Lyr Req: Evolution Mama

Subject: Evolution Mama
From: Allan C.
Date: 12 May 98 - 02:15 PM

Long ago and far away, I tuned into a folk radio show just in time to hear the last line of a song. This is what I heard:

"Oh Evolution Mama don't you make a monkey out of me."

I have never been able to track down the rest of the song. Anybody out there ever heard it?

---

Messages from multiple threads combined.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: Alice
Date: 12 May 98 - 02:19 PM

Yes, Allan, recorded by Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band.

Alice

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: Alice
Date: 12 May 98 - 02:37 PM

Jon, I dug out an old record that I have, which is actually the Even Dozen Jug Band. (Now that I look at this I'm not sure if Kweskin was part of the recording of it. I'm sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong.) This recording is an old Elektra Legacy called Jug Band Songs of the Southern Mountains. If no-one else has the lyrics handy to post, I will listen to the record and transcribe them. There are also jug band sites on the web, if you do a search.

Alice

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: Alice
Date: 12 May 98 - 02:40 PM

oooops, I meant to write 'Allan', and wrote 'Jon', but even aborting it didn't stop the transmission. alice

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 13 May 98 - 10:35 AM

Evolution Mama featured: Pete Jacobson - Vocal and guitar Josh Rifkin - Vocal & Piano Stefan Grossman - 6 string banjo (yep - banjo) Bob Gurland -trumpet Steve Katz -Washboard Danny Laufer - Jug

Kweskin was never in the group, however it did feature Maria D'Amato (Later Muldaur) And John Sebastian (Hiding under the name John Benson)

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: Alice
Date: 14 May 98 - 01:19 PM

Subject: Lyr Add: EVOLUTION MAMA (Even Dozen Jug Band)
From: Alice
Date: 14 May 98 - 01:45 PM

EVOLUTION MAMA
As recorded by the Even Dozen Jug Band

Old Lucian Burn had a gal way down in Tennessee
She told Lucian all about evolution
She was sittin' down on his knee.
Then one fine day, she got gay,
And started steppin' out.
But old brother Lucian started a revolution
The neighbors all could hear him shout.
what did he say?

He said
Evolution mama, evolution mama,
Don't you make a monkey outa me.
He said, Evolution mama,
Don't you think you got me up a tree.
Now I remember the time I had you nice and tame,
You was eatin' right outa my hand,
Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim
And knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.
Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold
Now I ain't half man and I ain't half beast
But I can do ya more good than this store bought piece
Evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me.

instrumental break

Evolution mama, sweet smellin' mama,
Don't you make a monkey outa me.
Now, evolution mama
Don't you think ya got me up a tree.
I remember the time ya had me nice and tame
I was eatin' right outa your hand
Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim
And knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.
Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold
Gonna make ya feel mighty old
Well, I got myself a razor, I got myself a gun
Gonna carve on you if you stand still
Gonna shoot you if you run
Well evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me.
------------

An example of domestic violence lyrics (Frankie and Johnny, et cetera)

In the line...'do ya more good than this store bought'... it almost sounds like he's singing 'geese', so the word 'piece' is questionable. The rest of it I was able to figure out clearly.

Alice in Montana

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: Allan C.
Date: 14 May 98 - 01:49 PM

Thanks a bunch!

Subject: Chord Req: Evolution Mama
From: GUEST,Martoons
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 06:41 PM

OK, now I'm rollin'!
I have found the lyrics in the thread search, but as I try and figure out the chords, I seem to be missing something. It seems pretty straight forward for a while then it goes all 'blooey'
Can anyone help me with the chords for this lovely song?

G

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Evolution Mama
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 06:59 PM

All I found was what you found and it doesn't include chords. Sorry.GoogleGod was no help either. Just sent me back here.

Subject: RE: Evolution Mama
From: martoons
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 09:14 PM

Hi folks, it's me again.
I'm having trouble figuring out the chords for the middle
part of Evoltion Mama and was wondeing if someone out there could help.
I think I got the verse OK:
        G                                           D                      G
                  Old Lucian Burn had a gal way down in Tennessee
        G
         She told Lucian all about evolution
                       D                               G
        She was sittin' down on his knee.
        C
        Then one fine day, she got gay,
               G
        And started steppin' out.
        A7
        But old brother Lucian started a revolution
                       D
        The neighbors all could hear him shout. (what did he say?)   He said

Can anyone help out with this part?

         
          Now I remember the time I had you nice and tame,
          You was eatin' right outa my hand,
          Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim
          And knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.
         
          Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
          I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold
          Now I aint half man and I aint half beast
          But I can do ya more good than this store bought yeast!
          Evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me..



Thanks.

martunes

Subject: Chord Req: Evolution Mama
From: martoons
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 09:15 AM

Hi folks, it's me again.
I have checked and reposted to the exisiting thread with no results.
I'm sorry for adding a new thred here, but I thought it might help my situation.
I'm having trouble figuring out the chords for the middle
part of Evoltion Mama and was wondeing if someone out there could help.
I think I got the verse OK:
         G                                           D                      G
                   Old Lucian Burn had a gal way down in Tennessee
         G
          She told Lucian all about evolution
                        D                               G
         She was sittin' down on his knee.
         C
         Then one fine day, she got gay,
                G
         And started steppin' out.
         A7
         But old brother Lucian started a revolution
                        D
         The neighbors all could hear him shout. (what did he say?)   He said

Can anyone help out with this part?

         
          Now I remember the time I had you nice and tame,
          You was eatin' right outa my hand,
          Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim
          And knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.
         
          Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
          I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold
          Now I aint half man and I aint half beast
          But I can do ya more good than this store bought yeast!
          Evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me..



Thanks.

martunes

Subject: Chords Add: Evolution Mama
From: GUEST,Martoons
Date: 07 May 03 - 02:57 PM

OK. It's me again.

After years of struggling (well maybe not years, but certainly months) I think I have noodled out the chords for this classic jug band-ish song. I present them below with my grateful appreciation to the Cafe and all its inhabitants.
viz:

G                                                 D                     G
Old Lucian Burn had a gal way down in Tennessee
G                                                                     D                            G
She told Lucian all about evolution She was sittin' down on his knee.
          C                                              G
Then one fine day, she got gay, And started steppin' out.
       A7                                                                   D
But old brother Lucian started a revolution The neighbors all could hear him shout.

(What did he say?)    He said

G                           C                         A                      D                   G
Evolution mama, evolution mama, Don't you make a monkey outa me.
                C                                                                            G
He said, Evolution mama, Don't you think you got me up a tree.

             B7
Now I remember the time I had you nice and tame,
                                                 E
You was eatin' right outa my hand,
A7                                                                           D7
Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim I'm gonna knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.

G                                  C                                 G
Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
                   C                                                                         B7
I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold
            C                              C
Now I aint half man and I aint half beast
                G                                     E
But I can do ya more good than this store bought yeast
A                           D                                              G
Evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me.

instrumental break

G                           C                                 A                         D                   G
Evolution mama, sweet smellin' mama, Don't you make a monkey outa me.
         C                                                                         G
Now, evolution mama Don't you think ya got me up a tree.


   B7                                                                                                               E
I remember the time ya had me nice and tame I was eatin right outa your hand
A7                                                                           D7
Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim I'm gonna knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.

G                                  C                                 G
Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
                   C                                                                         B7
I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold

Gonna make ya feel mighty old

            C                              C
Well, I got myself a razor, I got myself a gun
          G                                                    E
Gonna carve you if you stand still Gonna shoot you if you run
         A                           D                                              G
Well evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me.

Subject: Chords Add: EVOLUTION MAMA
From: DDubJug
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 12:29 AM

Let me know if you're hearing this differently. If you paste this into a text editor where each character is the same width, the chord changes should line up with the lyrics.

EVOLUTION MAMA

 G               E        
  Old Lucian Burn had a gal
      A       D      G
  Way down in Tennessee
  G                    E
  She told Lucian all about evolution
          A                   D
  She was sittin' down on his knee.
       B7                         
  Then one fine day, she got gay,
                       E
  And started steppin' out.
         A7
  But old brother Lucian started a revolution
  D7
  The neighbors all could hear him shout.  (What did he say?)
  
     
  
           G               E            
  He said, evolution mama, evolution mama
  A               D            G
  Don't you make a monkey outta me.
           C
  He said, evolution mama,
                                  G
  Don't you think you got me up a tree.
  
          B7
  Now I remember the time I had you nice and tame,
                            E
  You was eatin' right outa my hand,
  A7                                    
  Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim
            D7
  I'm gonna knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.
  
  
  
  G                   C              D       G
  Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
      C                                                   B7
  I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold
        C                   C7
  Now I aint half man and I aint half beast
            G                        E
  But I can do ya more good than this store bought yeast
  G               A                D           G 
  Evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me.
  
