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30 Nov 01 - 10:50 AM (#600927) Subject: Don't you feel my leg From: GUEST,Deda Anybody know the lyrics to Maria Muldaur's "Don't you feel my leg"? Thanks. Click for related threadClick for related thread |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:50 AM (#600971) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Roger in Baltimore Deda, I checked Blues Lyrics On Line and Harry's Blues Lyrics to no avail. Perhaps someone else can search further. Roger in Baltimore |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:51 AM (#600972) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Allan C. What a great song this is! Maria once said that her favorite thing about performing was to sing a song that would "turn the boys on". In my own case, she was quite successful with this and with quite a few of her other songs. Sorry I can't help with the lyrics. |
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30 Nov 01 - 01:39 PM (#601040) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Darn! I have played the song not too long ago, but I can't remember the singer or title. It goes back a ways, one of the singers like Bessie Smith, Billie Holliday, etc. |
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30 Nov 01 - 02:19 PM (#601068) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: GUEST,Dan Van Morrison threw the line into a performance in LA last January, to great laughter. |
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30 Nov 01 - 02:25 PM (#601076) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Allan C. I know it is of little consolation at the moment to tell you that I have an LP of Maria Muldaur's singing of this song. Unfortunately, I am geographically separated from it at the moment. But I promise to transcribe the lyrics the next time I have the opportunity (should be soon). |
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30 Nov 01 - 02:29 PM (#601080) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Gary T I remember the line "Don't you feel my thigh," but not "...feel my leg." Go to google (www.google.com) and type in a line of the song. If it's on the internet, it should come up. |
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30 Nov 01 - 02:45 PM (#601084) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Sorcha I did that, Gary, and it wasn't any help. Two others who did it were Blu Lu Barker and Gaye Adegbalola. No luck finding lyrics. Sorry. |
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30 Nov 01 - 04:26 PM (#601139) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) 'Cause when you feel my leg you want to go up high. 'Cause when you feen my thigh, etc. Both lines in the song. |
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30 Nov 01 - 04:46 PM (#601157) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Amos Don't you feel my leg, Don't you feel my leg Cause if you feel my leg, you'll wanna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh, you'll wanna go up high So don't you feel my leg... If memory serves, A |
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30 Nov 01 - 04:50 PM (#601162) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Janie The song was written by Blu Lu Barker, JM Williams and D. Barker and was originally peformed by a Blu Lu with a group that was called something like the Appollo Girl Singers--but I couldn't find the lyrics. Amos's sound right to me--don't remember if there was more to it than that. Good luck. |
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30 Nov 01 - 05:14 PM (#601182) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Amos and Janie are getting there. Sung at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. |
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30 Nov 01 - 05:52 PM (#601212) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: GUEST,Deda Thank, bro -- I pretty much remembered it that way myself but I wondered if there was more to it. I often remember only snatches of things. I was thinking of it for the current challenge but this may be too small a frame. |
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30 Nov 01 - 09:52 PM (#601376) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Joe Offer There's a bit of a sound clip here (click). I know I've heard the song, but don't know where to find it now. I suspect it's on the shelf behind me ...somewhere. -Joe Offer- |
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30 Nov 01 - 10:12 PM (#601387) Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T YOU FEEL MY LEG (from Maria Muldaur From: Deda Well I dug out an old Maria Muldaur record myself, and here it is folks (Amos had most of it, but there actually is a bridge):
Don't you feel my leg, Don't you feel my leg
Don't you buy no rye, don't you buy no rye
You say you'll take me dancin' (Repeat 1st verse.) Boy, Maria Muldaur just sings the roof off this. |
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30 Nov 01 - 10:18 PM (#601390) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Little Hawk I've got a notion that Eartha Kitt recorded this song once too, but I'm not certain if that is right. She was one slinky woman! - LH |
