stoller)

I kissed a girl in Burma, in a town they call Rangoon
Her lips were hot as curry in the heat of the afternoon
Her kisses were so spicy, I thought my lips would fry
(CHORUS:) But I never knew what kissing was till I kissed Lorelei
Lorelei, Lorelei, Lorelei.

I kissed a girl in Africa, I'd only had a hope
That every time she kissed me back my ears would burn to toast
She kissed me ocean-deeply and she kissed me mountain-high
But... (CHORUS)

I kissed a girl in London town, right underneath Big Ben
And as her lips was a-touching mine, the clock was striking ten
She kissed me there in April and it lasted till July
But...(CHORUS)

I kissed a girl in the Holy Land by the Sea of Galilee
She fed me dates and olives underneath a lemon tree
She kissed me till my sunburnt lips were twisted, parched, and dry
But...(CHORUS)

You think that I'm just lying, you think she don't exist
But if she ever kissed you, boys, you know that you've been kissed
For kissing is her specialty, her one and only dish
'Cause Lorelei's a mermaid, half a woman, half a fish
Lorelei, Lorelei, Lorelei.

04 Aug 17 - 10:15 AM (#3869928)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lorelei (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan
From: Roger the Skiffler

I think Joe's transcription of "toast" not "soap" makes more sense.
Estimable? I don't think so!
RtS

04 Aug 17 - 09:28 PM (#3870028)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lorelei (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan
From: Joe Offer

Aw, c'mon, Roger, accept the compliment!

05 Aug 17 - 05:31 AM (#3870070)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lorelei (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan
From: Roger the Skiffler

Blush!
RtS

06 Aug 17 - 10:47 PM (#3870362)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lorelei (Leiber & Stoller)- per Donegan
From: Jim Dixon

Joe: I agree with all your corrections, except:

Lorelei, Lorelei, Lorelei. [one too many Lorelei's]

I kissed a girl in Africa, right on the Iv'ry Coast
... burn like toast

She kissed me till my sunburnt lips was blistered, parched and dry