Lyr Req/Add: Sadie Green, the Vamp of New Orleans

Subject: Lyr Add: SADIE GREEN, THE VAMP OF NEW ORLEANS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 11:35 PM

You can see the sheet music at the website of York University (Toronto):


SADIE GREEN, THE VAMP OF NEW ORLEANS
Words and music by Gilbert Wells and Johnny Dunn
Chicago, IL: Milton Weil Music Co., ©1926.

1. Way down south in New Orleans
They've got a gal named Sadie Green.
All the fellows rave about this pretty little queen.
She vamps them one and all, nearly drives 'em wild.
When she walks by, the mothers cry, "Fireman, save my child."

CHORUS 1:
Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans,
Has more beaus than the Navy has Marines.
When she starts to shake her hip,
Captain, captain, sink your ship.
If she starts to vamp, oh gosh,
Mama, burn my mackintosh.
Since this vampin' baby came to town,
She's turned ev'rything right upside down.
Oh, boy, full of speed,
What she ain't got, she don't need.
What a queen, Sadie Green,
The vamp of New Orleans.

2. Way down south in New Orleans,
Oh, ev'rybody knows her well.
Ev'rybody talks about this pretty little belle.
She steals their hearts away, vamps them all, you bet.
When she walks by, the fellows cry, "Firemen, spread your net."

CHORUS 2:
Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans,
Has more beaus than old Boston has baked beans.
When she starts to dance, oh, gee,
Mother, pin a rose on me.
She makes bald men tear their hair.
Hold 'er, Newt; don't let her "rare."
Since this vampin' baby came to town,
She's turned ev'rything right upside down.
Oh, boy, what a catch!
She's got big brown eyes and feet to match.
What a queen, Sadie Green,
The vamp of New Orleans.

[Recordings on 78s were made by Jay C. Flippen and His Gang; Missouri Jazz Band; and Five Harmaniacs.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: dilly daly of Adelaide
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 11:35 PM

Does anyone have the chords to the Memphis "Sadie Green" song above,
             thanks, Dilly

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 03:14 PM

Sadie Green (Vamp of New Orleans) was written in 1924 by Gilbert Wells and Johnny Dunn.
Recorded by Ole Oleson and his Orchestra.
Best known if the 1926 recording by the Harmaniacs.

Red Hot Jazz has a 1926 recording by J. C. Flippen and His Gang, Pathé Actuelle 32205B, and Perfect 12284. Give it a listen.

http://www.redhotjazz.com/flippen.html

Not the same song as the Memphis Sadie Green

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: GUEST,rivlax
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 01:17 PM

I've always sung it "hold her noose, don't let her rear," but with rear pronounced rare, as in "don't let that horse rare up." The noose refers to the rope around the horse's neck. This makes more sense to me than "nude" or "Newt."

Subject: Lyr Add: SADIE GREEN THE VAMP OF NEW ORLEANS
From: GUEST,72bora
Date: 05 Sep 09 - 01:30 AM

Here is my best from many dozens of "listens", and digital enhancement to clean & digitize from the vinyl RCA Victor Vintage album.

The Five Harmaniacs (Victor 1926)

Sadie Green was the vamp of New Orleans
She has more beaus than the Navy has Marines
When she starts to dance Oh Gee!
Mother Mother pin a rose on me.
She makes bald men tear their hair
Now hold her Newt, don't let her rear'.
   
Since this fair fem baby came to town
She's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boy what a catch
She's got big brown eyes and feet to match.
What a queen, Sadie Green, The vamp of New Orleans.

Line #6 "Now hold her Newt, don't let her rear'" is a reference to "Newt" (a not uncommon nickname back then) holding a horse and not letting it "rear up" I seem to recall this phrase used elsewhere.

They also pronounced New Orleans as "New Or-ma-leans" Sounds good!

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: dilly daly of Adelaide
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 07:36 AM

Does anyone know the chords for this great jug band song please outlined by 'guest Martunes' above in 2002 ?

