Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (from Uncle Earl)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (from Uncle Earl)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 11:56 AM

In the Raise A Ruckus Tonight song I have by Jean Ritchie it's pronounced rookus.

All them taters in the oven ummm ummm ummm
How I wish I had more of'm umm ummm ummm
Get on board, little children get on board
While the moon is shining bright
Get along little children get along
We're gonna raise a ruckus tonight

All them sweet potaters cookin umm umm ummm
I never seen'm so good lookin umm ummm ummm
Get on board...

and so on. Sounds a lot like the same song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (from Uncle Earl)
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 01:54 PM

Thanks, Bob. I'd never heard it that way until the movie. I'll see about listening "ruckus juice and chitlins."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (from Uncle Earl)
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 01:14 PM

Yes.   "ruckus" -- Webster says it's probably a blend of ruction and rumpus and dates it to 1890 (but it has a good chance of being older).

What we pronounce ruck-us is often pronounced in Tennessee and southward as ROOKUS. Don't know if that's the original pronunciation and I judge Webster doesn't either.

It gave rise to a term for prohibition liquor. Have a listen to one of the great hot rag jazz numbers, The Memphis Jug Band's "Ruckus Juice and Chitlins." It'll spin your head.

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (Uncle Earl Edition)
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 01:47 PM

As noted in this earlier thread Bette Davis sang this in "Jezebel." I happened to catch that part of it, again, last night, and found it interesting that she and the "slave" singers pronounced it "rue cuss." Is that a Lousianna thing or just Hollywood?

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (Uncle Earl Edition)
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 11:26 AM

Les, maybe the White folks were rich- LOL!

At least they probably would have seemed to be wealthy compared to the financial resources the person composing or singing this song.

Positive vibrations,

Azizi

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (Uncle Earl Edition)
From: Les B
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 10:26 AM

Azizi - yes, I've heard those too - but given the third verse above, it seemed a better match.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (Uncle Earl Edition)
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 08:08 AM

Les B,

I believe the words may have originally been
"I got a gal in the White folks yard"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Raise a Ruckus (Uncle Earl Edition)
From: Les B
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 11:32 AM

I suspect from hearing it in some other song that the 2nd verse is:

"Well there ain't no use to work so hard
when I got a woman in the rich folks' yard"

Maybe there are other variants ??

Subject: Lyr Add: RAISE A RUCKUS (from Uncle Earl)
From: chico
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 04:54 AM

      D                        7                  A7
  Well, my old missus said to me, raise a rucKus to-night
   Bm                  G       7     D      A7       D
  When she die, gonna set me free, raise a rucKus to-night
  
  Well there ain't no use to work so hard
  When I got a woman ???????
  
  Well every evening 'bout half-past-eight
  I hang my bucket on the rich folk's gate
  
  She bring some pumpkins, she bring some pie
  Bring some of everything the rich folks buy
  
      D                       
  Oh come on children come along
             7                A7
  While the moon is shining bright
        D        7          G             7
  Let's git on board, an' down de river float 
       D       A7        D
  And raise a ruckus to-night.