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05 Aug 13 - 01:47 PM (#3545819) Subject: Lyr Add: YOU CANNOT MAKE YOUR SHIMMY SHAKE ON TEA From: Q (Frank Staplin) YOU CANNOT MAKE YOUR SHIMMY SHAKE ON TEA (Rennold Wolf and Irving Berlin, 1919) 'Tis a sad sad day for me This day of lemonade and tea For now my dancing aspirations haven't got a chance In the Harlem cabarets. I used to spend my nights and days Partaking of my favorite indoor sport, the shimmy dance Oh the day they introduced their prohibition laws They just went and ruined the greatest shimmy dancer because: 1st refrain- You cannot make your shimmy shake on tea It simply can't be done You'll find your shaking ain't taking Unless you has the proper jazz (sic) That only comes with such drinks as Green River, Haig and Haig, and Hennessey. Way out in China Among the pale Chinese There's nothing finer Than good old China teas. But then you never saw a Chinaman A-shaking his chemise 'Cause you cannot make your shimmy shake on tea. 2nd refrain- You cannot make your shimmy shake on tea It simply can't be done You'll find your shaking ain't taking. The shimmy, it is intricate And so you needs a little bit Of Scotch or rye to lubricate your knee. A cup of Ceylon It may be strong or weak Won't help you spoil on Because it's much too meek Besides, a drink that's soft Will very often ruin your technique No, you cannot make your shimmy shake on tea. www.oldielyrics.com Rennold Wolf wrote the sketches, music and lyrics to Ziegfield Follies 1919, but Irving Berlin contributed "You'd Be Surprised," (see thread) and "I've Got My Captain Working For Me Now." Berlin's name is attached to "You Cannot Make ....." but I couldn't find his exact involvement in the song. A version of the song and dance on youtube. |
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05 Aug 13 - 10:17 PM (#3545973) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Jim Dixon You can see the sheet music at the web site of Indiana University. |
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06 Aug 13 - 01:57 AM (#3546008) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Joe Offer There's a rather nice YouTube video of the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XchfsEPqr-w and another rendition by the same terrific singer - done in a church! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V3G73BV0Gc Both are really fun. -Joe- |
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06 Aug 13 - 02:19 PM (#3546216) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: McGrath of Harlow I wonder if that song might have sparked the subsequent use of "tea" to refer to a highly shimmy-shaking alternative to booze? |
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06 Aug 13 - 03:36 PM (#3546253) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Q (Frank Staplin) McGrath- In the 1930s, I remember hearing booze referred to as "tea." Is that what you mean? |
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06 Aug 13 - 07:03 PM (#3546313) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Q - I assumed he was referring to tea as slang for marijuana. The slang dicts seem to date that usage from ca 1935 (as in Light a tea and let it be cos you'se a viper - You'se A Viper, 1936). I don't think the origin (for marijuana) is from the song, but from a similarity to things made from leaves. Tea was also used as slang for booze (and urine apparently!) Mick |
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06 Aug 13 - 08:28 PM (#3546340) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: McGrath of Harlow The latter sense would give a radically altered meaning to the song. |
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07 Aug 13 - 12:17 AM (#3546388) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Joe Offer I really think the "tea" Irving Berlin is writing about in this song, is Lipton's or Nestea. The singer is complaining that she needs something stronger than plain tea to shimmy properly. -Joe- |
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07 Aug 13 - 12:47 AM (#3546394) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Janie Thankee, y'all! |
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07 Aug 13 - 06:32 AM (#3546481) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Joe and Q - just to make clear, when I said he I was referring to McGrath and his query of 02:19, not tea as in the song (which clearly is tea!) Mick |
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07 Aug 13 - 09:44 PM (#3546770) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: McGrath of Harlow I wasn't suggesting that Irving Berlin was referring to anything other than the fine beverage to which coffee is such a poor alternative. |
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07 Aug 13 - 11:51 PM (#3546781) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea From: Ron Davies No wonder the boys were so enthusiastic about the Kate who would "shimmy like jelly on a plate". This gal gives a slight hint about what that might have been like. And that song, it turns out, also came out around 1919. |