SADIE GREEN
Traditional

Down in Memphis, Tennessee
There's a gal, sweet as she can be
'Tain't nobody else but Sadie Green

She's not too thin, Lord, not too fat
But everything about her's tight like that
That's why they're takin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

Instrumental

She wears her dresses above her knees
Let folks say what they please
Everybody's talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She lets you ride her in your car
But won't let you ride too far
Now everybody's takin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She's not too shabby, wears a tan
Legs look as nice as a Georgia ham
That's why they're talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She uses powder, uses paint
It makes her look like what she ain't
That's why they're talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She's stingy, so they say
Cause she won't give nothin' away
Everybody knows my Sadie Green

When she dances, don't move her head
But moves everything else instead
That's why they're talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

And you can believe it or not
Someday I'll see what Sadie's got
And that will be the last of Sadie Green.
does anyone know what the chords are to song Sadie Green?

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Ffilharmonious
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 06:58 PM

The last line of the first segment is "Hold her noose, don't let her rear". The reference is to holding an boisterous horse. "rear" in this context is pronounced as if it were spelled "rare" meaning to through back its head and lift its front hooves from the ground - "rearing"...

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Ffilharmonious
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 06:52 PM

Sadie Green was the vamp of New Orleans
She had more beaus than the Navy had Marines
Now when she starts to dance, Oh Gee!
Mother, Mother pin a rose on me.
She makes the bald men tear their hair
Now hold her noose don't let her rear.

Since this dancing baby came to town
Why she's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boys, what a catch!
She's got great big eyes and feet to match.
What a queen, Sadie Green, she's the vamp of New Orleans.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Steve Miller
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 04:33 PM

Sadie Green, The Vamp of New Orleans is a great number. However, the lyrics are so dated that it's hard to sing it in anything but an antiquarian mode. To ameliorate this problem, I offer this updated lyric. (Based on the version recorded by the Jim Kweskin Jug Band.)


BRITNEY GREEN

Britney Green was the tramp of Flushing Queens
She had more guys than the mall has skinny blue jeans

When she starts to dance, oh gee,
Mother Mother, turn the hose on me
She makes the bald men tear their hair
trying to see if she's got any underwear

When this dancing baby goes downtown
She turns the Midtown Tunnel upside down

Oh boy, what a catch
She's got great big eyes
and implants to match,

Britney Green, What a teen!
She's the tramp of Flushing Queens.


Copyright © 2008 by Steven H. Miller

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: GUEST,DH
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 01:22 PM

As sung by the wonderful Julie Wilson in the MGM film "This Could Be the Night"

SADIE GREEN - THE VAMP OF NEW ORLEANS

Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans
Has more beaus than the Navy has Marines
When she starts to shake her hips
Captain, captain, sink your ships,
When she starts to vamp, oh gosh,
Mama burn my mackintosh!
Since this vamping baby came to town
She's turned everything right upside down
Oh boy, full of speed, what she hasn't got she doesn't need
What a queen, Sadie Green, The vamp of New Orleans.

Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans
Has more beaus than Boston has baked beans.
When she starts to dance, oh gee,
Mama pin a rose on me
She make bald men tear their hair
Hold 'er Newt, don't let her rare! (rear?)
Since this vamping baby came to town
She's turned everything right upside down
Oh boy;, what a catch, she's got big brown eyes and feet to match,
What a queen, Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 09:25 AM

According to AMG/All Music Guide -

"Sadie Green (The Vamp of New Orleans)" has been recorded by -

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on "Rare Junk", 1968.

The Five Harmaniacs on various artists' "Harps, Jugs, Washboards & Kazoos: 1926-1940", Document CD 1505, 2001.

Milton Brown and the Musical Brownies on "Complete Recordings of the Father of Western Swing 1932-37", Texas Rose CD 1, 1996.

Roy Newman & His Boys on various artists' "Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys: Eyes of Texas", Proper CD 1121, 1999; also on various artists' "OKeh Western Swing", Epic CD 37324

The Goofus Five (c1926) on "The Goofus Five", Timeless CD 17, 1998.

The Jim Kweskin Jug Band on various artists' "Folk Music at Newport, Vol. 1", Vanguard CD 77007, 1995.

Some sources attribute this song to "Dunn/Wells"

"Everybody's Talking About Sadie Green" was recorded by -

The Memphis Jug Band on "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1930)", Document CD DOCD-5023, 1990. (You can hear a sound sample at Barnes&Noble.)