  
  
  instrumental break
  
  
  
  G               E
  Evolution mama, sweet smellin' mama,
  A                D           G
  Don't you make a monkey outa me.
       C         
  Now, evolution mama
                                 G
  Don't you think ya got me up a tree.
  
  
  
          B7
  Now I remember the time I had you nice and tame,
                            E
  You was eatin' right outa my hand,
  A7                                    
  Some fine day, I'm gonna take good aim
            D7
  I'm gonna knock that peanut whistle offa your stand.
  
  
  
  G                   C              D       G
  Now evolution mama, listen while I get you told
      C                                                   B7
  I'm gonna tell you somethin's gonna make your blood run cold (Gonna make ya feel mighty old)
  
  
  
          C                     C7
  Well, I got myself a razor, I got myself a gun
        G                                   E
  Gonna carve you if you stand still, gonna shoot you if you run
       G               A               D            G
  Well evolution mama, don't you make a monkey outa me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Evolution Mama
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 06:31 PM

The Online 78rpm Discographical Project lists these recordings of EVOLUTION MAMA:

Doc Dasher, Columbia 14106D, 30-Sep-1925. Authorship is credited to "Dasher/Heywood."

Carl Deacon Moore & His Orch, Decca 2051B, 9-Aug-1938.

Subject: Lyr Add: EVOLUTION MAMA (from Doc Dasher)
From: Mark-o
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 06:25 PM

Hi there

I've been tracking down the origins of this song. Turns out the Doc Dasher & Eddie Heyward version is a different song. The only line in common with the version the Dozens did is "Evolution Mama, don't try to make a monkey out of me."

You can find it on Document # DOCD 5380, or on iTunes as part of a different compilation (search under Doc Dasher)

I'm still stumped by a couple lines, so any help would be appreciated, but here is what I have so far:


EVOLUTION MAMA
Doc Dasher, vocal Eddie Heyward, piano

A brown-skin man named Sam
Was called the sheik of Alabam'.
He had a high yella who could get his legs (?) over
Till at night he (cried forlorn hand???).
She said: "Look-a here, monkey man."
That started trouble in the land.
She said: "Who's a monkey?"
She said: "You's a monkey.
If I'm a monkey,
You's a monkey."
Here's where fightin' began.

He cried, "Evolution mama, don't try to make a monkey of me.
There's plenty more good women, who thinks I'm just a honey bee.
I've never even been to monkey land.
Don't take my money and give it to some outside man.
You see me flirtin' 'round with some high brown,
Don't let it fill your head and act like a clown.
Evolution Mama, don't you set appeal to me. (? — I think he forgot the lyric here)
If you want yourself a monkey, shake yourself a coconut tree.
Remember all monkeys don't live in a tree.
Remember all honey don't come from a bee.
Evolution mama, you have nothin' that appeals to me.

"Evolution mama, don't try to make a monkey of me.
There's plenty more good women, who thinks I'm just a honey bee.
I've never even been to monkey land.
Don't take my money and give it to some outside man.
You see me flirtin' 'round with some high brown,
Don't let it fill your head and act like a clown.
Evolution mama, you have nothin' that appeals to me.
If you want yourself a monkey, go shake yourself a coconut tree.
I ain't good lookin'; I don't dress fine.
Just a do-right papa, love to take my time.
Evolution mama, don't try to make a monkey of me."


To make things more interesting, the Carl Deacon Moore version (credited to Terry Shand) is essentially the same song as the Dozen's version!

Not sure who Terry Shand is, a correspondent said he was a composer, not a lyricist; so we still may have a mystery here as to where Carl Moore got it.

Onward!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Evolution Mama
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 06:47 PM

"Doc Dasher, Columbia 14106D, 30-Sep-1925. Authorship is credited to Dasher/Heywood." The timing is interesting, as the Scopes Trial was held in Tennessee in July 1925.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Evolution Mama
From: GUEST,Dr Dan
Date: 02 Jan 17 - 02:25 PM

When the EDJB recorded it I recall Peter singing "Lucian Byrd"or "Bird". However this version has the allusion "store bought yeast" correct. Yeast makes the bread rise. Sim. "Careless Love"'s "wear my apron high" indicating pregnancy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Evolution Mama
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 01:07 PM

Yeast was taken straight for virility —a fad of the 1920’s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Evolution Mama
From: Joe_F
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 06:12 PM

Cf. "Poor Lil":

Now day by day her cheeks grew thinner
Because of the lack of the vitamin in her.
She tried taking Fleischmann's yeast,
But still her clientele decreased.