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Lyr Req/Add: See-Lye/Sea-Lion/She Lye Woman

24 Aug 00 - 09:41 PM (#284611)
Subject: she lye woman lyrics
From: GUEST

I'm looking for the above lyrics. As near as I can determine the song was written in the late '30's but Christeen and Katherine Shipp. I first heard the song on the sound track to "The General's Daughter". I've tried many places but haven't been able to locate the lyrics or a place to buy a recording. I also haven't been able to find a soundtrack of the above movie, either. Can you help???

24 Aug 00 - 11:38 PM (#284695)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Sorcha

she "lye" as in wood ash lye for soap, or "lie" as in not tell the truth or lie down? I'll go looking........

24 Aug 00 - 11:40 PM (#284698)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Pene Azul

It's "Lye," Sorcha.

PA

24 Aug 00 - 11:42 PM (#284699)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Pene Azul

Apparently, it's either See-Lye or Sea Lion, from what I gather from this.

PA

24 Aug 00 - 11:48 PM (#284704)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Sorcha

Well, that's a clue.....I'm off to Copernic. We'll see what happens.

25 Aug 00 - 12:47 AM (#284766)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Sorcha

Well, hot diggity! Lookie here. Apparently it was in the move "The General's Daughter"......here are the lyrics:

She Lyin' Woman / Sea Lion Woman

Christine and Katherine Shipp, 1939

She Lyin' Woman / She Lyin'
She drank coffee / She Lyin'
She drank tea / She Lyin'
And he gamble lie / She Lyin'.
Way down yonder / She Lyin'
I'm going maul / She Lyin'
And the rooster crow / She Lyin'
And he got no lie / She Lyin'.
She Lyin' Woman / She Lyin'
She drank coffee / She Lyin'
She drank tea / She Lyin'
And she gamble lie / She Lyin'.
She Lyin' Woman / She Lyin'
She drank coffee / She Lyin'
She drank tea / She Lyin'
And a gamble lie / She Lyin'.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recorded for the Library of Congress by Herbert Halpert in Byhalia, Mississippi in May of 1939. You can substitute "sea lion woman" or "see lyin' woman" for "she lyin' woman".

from here, click, which is........http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/usa/shelyin.htm

Attributed to Trad, but no melody avaliable.

Available here from our own Camsco Music.

26 Aug 00 - 03:05 PM (#285698)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Sorcha

Refresh for "Guest" and apparently we HAD discussed this one before, I just couldn't find it:

Charlie Baum sea lion woman (aka see lye woman) RE: sea lion woman (aka see lye woman) 20-Jun-99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sea Lion Woman", sung by Christine and Katherine Shipp, was recorded for the Library of Congress by Herbert Halpert in Byhalia, Mississippi in May of 1939. It is available on the CD "A Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings" selected and annotated by Stephen Wade, Rounder CD 1500. The liner notes mention that the actual title of this playground song might be See [the] Lyin' Woman, C-Line Woman, or Sea Lion Woman. The words as near as I can figure them out:

Sea Lion Woman / Sea Lion
She drank coffee / Sea Lion
She drank tea / Sea Lion
And he gamble lie / Sea Lion

Way down yonder / Sea Lion
I'm going maul / Sea Lion
And the rooster crow / Sea Lion
and he got no lie / Sea Lion

Sea lion woman / Sea Lion
she drank coffee / Sea Lion
She drank tea / Sea Lion
And she gamble lie / Sea Lion

Sea lion woman / Sea Lion
she drank coffee / Sea Lion
She drank tea / Sea Lion
And a gamble lie / Sea Lion

^^ I'm sure this is inaccurate, and perhaps someone with a copy of the song and a better ear for dialect will correct this. (Or perhaps the original Library of Congress vinyl LP contains lyrics transcriptions.)

--Charlie Baum

23 Jan 01 - 11:04 PM (#380980)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: GUEST,gstevenmarie@aol.com

am interested in finding a recording of sea lion woman. first heard the song on the generals daughter movie, but could not find a soundtrack for the movie. do you know where a recording of this song and others like it may be purchased? thank you for any forhtcoming information.

23 Jan 01 - 11:16 PM (#380983)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: GUEST,dick greenhaus

The recording used in the movie was "A Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings" edited by Steve Wade. It's Rounder 1500; IMHO the most significant folk CD of the past decade, and available for a mere $12.98 from CAMSCO Music. call me at 800/548-FOLK (3655) or E-mail me at dick@camsco.com

(If you mention Mudcat, Mudcat gets a cut)

24 Jan 01 - 08:17 AM (#381144)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: wes.w

Nina Simone has recorded it, with some slightly different verses. I've got it on an old compilation LP, but with the amount of CD compilations of her about, it would better to look for a newer one.

24 Jan 01 - 02:12 PM (#381440)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: MARINER

The soundtrack of The Generals Daughter was issued on Milan (or B.M.G.)you can't tell so easily with these little C.D.s, however the catalogue number is 69474-2. Given a choice if I were you I'd go for the Library of Congress originals, without the backing tracks.

24 Jan 01 - 10:56 PM (#381794)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: GUEST,Fred

In their album, "Front Porch Music," Linda Tillery and The Cultural Heritage Choir use the following version: 


See Line Woman  
(George H. Bass)
(Sam Fox Publishing Inc.)  
  

See line woman     See line
She drink coffee
She drink tea
And then go home
See line woman

See line woman     See line
Dressed in green
Wear silk stockings
With golden seams
See line woman

See line woman    See line
Dressed in red
Make a man
Lose his head
See line woman

See line woman    See line
Got dress on
For a thousand dollars
She wail and she moan
See line woman

Wiggle wiggle   See line
Purr like a cat
Wink at a man
And he wink back
Now I'm tire of see line woman

Empty his pockets    See Line
And wreck his days
Make him love her
And shoefly away
Way aa aa yeah

Vocal ad lib

See line woman    See line
Dressed in green
Dressed in red
Lose his head

Empty his pockets    See line
And wreck his day
Make him love her
And she'll fly away

Take it on out now
See line woman (repeat)



If you get a chance to hear this great choir, don't miss them--great energy and music!!

24 Jan 01 - 10:58 PM (#381797)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: GUEST,Fred

Oops. This program ignored some spaces I put in for the repeat of "See line", which is repeated after every line except the last of each verse.

04 Oct 07 - 01:27 AM (#2163357)
Subject: RE: she lye woman lyrics
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Fred -
I think I fixed it the way you wanted it. I used the <pre> (preformat) command before and </pre> after the lyrics.
Looks like a great song. I wish I could hear the choral performance.
-Joe-