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30 Nov 01 - 10:21 PM (#601392) Subject: ADD: Don't you feel my leg From: Joe Offer Well, Dang. Two of us were transcribing this at the same time. My ear hears a few words different, so I'll post my transcription, too. I think there are slight changes in the last verse. Who were Barker, Barker, and Williams? -Joe Offer- DON'T YOU MAKE ME HIGH (DON'T YOU FEEL MY LEG) (Lou Barker, J.M. Williams, Danny Barker) Don't you feel my leg Don't you feel my leg 'Cause if you feel my leg, You're gonna feel my thigh. And if you feel my thigh, You're gonna go up high, So don't you feel my leg. Don't you buy no rye, Don't you buy no rye, 'Cause if you buy me rye, You're gonna make me high. And if you make me high, You'll get a big surprise, So don't you buy no rye. [BRIDGE] You say you'll take me dancin' Buy me gin and wine But I know different, You got somethin' else on your mind. You say we'll ball (?*) and have a lovely time. But what I've got Is mine, all mine. Don't you feel my leg Don't you feel my leg 'Cause if you feel my leg, You'll wanna feel my thigh. And if you feel my thigh, You're gonna make me high, So don't you feel my thigh. *does she really say that? Recorded by Maria Muldaur in her 1973 self-titled album. This song and "Midnight at the Oasis" became trademark songs for Muldaur. There was a 1946 recording of this song by Blu Lu Barker. Look at this page (click) about Blu Lu Barker (1913-1998). Her husband was Danny Barker, famous for "Save the Bones for Henry Jones." One source said that the Barkers wrote the song and first recorded it in 1938. There is a recording of Muldaur and Blu Lu singing the song as a duet (click). Boy, I'd like to hear that one. I wonder if we can get the lyrics from Blu Lu's recording. There's something about "if you feel my thigh, you're gonna tell a lie." There is a generous clip of a 1989 Blu Lu recording of the song here (click), but it doesn't match her sexy 1946 rendition. |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:08 PM (#601409) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) I knew that this one went back a ways. Merline Johnson recorded it in the 1930's, and the cut has been re-released on The Yas Yas Girl, vol. 2, 1938-1939, Document Records, DOCD 5293. She was quite a star in her day. Somewhere I have a tape I took of a CKUA broadcast of old stuff, and I think it is late 1920s. Still can't remember who. |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:09 PM (#601410) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Deda I wondered about that "You say we'll ball" line myself -- I just figured that either the slang has changed over the years, OR her point was something like "You say the sex'll be great, but it ain't up to you, bud." Still I was kinda shocked every time I heard it. Thanks very much for the links! It's a great song. |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:14 PM (#601411) Subject: ADD: Don't you feel my leg From: Joe Offer Here is a transcription from a 1989 recording by Blu Lu Barker. Don't you feel my legs Don't you feel my legs 'Cause if you feel my legs, You'll wanta feel my thigh. And if you feel my thigh, You're wanta go up high, So don't you feel my legs. Don't you buy no rye, Don't you buy no rye, 'Cause if you buy some rye, You're gonna make me high. And if you make me high, You're gonna tell a lie. So don't you feel my legs. [BRIDGE] You said you'd take me out and treat me fine But I know there's somethin' you've got on your mind. If you keeps drinkin', you're gonna get fresh, And you'll wind up askin' for this fine brown flesh. (the recording is cut off at this point, so I guess you'll have to use your imagination...) |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:19 PM (#601414) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Joe Offer Here's the bio from the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame. -Joe Offer- Blu Lu Barker Vocals Born: November 13, 1913 - New Orleans, LA Died: May 7, 1998 - New Orleans, LA In the 1930's and 40's Blu Lu was on top of the blues world performing with her legendary husband Danny Barker, Cab Calloway, and Jelly Roll Morton. Her seemingly shy but sultry voice influenced countless female artist and had such legends as Billie Holliday admitting "Blue Lu Barker was my biggest influence". She was born to Louisa Hurley and August Dupont in New Orleans. Her father ran a grocery store and pool hall and during prohibition made a decent living selling bootleg liquor. When she was 13 years old she quit school and married the now legendary Danny Barker. In 1930 Danny and Blu Lu moved to New York where Danny again hooked up and performed regularly with Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Lionel Hampton, and Henry "Red" Allen. In 1938 Blu cut her first disc for the Vocalion Label. It was at that session that the producer pinned the name Blu Lu on Louisa Dupont Barker. Several weeks later Decca Records auditioned Blu Lu and Danny Barker and the two recorded the now legendary "Don't You Feel My Leg". The two were immediately given a record contract and began to get national recognition. In 1946 Blu and Danny signed with the Apollo Label which at the time had Wynonie Harris, Dinah Washington, and Luis Russell on their roster. While with the Apollo Label the two recorded with the now legendary Charlie Parker. Danny Barker died in 1994 and was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 1997. Blue Lu Barker died in in 1998 and was inducted the year before she died. |
