Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)

Subject: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: Marion
Date: 01 May 03 - 04:39 PM

Hello all. In The Grapes of Wrath (and in the excerpt in the first post of this thread), there is a song mentioned called "Why do you cut your hair, girls?"

Does anyone know words or lyrics for this song? I assume that it's real, because other songs and tunes mentioned in the novel are real.

Thanks, Marion

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 03 - 04:50 PM

Hi, Marion - believe it or not, there was a previous thread on this. We nedver did come up with an answer. I'm thinking Steinbeck was wrong about the title, and that the song was Why Bob Your Hair, Girls, which is in the Digital Tradition.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: nutty
Date: 01 May 03 - 04:50 PM

I think the song you are referring to is "Why do you bob your hair, girls"

You can hear Blind Alfred Reed singing the song (recorded 1930) here

Why do you bob your hair girls

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 May 03 - 04:59 PM

"A girl's grown up when she can sit on her own hair" Dame Edna Everidge......Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 01 May 03 - 07:15 PM

The link above from nutty actually takes you to "Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls #2" (recorded December 3, 1929) the follow-up to the original "Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls" (recorded December 19, 1927), both written and recorded by Blind Alfred Reed.

The original is also available at Honking Duck here

Reed's complete recorded works are available on a single CD from Document Records, DOCD-8022 (1998, Austria)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: Marion
Date: 02 May 03 - 03:23 PM

Very interesting, thanks.

Joe said, believe it or not, there was a previous thread on this.. Well, it's funny how these things work out sometime. I did a search for "cut your hair" and found that thread... then I followed Dick's suggestion to search for "bob your hair" and found the "Bobbed Hair" thread... but the lyrics given in that thread were even more different (starting with "Do not" instead of "why do you") so I concluded it probably wasn't the one. But the DT offering is likely it, with only one word off.

Marion

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: Felipa
Date: 02 May 03 - 03:36 PM

but the bobbed hair thread did REFER to the DT version; it didn't seem necessary to post those lyrics in the thread after saying they were already in the DT

Subject: Lyr Add: WHY DO YOU BOB YOUR HAIR GIRLS (A Reed)
From: GUEST,Dion
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 05:50 PM

I think this is what you are looking for:

"This delightful homiletic was written and composed by West Virginia musician and preacher Blind Alfred Reed and recorded by him in 1927 (Victor 21360); it was so successful that he followed it with 'Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls, No. 2" (Victor 40196), recorded in 1929.... Ozark recordings Laura Wasson (AFS 5392 B2*), Ollie Gilbert (MFH 914).


WHY DO YOU BOB YOUR HAIR GIRLS?
Blind Alfred Reed, Victor V-21360, issued 1927.

Why do you bob your hair, girls? You're doing mighty wrong.
God says it is a glory and you should wear it long.
You spoil your lovely hair, girls, to keep yourself in style.
Before you bob you hair, girls, just stop and think a while.

Why do you bob your hair, girls? It is an awful shame
To rob the head God gave you and bear the flapper's name.
You're taking off your cov'ring. It is an awful sin.
Don't never bob your hair, girls. Short hair belongs to men.

Why do you bob you hair, girls? It does not look so nice.
It's just to keep in fashion. 'Tis not the Lord's advice.
And every time you bob it, you're breaking God's command.
You cannot bob your hair, girls, and reach the Glory Land.

Why do you bob you hair, girls? It's not the thing to do.
Just wear it, always wear it, and to the Lord be true.
And when before the judgment, you meet your Lord up there,
He'll say, "Well done! For one thing, you've never bobbed your hair."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why do you cut your hair, girls?
From: GUEST,Dion
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 06:01 PM

The song is based on 1 Cor 11:1-16

(1Co 11:5) ... every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

(1Co 11:15) But if a woman have LONG hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. (KJV)

Greetings.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHY DO YOU BOB YOUR HAIR GIRLS? #2 (Reed)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 12:58 PM

I've transcribed this from the sound file at Honking Duck: Click to play. There are still some questionable words or phrases. I'd appreciate some help getting them cleaned up.


WHY DO YOU BOB YOUR HAIR GIRLS? #2
Blind Alfred Reed, Victor V-40196, issued Feb., 1930.

