Lyr Add: Everybody Loves My Baby

Subject: Lyr Add: EVERYBODY LOVES MY BABY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 06:46 PM

This song was mentioned in the thread Lyr Req: My Baby Just Cares for Me. To avoid confusion, I thought it ought to have its own thread.

EVERYBODY LOVES MY BABY
(Jack Palmer, Spencer Williams)

Come on, girlies, huddle near.
I've got something I want you to hear
About someone that I hold dear.
I've got to let it out.
It's my papa, can't you guess?
Wild about him, I'll confess.
Does he love me? Oh, my, yes.
That's just why I shout—

Ev'rybody loves my baby,
But my baby don't love nobody but me,
Nobody but me.
Ev'rybody wants my baby,
But my baby don't want nobody but me,
An' that's plain to see.

He never rode no camel. He don't know what a harem is.
But when it comes to lovin', that man o' mine knows his biz.
That's why—

Ev'rybody loves my baby,
But my baby don't love nobody but me,
Nobody but me.

[Instrumental interlude.]

My daddy ain't no Valentino, but here's one thing I must say:
When it comes to kissin', he'd make a dumb woman holler, "Hey, hey!"
That's why—

Ev'rybody loves my baby,
But my baby don't love nobody but me,
Nobody but me.

* * *

Above lyrics as recorded by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, 1924, with vocalist Alberta Hunter. You can hear this recording at The Red Hot Jazz Archive.

A somewhat different set of lyrics is posted in the thread TAVERN STEAMBOAT Albert Hansell - Part 4.

The Red Hot Jazz Archive also has these vocal recordings (as well as several instrumental versions):

Vocalist Eva Taylor, accompanied by Clarence Williams' Blue Five in 1924, sings this verse:

He's got those Elgin movements, twenty years guaranteed.
There's no need for improvements 'cause Sweet Daddy's built for speed.
That's why—

Clementine Smith, accompanied by the Kansas City Five (1924), sings

He's some sweet, sweet papa. Honest, I ain't talkin' Greek.
He sure does treat me proper. I'm his Sheba. He's my Sheik.

When my baby kisses me [kissing sounds] upon my cheeks,
I just let those kisses be; don't wash my face for weeks.

Fats Waller (1940) sings:

She's got a form like Venus. Honest, I ain't talkin' Greek.
No one can come between us. She's my Sheba. I'm her Sheik.
That's why—

When my baby kisses me upon my rosy cheeks,
I just let those kisses be; don't wash my face for weeks.
That's why—