Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones

Subject: Lyr req: Burl Ives/I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 05:39 PM

As a run-on from the Burl Ives/"River of Smoke" thread, here is what I remember of the flip side of the record. Anyone able to remember the rest?

While scarcely politically correct (tying women to trees, especially, would rate high among "Don't try this at home" things to do), it sure does a good job of putting into music the absolute wacko mood of country lust. Would like to get the lyrics to the rest of it.

I'VE GOT A FEVER IN MY BONES
(by Terry Gilkyson)

CHO:
I've got a fever in my bones,
Feet full of sand, head full of stones,
I've got a fever in my bones
For the no 'count daughter of old Jeb Jones.

Jeb Jones daughter's got yella hair,
Some folks say that she hain't all thar,
Down in the holler the boys all foller
Jeb Jones' daughter with the low neck collar,
Well, she can't cook, and she can't sew,
She roams the woods like a heathen doe,
One two three, come follow me,
Tie Jeb Jones' daughter to a syc-y-more tree.

There's at least another verse, I don't remember it….any helpers?

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 11:48 PM

From a sound sample:

She's the kind I'd marry with.
She's the kind I'd tarry with.
Don't look now. If I break my vow,
She might be strollin' by the old hay mow.
She's got a way to handle men:
Kicks 'em around to the back again....

[From Burl Ives, "Return of the Wayfaring Stranger."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 01:03 PM

Jim, many thanks. I think we're just two skinny li'l lines away from having the whole thing.

Odd how the second verse swings right back into that ol' 50s groove...you gotta marry her if you wanna have fun, i.e. play = pay. Even though she hain't all there and would be a serious risk around the back of the barn with the hired men. Ah, traditional values!

On the other hand who am I to be looking for rational meaning in such a splendidly goofy lust song.

Funny though, I thought the song was so disreputable there wasn't a chance they'd reissue it. Just shows to go ya...always worth a check. Thanks again.

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 06:42 PM

I've located a sound clip that adds the missing two lines. The trick is to figure out what they are. Burl in his inimitable cute manner mumbles his way through one line, twinkles his way through the other.

Jim, or (not to pick on you unnecessarily) anyone feel like trying to unsnarl the lyrics? They're at:

http://www.oldies.com/product/view.cfm/id_66622.html

Here is how I (mis)hear them. The first line is reasonably possible, the second line wildly not.

Tattercoat (tattiecoat), petticoat, short to the knee,
Pop! to the junkman (jugman) sooner (sinner) er me!

Which makes zero sense.

Have a go, if you've the time. Maybe somebody can give this a better ear than I can. Thanks,

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 05:30 PM

Still looking for help on this one.

After some absence of thought and time away from Burl's mangled lines, here is a preliminary suggestion of what those two lines may be.

Tattycoat, petticoat, crop to the knee,
Hop to the junkman sooner er me!

I'm pretty satisfied with the first line. Not at all with the second. What's it supposedly mean? That Ms. Jones will be off with the junkman before the singer will ever get her? "Junkman," "sooner" and "er" are all deeply questionable. Burl literally buries the last line in a snicker, as if even he isn't sure what the words are, or else he's so sure what they are, he thinks it better not to sing them straight out, take your pick.

Okay, I admit it...a cheap trick to bring this back to the top o' the list so a few more of you can get a look at it, and help with the decipherment, if interested.

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 07:31 PM

Haddiecoat, petticoat, shout to the knee?

Pop goes the jug band, [it']s her or me?
Pop goes the jug band, sir, or me?
Pop goes the jug dancer or me?

None of those make much sense either, do they?

I wonder if Eliza Gilkyson could help. Terry Gilkyson (1916-1999) was her dad. Part of her website is devoted to him.

If all else fails, I suggest that if you plan to sing this song, you should invoke the Spirit of Folk Process and make up some new lines.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 07:02 PM

Jim, I love it. There definitely needs to be a jug band in this. I can just hear that WHOOMP WHOOMP rhythm under every downbeat.

I favor your first line...who cares if it's accurate or not, it's got flair. This is, after all, a no-holds-barred song, first manipulator to cross the line wins. Its Ms. Jones or the singer, winner gets to do something unspeakable to the loser, if any loser survives.

"Pop goes the jug band, it's her or me." Wow. I'm enchanted.

Seriously, the first word did sound to me like "pop" at first hearing. Only reason I went to "hop" was, I couldn't think what "pop" could lead to. It's still a distinct possibility.

"Shout to the knee"is a real possibility, if it's not "short." "Crop" probably isn't it.

Oh boy, Burl sure did leave us a snarly one, huh? Thanks for your help...and it sure would be nice to locate some sheet music. (Although oddly enough every now and again you run into sheet music that only compounds the problem, printing crazy stuff that probably isn't on the record or in the original song.)

Like, what if the sheet music says:

"Shop for a javelin, shivered in three?" or...

"Chop to the Jung Mang [I figure it's an ancient Chinese tong society] schooner at sea?" or...

"Bop to the jump, man, crooner is me?" or...

Gee, and I thought chess by mail was like pulling teeth. Cheers, Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I've Got a Fever In My Bones
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 07:07 PM

Oh, re Eliza Gilkyson: some while back, long before this thread, when I first started trying to reconstruct / decipher this song, I emailed her. Never got a reply. This may not be one of her father's songs she's pleased to remember...or she's busy...or doesn't like inquiries like this...

I did make the mistake of attributing the flip side, River of Smoke, to Terry G...it's a Sigman-Hilliard number. Maybe that queered my pitch.

Maybe you might have better luck with her than I? Assuming you're not worn out on the subject already, that is. Wouldn't blame you if you were, and I do thank you for all your help.

Bob