Right here before the mike, girls, I'll tell you what I'll do:
I'll sing you all a little song; it's Bobbed Hair Number Two.
I cannot leave the subject. It's always on my mind.
I'll tell you a woman with long hair is mighty hard to find.

A young man goes out courting and soon he is engaged.
Just crazy about his sweetheart, oh, he's in an awful rage
In the barber chair he finds her. They quit(?) right then and there.
He says he could not leave(?) his wife because she has long hair.

Well, take the ma's and grandmas: you'd think they're living right.
They'd help(?) the preacher in the home but do not shine their light.
They fuss at pa and grandpa, if they ...(?) him, of course,
But if you look at both their heads, you'll find their hair's a joy(Why doesn't this rhyme?).

Don't bob your hair no more, girls. Ask Jesus to forgive.
Just promise him you'll never bob it no more while you live.
Just tell him you are sorry, and he'll blot out the past.
Then you will have a resting place with the good and true at last.


[I find it ironic that the guy who's so concerned about short hair is blind.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: GUEST,Oliver Kress
Date: 05 May 19 - 10:42 PM

Some corrections on the second and third verses of WHY DO YOU BOB YOUR HAIR GIRLS? #2
Blind Alfred Reed, Victor V-40196, issued Feb., 1930.
From recording here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg1TvrZkfEU

A young man goes out courting and soon he is engaged.
Just crazy about his sweetheart, oh, he's in an awful rage
In the barber chair he finds her. They quit right then and there.
He said she could not be his wife because she has bobbed hair.

Well, take the ma's and grandmas: you'd think they're living right.
They help the preacher in their home but do not shine the light.
They fuss at pa and grandpa, if they bring in a quart
But if you look at both their heads, you'll find their hair cut short

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: Stewie
Date: 06 May 19 - 12:09 AM

There's a fine tribute album to Blind Alfred Reed;

Always Lift Him Up

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 08 May 19 - 09:07 AM

Didn’t Michael Chapman do a version of this song on one of his earlier albums, like ‘Savage Amusement’?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: leeneia
Date: 09 May 19 - 03:58 PM

Isn't there a modern song called "Why do You Leave that Stubble, Guys"?
It has a line that says kissing you is like kissing steel wool.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: GUEST,SB
Date: 09 May 19 - 06:43 PM

Wonder is there is a parallel song "Why do you bob your hair, guys?" I refer of course to one of the most stupid and fem. hairstyles for guys that is the little clump of hair gathered into a min-bob or loop on the top of the head and held up by an elastic band FGS. Where on earth did this come from? Yet guys seem to relish looking stupid and fem. Weird.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: leeneia
Date: 09 May 19 - 08:49 PM

Where it all started.

"Like, you walk into a board meeting, you need a bun."

These lads cracked me up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ln7R_uU3MU

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 10 May 19 - 10:01 AM

TRY THIS IRISH SONG ON THE SAME THEME
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? (A Reed)
From: GUEST,Treacle Bolly
Date: 10 May 19 - 03:49 PM

The Michael Chapman version is on "The Man Who Hated Mornings".

Subject: Lyr Add: ...SINCE MOTHER BOBBED HER HAIR
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 May 19 - 12:01 PM

Another song on the same subject, from the sheet music at Indiana Historical Society:


SISTER HASN'T GOT A CHANCE SINCE MOTHER BOBBED HER HAIR
Words Blanche Franklyn & Nat Vincent, music by Harry Von Tilzer, ©1924.

VERSE 1. Extra! Extra! Special extra! Here's some news for you:
No, it's not about King Tut or how to make home brew.
It's about my flapper sister, fly and flip at that.
Gee, she took an awful flop; her beaus have left her flat.

CHORUS 1: Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.
You talk about your vamp!
Mother throws a wicked lamp.
Now that Ma is young again, she's given Dad the air.
She has fellows by the score,
Some as young as eighty-four.
Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.

VERSE 2. Extra! Extra! Special extra! Headlines say today
Barbers all went out on strike and threw their tools away.
There's a reason, darn good reason, that you will agree:
All the barbers' close relations want their hair bobbed free.