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30 Nov 01 - 11:54 PM (#601423) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Discrepancies! Danny Barker's Bio (same site) says he met and married Blu Lu in New York in 1940. Her Bio says they married in New Orleans in 1926 (her age 13!) and they moved to New York in 1930. Her Bio says a "few weeks after" she cut her Vocalion record, she recorded "Won't you..." for Decca, which would make it 1938-1939. Neither biography makes it clear when the song was written by Danny Barker. I haven't the evidence yet, but I think he wrote it while still in N. O. about 1929-1930, and that there is a recording earlier than either Marline Johnson's or Blu Lu Barker's. Still lookin'. Isn't there another old song, "I could be wrong but I could be right?" |
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01 Dec 01 - 12:34 AM (#601444) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Merline Johnson recorded "Don't you Make Me High" for Vocalion 04455, release date Oct. 4, 1938 (before the famous Blu Lu recording). This from the discography for Buster Bennett at hubcap.clemson.edu site. Trivia: There is a story that Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were dedicating a building in NY in 1939 and heard the song from a Savoy Ballroom sound truck. They were incensed and persuaded Decca to stop pressing Blu Lu Barker's recording. After two years, Decca repressed the record, but changed the title back to "Don't You Make Me High" from the originally issued "Don't You Feel..." Also found a note that Muldaur's version changed or eliminated the words about brown flesh, etc. Still lookin'. |
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01 Dec 01 - 07:27 AM (#601527) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: GUEST,Adrienne I think "You say we'll ball" either means we'll HAVE a ball, or we'll dance (as in ballroom dancing). I think the slang has changed over the years. |
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01 Dec 01 - 08:32 AM (#601562) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Both usages are relatively new, but it is difficult to date slang, since it originates in a local area and spreads. Negro slang is particularly difficult to pin down since the word people don't catch up with it until it is out of date. |
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01 Dec 01 - 08:47 AM (#601565) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Blu(e) Lu Barker's original is re-issued on Classics 704, "Blue Lu Barker 1938-1939", 11 of the cuts with Danny Barker's Fly Cats. Obtainable from www.louisianamusicfactory.com Note spelling of Blue- This spelling must be used to navigate their catalogue listings and also appears on the cd label. |
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01 Dec 01 - 09:16 AM (#601572) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) End of trail. I was wrong. The Decca recording, Blue Lu Barker and the Fly Cats (Barker's group) came out on August 11, 1938. Merline Johnson's Vocalion recording was released Oct. 4, 1938. I can't find anything before those dates. The original release title on Decca was "Don't you make me high" according to the Decca list. The story about the Roosevelt's and Decca may be partly fictional. |
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01 Dec 01 - 01:10 PM (#601687) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: X Yes, Adrienne is right, "balling" means dancing. |
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01 Dec 01 - 01:17 PM (#601691) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Sorcha When I was in school,(60's) that is definitely NOT what it meant....... |
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01 Dec 01 - 01:37 PM (#601704) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Joe Offer ...and remember, the "balling" phrase was added for Muldaur's recording. I think she first recorded the song in 1973. I'd like to get the lyrics that Blu Lu used after the bridge, but maybe it's just a repeat of the first verse, like the Muldaur version. Whatever the case, it's one hell of a good song. -Joe Offer- |
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01 Dec 01 - 02:37 PM (#601749) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) 1782: "Dined, wined and balled at all the great houses." (OED). M. Websters Collegiate traces the word ball back to Old English for testis; its slang use as a verb is probably older than its use for dancing. |
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02 Dec 01 - 06:17 AM (#602076) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't you feel my leg From: leprechaun When I first saw the title of this thread I thought of, I can't stop my leg. I can't stop my leg. My leg stopped.
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