Subject: Lyr Add: SADIE GREEN
From: 12-stringer
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 01:44 AM

The Jay C Flippen and His Gang version (hear at http://www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/flippen/sadiegreen.ram , from c1927:

verse (beginning in the VIm of whichever key you play the chorus in -- for me, that's C; what else?):
Way down south in New Orleans
They got a gal named Sadie Green
All the fellers rave about
This purty little queen.
She vamps them one and all
Nearly drives them wild
When she walks by, the mothers cry,
"Fireman save my child!"

chorus 1:
Sadie Green, she's the vamp of New Orleans
Has more beaus than the Navy has Marines
When she starts to shake her hips,
Captain, captain, sink your ships,
And if she starts to vamp, oh gosh,
Mother burn my mackintosh!
Since this vamping baby came to town
Why she's done turned everything right upside down
Oh, boy, full of speed, and what she ain't got, she don't need
What a queen, Sadie Green, The vamp of New Orleans

(hokum instrumental chorus)

chorus 2:
Sadie Green, she's the vamp of New Orleans
Has more beaus than old Boston has baked beans
When she starts to dance, oh, gee,
Mother mother mother pin a rose on me
She makes bald men tear their hair
Hold 'er, Newt, don't let her rare!
Since this vamping baby came to town
Why she's done turned everything right upside down
Oh, boy, what a catch, she's got big brown eyes and feet to match,
What a queen, Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans


A similar but not identical recording by Roy Newman is found on the old OKEH WESTERN SWING 2-lp set from the late 70s, which may be available on CD. It uses a simplified lyric, which is sung twice, punctuated by instrumental breaks. This recording has no verse part.

Sadie Green, she's the vamp of New Orleans
Got more beaus than the Navy has Marines
When she starts to vamp, oh, gee,
Mother pin a little rose on me,
When she starts to love, oh gosh,
Mother burn my mackintosh
Since this vamping lady came to town
She's got everything turned upside down
Oh, my, what a catch, she's got big brown eyes and feet to match
What a queen, Sadie Green, the vamp of New Orleans

Subject: Lyr Add: SADIE GREEN
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 04:28 PM

There seems to be two versions of Sadie Green, both with similar tunes. The shorter one is similar to Jim Kweskin recorded. The earliest recording I have is from the Five Harmaniacs. Here is what I heard when I listened:

SADIE GREEN
version by Jim Kweskin Jug Band (Folk Music at Newport part 1)

Sadie Green was the vamp of New Orleans
Oh She had more beaus than the Navy and the Marines
Now When she starts to dance Oh Gee!
Mother Mother pin a rose on me.
She makes the bald men tear their hair
Now hold her (Newt or Nude), don't let her rare
   
Since this dancing baby came to town
Why She's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boy what a catch
She's got great big eyes and feet to match.
What a queen, Sadie Green, she's the vamp of New Orleans.
What a queen, Sadie Green,The Vamp of New Orleans
What a queen, Sadie Green, She's the Vamp of New Orleans
   

---

SADIE GREEN
version by The Five Harmaniacs (Victor 1926)


Sadie Green was the vamp of New Orleans
She had more beaus than the Navy had the Marines
When she starts to dance Oh Gee!
Mother Mother pin a rose on me.
She makes bald men tear their hair
Now hold her nude don't let her rare?
   
Since this vamping baby came to town
She's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boy what a catch
She's got big brown eyes and feet to match.
What a queen, Sadie Green, The vamp of New Orleans.

---

SADIE GREEN
version by Rhythm Rascals - Christopher Columbus - 1992

Now Sadie Green was the vamp of New Orleans
She has more boys than the Navy has Marines
When she starts to dance Oh Gee!
Mother Mother pin a rose on me.
She makes bald men tear their hair
Now hold her (newt or nude) don't let her rare?
   
Since this vamping baby came to town
She's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boy what a catch
She's got big brown eyes and feet to match.
Sadie Green, what a queen, The vamp of New Orleans.

Break

Hold her Newt, don't let her rare
Now since that vamping baby came to town
Why She's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boy I'm in Joy (or almond joy)
She's got big brown eyes and feet to match.

