The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #119521 Message #2594206
Posted By: Jim Dixon
21-Mar-09 - 06:12 PM
Thread Name: Eephing (type of vocal technique or 'mouth music')
Subject: Lyr Add: EEP, IPE, WANNA PIECE OF PIE (Fats Waller
This is the song that I was reminded of when reading the thread Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie, and which in turn inspired me to start this thread about eephing.
This is my transcription from Fats Waller and His Rhythm, on the 78-rpm record MIGHTY FINE (Razaf, Waller) b/w EEP, IPE, WANNA PIECE OF PIE (Blaine, Dann), Bluebird 10744, 1940:
EEP, IPE, WANNA PIECE OF PIE By Jerry Blaine and Artie Dann (some sources add: Nick Catamas) J. R. LaFleur & Son Ltd., 1940.
Eep*, ipe*, wanna piece of pie. Eep*, ipe*, wanna bowl of soup. Eep*, ipe*, let your tongue turn. Eep*, ipe*, easy to learn. Eep*, ipe*, clock is on the wall. Eep*, ipe*, sounds like doubletalk. Eep*, ipe*, ippy ippy way. Eep*, wop*, wop*, wop*, you do it all day.
If your fire* on the copembagger* is worthwhile, Then the fire* eeply*, op*, op* sets the style, If you burrrowackasacki* and you hold real tight, You need fop*, rop*, rop*, rop*, rop*, I guess'll do all right. You pucker up your lips and then you hold real tight. Let it go. It's bound to do all right. Come on, children, one, two, three, Together, come on, follow me:
Ah, eep*, ipe*, want a piece of pie? Eep*, ipe*, want a bowl of soup? A bowl of soup, bup*, bup*, bup*, piece of pie, Sip*, sip*, sip*, sip*, sip*, sip*, yes, yes.
Aw, eep*, ipe*, wanna piece of pie? Oop*, eep*, ipe*, wanna bowl of soup? Eep*, ipe*, let your tongue turn. Eep*, ipe*, eep*, easy to learn, yes, Eep*, ipe*, clock is on the wall. Eph*, eep*, yeah, sounds like doubletalk. Yessiree.... [The recording I transcribed from breaks off at this point, but I don't think it's complete; it came from a "mix tape."]
[*Note: I have retained the spelling "Eep, ipe" because that is the spelling in the title, but that is only an approximation of how the words are pronounced. In fact, all the asterisked words are nonsense, and the spelling is approximate, and wherever I have used a "p" in them, Waller is more or less "blowing a raspberry." Even in the words that are intelligible English words, Waller frequently mumbles, slurs, or lisps in a manner that is surely intentional and quite unlike his other recordings, where his diction is normally clear as a bell.
[The line "if you burrrowackasacki* and you hold real tight" is apparently a reference to the song HOLD TIGHT (WANT SOME SEAFOOD, MAMA) made famous by the Andrews Sisters.]