Lyr ADD: Don't Give All the Lard Away

Subject: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 08:40 AM

Does anyone have the complete lyrics to this tune played and sung by the Dixieland Jug Blowers? Neither Lester Levy nor American Memory has the sheet music.

Here are the lyrics as far I was able to get them on a sound clip of the DJB. I'm still looking, but the net isn't yielding any good clues.

Thanks! Bob

==========

DON'T GIVE ALL THE LARD AWAY

Jazzbo Green was a wise, wise boy from down in my home town,
He always wondered why his ma had lots of company round,
The folks would borrow everything, Jazzbo thought it hard,
He came ( ? ? ) round one day, tried to borry lard,
Jazzbo tried to figure out why the deacons crawl round each day,
Now ol' Jazz knows everything, to his ma he say,

Mama, don't give all the lard away, save some mo' for a rainy day,
He's goodlookin', true enough, take yo' time and know yo' stuff,
Don't let him hold yo' hand, you know he's not yo' man,
He's from the East ...

Ending, presumably, Don't give all the lard away.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 08:51 AM

quick addendum:

I should mention that I know of the recordings by Reggie Miles with Ham Gravy, and by the Washboard Wizards. There's also a bootleg recording of the Geyer Street Shieks.

But I can't find the printed lyrics anywhere. If anyone has any of these records, including the Dixieland Jug Blowers original, and is willing to copy off the lyrics, I'll be very grateful.

Or...Masato? I've never known anyone else who can come up with the obscurities like you can.

Bob

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 09:00 AM

Nice song, but I think this activity should be left to trained professionals with a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade to manage the lard futures market in a responsible way, and not encourage this tinkering by amateurs.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Black pudding
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 11:50 AM

Some body from Hull might be able to help. It was voted fattest city in the UK last year.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 08:34 PM

No need - his lardship has spoken! Don't let Cork distract you from your central (slippery) purpose, Greg!

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 05:45 PM

Okay, you high-rollin' fat cats can have ALL the lard (except the private stock kept in my safe) ...but only in exchange for the lyrics. Deal?

(that was meant as a single-entendre but somehow it got outa control between the cup, the lip and ---------- oh forget it, just somebody provide the lyrics huh?.........)

:) Bob

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Aussie Pete
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 11:50 PM

G'day,

I have a vinyl recording of "Mamma don't give all the lard away" by the Dixieland Jug Blowers. There are no lyrics on the sleeve.

I Can't be sure by from memory the last line goes:

"He's from the East, save the beast
Mama don't give all the lard away".

Subject: RE: LYR REQ Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Aussie Pete
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 11:57 PM

G'Day again,

PS
The line where you had:

He came ( ? ? ) round one day, tried to borry lard,

Once again from memory I thought it was

Deacon Mose came round one day, tried to borry lard,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 May 06 - 12:58 AM

I listened to a sound sample, and I hear:

"Deacon Mose called 'round one day, tried to borry lard.
Jazzbo tried to figure out why the deacon called 'round each day...."

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T GIVE ALL THE LARD AWAY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 May 06 - 01:23 AM

There's a complete mp3 file at The Roots Music Listening Room. Here's my transcription:

DON'T GIVE ALL THE LARD AWAY
Clifford Hayes/Lockwood Lewis
As recorded by The Dixieland Jug Blowers

Jazzbo Green was a wise, wise boy from down in my hometown.
He always wondered why his ma had lots of company round.
The folks would borrow everything. Jazzbo thought it hard.
Deacon Mose called round one day, tried to borry lard.
Jazzbo tried to figure out why the deacon called round each day.
Now ol' Jazz knows everything. To his ma he'd say:

Oh, Mama, don't give all the lard away.
Save some mo' for a rainy day.
He's good-lookin', true enough.
Take yo' time. You know yo' stuff.
Don't let him hold yo' hand.
You know he's not yo' man.
He's from the East.
Save the grease.
Mama don't give all the lard away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Aussie Pete
Date: 02 May 06 - 10:36 PM

Ah! Thanks Jim - I agree with your version, I think you got it right.