The longer version is similar to the one that Martunes provided above. Martunes example is pretty complete. I found recordings of this version with slight variations by The Memphis Jug Band, Jay C Flippen and His Gang, and the Even Dozen Jug Band.

JAB

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 03:48 PM

here's the version I think you were looking for Red;http://www.soundclick.com/bands/ragwagon_11429_lyrics.htm
Peace, Rustic

Subject: Lyr Add: SADIE GREEN
From: GUEST,Martunes
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 03:25 PM

Here's what I have, but for the life of me I can't remember where I got it.
Enjoy.

SADIE GREEN
Traditional

Down in Memphis, Tennessee
There's a gal, sweet as she can be
'Tain't nobody else but Sadie Green

She's not too thin, Lord, not too fat
But everything about her's tight like that
That's why they're takin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

Instrumental

She wears her dresses above her knees
Let folks say what they please
Everybody's talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She lets you ride her in your car
But won't let you ride too far
Now everybody's takin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She's not too shabby, wears a tan
Legs look as nice as a Georgia ham
That's why they're talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She uses powder, uses paint
It makes her look like what she ain't
That's why they're talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

She's stingy, so they say
Cause she won't give nothin' away
Everybody knows my Sadie Green

When she dances, don't move her head
But moves everything else instead
That's why they're talkin', talkin' 'bout Sadie Green

And you can believe it or not
Someday I'll see what Sadie's got
And that will be the last of Sadie Green.

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 03:07 PM

I have several versions, and will try to transcribe them in the next day or so.

Gutbucket

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: MMario
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 11:39 AM

lyrics are suppossed to be at:

http://www.letssingit.com/nitty-gritty-dirt-band-4vf1m.html


but I'm blocked so can't check.

---

No, it doesn't have "Sadie," MMario; but it has some nasty popups, so I changed your link into an URL. The site does have lyrics to three songs by the Nitty-Grittys, but I didn't bother weeding through the popups to check them out.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 11:28 AM

Better try the last offer (and I don't mean 'Joe') My Kweskin copy is gone, and I tried for half an hour to get the lyrics in some of the net's weirdest places!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 05:01 AM

A couple of friends of mine (from the far side of the Atlantic) Tim Walker and Dave Driskell are a duo called Sadie Green Sales. They describe themselves a Ragtime Jugband and Sadie Green as a "Purveyor of Horizontal Refreshment".

You could try mailing them - I'm sure they'll know the song.

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 11:27 PM

Hi. I'll give it a shot. I have it on a Jim Kweskin record. Get back to ya.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Sadie Green - Vamp of New Orleans
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 11:13 PM

George gave us a good-sized chunk of this song, but can anybody come up with the whole enchilada?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: Sadie Green (the Vamp of New Orleans)
From:
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 01:02 AM

From: [e-mail]@mail.globalserve.net
Subject: Re: Sadie Green lyrics?
Date: 1997/01/06
organization: Globalserve Communications Inc.
newsgroups: rec.music.folk
 
In <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (RED724) writes:
>Do any of you remember the lyrics from this old jug band classic?
 
Here's my version. Can anyone fill in the words where the question marks are?
 
Sadie Green was the vamp of New Orleans
She had more beaus than the Navy and the Marines
When she starts to dance Oh Gee!
Mother Mother pin a rose on me.
She makes the bald men tear their hair
Now hold her ???? don't let her ????
 
Since this dancing baby came to town
She's turned everything right upside down.
Oh boy what a catch
She's got great big eyes and feet to match.
What a queen, Sadie Green, she's the vamp of New Orleans.
 
Tony Burns
[e-mail] | http://www.globalserve.net/~ynot/

Subject: RE: lyrics? Sadie Green
From:
Date: 31 Jan 97 - 07:50 PM

go to http://www.dejanews.com and search for sadie green and then pull up at least 2 replies with lyrics and chords.

Subject: lyrics? Sadie Green
From: Red
Date: 02 Jan 97 - 10:22 PM

Anybody know the lyrics to this old jug band tune? Thanks, Red

Subject: Sadie Green?
From:
Date: 27 Dec 96 - 05:09 PM

Lyrics for Sadie Green anyone?