CHORUS 2: Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.
At dancing she's a hound,
Picks 'em up and lays 'em down.
If Dad loses one night's sleep he's like a grizzly bear.
That ain't all I'm telling you:
Grandma's gone and done it too.
Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.

[You can hear a recording of this song at the Internet Archive, by Arthur Collins and Byron G. Harland on Edison 51392-R from 1924. It has the following additional lyrics which are not on the sheet music. This is my transcription with some questionable parts:]

There's bobbed-haired Chinese, bobbed-hair Heines, bobbed-hair Portuguese,
Bobbed-hair Slovaks, these-aks, those-aks(?), bobbed-hair grits and grease(?).
There's bobbed-hair Syrians and Siberians, Belgians, polgians(?), wops,
And I hear in dear old London they've got bobbed-hair cops.

Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.
Now Mother's wise, you see,
Gives her age as twenty-three.
Talk about your chicken, well! I'll tell you, she's all there.
Sister's got a lot to learn.
Ma's an old established firm.
Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.

There's bob-tailed horses, bob-tailed thrushes(?), bob-tailed rabbits, too.
Bob-tailed cats and bob-tailed hats and bob-tailed kangaroos.
There's bobolinks and bob-wire drinks and bob-tailed ginger(?) coats,
Bob-tailed bulldogs, bob-tailed bullfrogs, bob-tailed nanny goats.

Sister was the cat's meow.
Ma's the bulldog's bow-wow-wow.
Sister hasn't got a chance since Mother bobbed her hair.

Subject: Lyr Add: BOBBED HAIRED WOMAN BLUES (Sloppy Henry)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 May 19 - 05:43 PM

I found this while searching for songs about bobbed hair. Unfortunately, the hair isn't an important part of the story. The story seems to be a version of COCAINE BLUES a.k.a. LITTLE SADIE but the music is completely different from any version I have heard. You can hear this on YouTube.


BOBBED HAIRED WOMAN BLUES
Words and music by Wayman "Sloppy" Henry.
As recorded by Henry [accompanied by Eddie Heywood on piano], 1926.

Monday mornin' the poor boy made his round.
Monday evenin' shot his bob-haired woman down.
He wanted t' go home, 'n' get in his bed,
And put a thirty-two-twenty right under his head.

Early Tuesday mornin' by the risin' sun
Boy got up and wanted(?) to make his run.
He made his run and he run too slow,
Then they all taken the boy down to Jellico.

And on the corner he was readin' a bill.
Up stepped a man he called Hector(?) Hill.
Says to the boy: "Ain't your name Lee Brown?
Don't you 'member Monday evenin', shot your woman down?"

"Yes, oh, yes," he says. "they call me Lee.
Got any readin', please read it to me."
He read "Kansas City, Kansas—you know best.
Come and go with me, boy; the judge'll tell you the rest."

That morn he's 'rested he was dressed in black.
Then the high sheriff carried him back.
He had nobody now to go his bail.
They made the poor boy ... over in county jail.

Early that mornin' just at half-past nine
He spied the jailer comin' on down the line.
He hit(?) the jailer a plate(?) of his coat(?).
He said: "boy, you get ready for the Jester(?) cou't."

Jester(?) court is now at hand.
Introduced to the boy twelve big honest men.
Jury read the verdict: murder in the first degree.
Then the boy cried: "Lord, please have mercy on me."

He see'd the judge pick up his pen.
"I don't think you'll kill a bob-haired woman again.
Give him lifetime, big enough to frown."
He says: "Run and tell my mama I'm on my last go-round."

Subject: Lyr Add: BOBBED HAIRED BOBBIE (BOBBIE BE MINE)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 May 19 - 07:29 PM

You can hear this at YouTube:


BOBBED HAIRED BOBBIE (BOBBIE BE MINE)
Words and music by Eddie Ward, Jack Ford, and Chick Endor, ©1925.
As recorded by The Arcadian Serenaders, 1924.

Bobbie, beware; I'm after you.
Oh, Bobbie, be careful what you do.
When you look at me with those eyes,
My poor heart just seems to say: "Bobbie, be my blushing bride."
Maybe you're only teasin' me,
But baby, you sure are pleasin' me.
I'm in danger when you're near,
'Cause I'm bound to steal you, bobbed-haired baby.
Bobbie, Bobbie, be mine.