Save the grease!

Damn makes sense when you think about it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 03 May 06 - 06:35 AM

Jim - many thanks! Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 May 06 - 08:09 PM

There's a "scat" verse at the end that sounds like this to me:

Scoot, scoot, skeedelum, skoodelum-go.
Sko, sko-delinkum, skoodelum-go.
Skee, sko, skaggle, skydelum, skoo.
Sko, sko-delinkum, foof-de-skeedely-boo.
Scat, scat, skoodle, skeedelum-sky.
Dontcha linkum, skeedelum-by.
Now, he's from the east. Save the grease.
Mama, don't give all the lard away.

Normally I wouldn't bother transcribing this, because probably no two people would sing it the same way, and maybe even the original singer wouldn't have sung it the same way twice.

However, this is the only example of "scat" singing I have run across that actually contains the word "scat," and that alone makes it interesting. Are we near the source of the term "scat"?

By the way, if you Google with the phrase "skit skat skoodle" you actually get a lot of hits, but I didn't see anything very enlightening.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 09:43 AM

what about the james 'stump' johnson song Don't Give The Lard Away? anyone have the lyrics to that?

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T GIVE MY LARD AWAY ("Stump" Johnson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 02:34 PM

This is quite a different song, having only the one phrase in common with the above song (and the same metaphoric meaning).

I transcribed this from the recording at YouTube:


DON'T GIVE MY LARD AWAY
As recorded by James "Stump" Johnson, August 2, 1933, Bluebird 5159.

1. You may know all my clothes is pawned.
You may know that all my clothes is pawned.
For the shape I'm in, babe, I can't do you no harm.

2. I's list'nin' to the tune of a saxophone 'cross the way.
I was list'nin' to the tunes of a saxophone 'cross the way.
Well, Gut-Bucket Tillie showed her drawers till day.

3. Joint we are in, babe, smell like a Kentucky mine.
This joint that we're in, babe, smell like a Kentucky mine.
We haven't had off our shoes but we're having a stinkin' good time.

4. Pull up your dress, babe; let your short man see.
Pull up your dress, babe; let your short man see.
Your bloomers is hangin', babe; sure is worryin' me.

5. Please, my babe, don't give my lard away.
Please, my baby, don't give my lard away.
I'm a sick man now, but I swear I'll be well someday.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,max
Date: 14 May 14 - 11:09 PM

Does anyone know what the chords are to this?

such info! so glad I found you folks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 May 14 - 12:06 AM

I doubt if the song has metaphoric meaning. It's about being poor and being hungry.

In 1983 I had a co-worker who was 15 years older than me. Her husband was that much older than her. She talked of how poor he was growing up, and how his basic food was beans and cornbread.

If some smarmy deacon comes around and manipulates Mama into giving him their lard, how will she make the cornbread? The deeper meaning here isn't sexual, it's anti-clerical.

Plus, if they are lucky, once in a while they'll have fried chicken, and they need the lard to fry it.

There actually are people in Missouri to this very day who fry their chicken in lard. I name no names.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 14 - 04:39 PM

Hey Gus,

So I think after the intro the songs starts in Am and goes to E7....Havent gotten much further than that.

Any leads?

Blessings!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 May 14 - 04:59 PM

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic:

British Lard Marketing Board

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: Mo the caller
Date: 09 Feb 17 - 06:11 AM

That photo is unbelievable - is it genuine?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: GUEST,Hezzie
Date: 26 Jan 24 - 02:05 PM

Does anyone know who sang this one for the Dixieland Jug Blowers? Was it Clifford Hayes himself?

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Don't Give All the Lard Away
From: cnd
Date: 29 Jan 24 - 08:32 AM

The Discography of American Historical Recordings credits Lockwood Lewis as the lead vocalist on their version, per the "Victor ledgers," but notes that it is "not confirmed"