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Lyr Req: Louise (various songs)

02 Dec 01 - 05:30 PM (#602298)
Subject: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: GUEST,kynnebextra@lineone.net

Can anone help me with the Lyrics For "Louise" as sung by Ramblin Jack Elliott, Chorus is "Louise, Louise, its true , tell it, tell it to me" I have a CD with the track on it but can't make out all the words , even in 'mondegrenial' terms. Is this a the right word? Many thanks in advance

02 Dec 01 - 05:54 PM (#602305)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: GUEST

Have a look round ramblinjack.com

I expect you'll find them there. Can't be bothered to dig into the site for you, after all I don't want the lyrics. So do a bit of work yourself, eh?

Yawn...

02 Dec 01 - 06:31 PM (#602318)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Stewie

The lyrics aren't on the Ramblin' Jack site linked to above and I cannot find them on any of the Tom Waits lyrics sites. Apart from one or two words, the song sounds pretty clear to me. Post what you can decipher and I, and I am sure others, will be happy to try to fill in the gaps.

--Stewie.

02 Dec 01 - 06:56 PM (#602332)
Subject: Lyr Add: LOUISE (sung by Ramblin' Jack Elliott)
From: GUEST,Kynnebaxtra@lineone.net

Thanks Stewie
I have tried all the search engines and logical sites I can find, There are a lot of "Louises " about but not the right one. I have also trawled CD sites for "Louise" and Sonny Terry & Brownie Macgee Sing a "Louise " but I dont know if it is the same one. I have posted what I have below

Louise
ASB Ramblin Jack Elliott

They say you're seeing someone,
You're wearing his ring
They say you laughed when you heard my name
They say he takes you dancing, he holds you so near
They say he'll buy you any thing,
Tell me, am I foolish, I don't believe these stories
Darlin I'll be comin home soon,

Chorus
Louise, Louise its true, tell it, tell it, to me


I know you will not see me,
But I hear you have a daughter
I hear she shares my eyes,
They say she calls him father,
And how he is proud of her,
And he believes all of your lies.
But for all your faithless duties?
I'd give all my tomorrows
If you're still thinking of me .... Chorus

Bridge

Took a job in Tennessee to build a life for us,
? ?
to break apart
Repeat 1st verse & Chorus

02 Dec 01 - 07:30 PM (#602363)
Subject: ADD: Louise - Waits/Brennan
From: Stewie

You had most of it. Here is what I hear:

LOUISE
(T. Waits/K.Brennan)

They say you're seeing someone
You're wearing his ring
They say you laughed when you heard my name
They say he takes you dancing, he holds you so near
They say he'll buy you any thing,
Well tell me, am I foolish, I don't believe these stories
Darlin' I'll be comin home soon,

Refrain:

Louise, Louise, if it's true,
Tell it, tell it, to me

Well I know you will not see me,
But I hear you have a daughter
I hear she has my eyes,
They say she calls him father,
And that he's proud of her,
And that he believes all of your lies
But for all your faithless beauty,
I'd give all my tomorrows
And if you're still thinking of me

Refrain:
Louise, Louise, if it's true,
Tell it, tell it, to me

Took a job in Tennessee to build a life for us
Give a kiss to win her heart
Take a kiss to break apart

Bridge

Repeat stanza 1

Repeat refrain (x3)

Source: Ramblin' Jack Elliott 'Friends of Mine' Hightone HCD8089.

Cheers, Stewie.

02 Dec 01 - 07:34 PM (#602367)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Stewie

Sorry, somehow my signing off ended up in the first refrain. Perhaps some kind joeclone could remove it.

--Stewie.

02 Dec 01 - 07:42 PM (#602376)
Subject: ADD: Louise (Tom Waits)
From: Joe Offer

The Ramblin' Jack album notes don't have lyrics, but I did a Google Search on a phrase from what you posted. I found the lyrics here (click). Good song, but I prefer the "Louise" that Bonnie Raitt sings.
-Joe Offer- (e-mail sent)

Louise

They say you’re seeing someone, you’re wearing his ring
They say you laughed when you heard my name
They say he takes you dancing, he holds you so near
They say he’ll buy you anything
Tell me am I foolish, I don’t believe these stories
Darling, I’ll be coming home soon

Louise, Louise, if it’s true
Tell it, tell it to me

Well, I know you will not see me, but I hear you have a daughter
I hear she has my eyes
They say she calls him father, and that he’s proud of her
And that he believes all of your lies
But for all your faithless beauty, I give all my tomorrows
And if you’re still thinking of me

Louise, Louise, if it’s true
Tell it, tell it to me

Took a job in Tennessee
To build a life for us
Give a kiss to win a heart
Take a kiss to break apart

They say you’re seeing someone, you’re wearing his ring
They say you laughed when you heard my name
They say he takes you dancing, he holds you so near
They say he’ll buy you anything
Well, tell me am I foolish, I don’t believe these stories
Darling, I’ll be coming home soon

Louise, Louise, if it’s true
Tell it, tell it to me
Oh Louise, Louise, if it’s true
Tell it, tell it to me
Oh Louise, Louise, if it’s true
Tell it, tell it to me

Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Published by: Published by: Jalma Music Inc. (ASCAP ), © 1998
Official release: Friends Of Mine - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Warner Entertainment, 1998
Recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotati, CA, on May 28, 1998
(Transcribed by Ulf Berggren. Listserv Raindogs discussionlist, 2000)

02 Dec 01 - 08:32 PM (#602422)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: WyoWoman

So, Joe ... Do you have the chords to the other Louise? (That's what I thought this request was for ... ) And yes, Guest Who Shall Remain Nameless, I'll check the digitrad, too. Snarky butthead.

ww

02 Dec 01 - 08:42 PM (#602430)
Subject: Lyr Add: LOUISE (Paul Siebel)
From: Joe Offer

Hi-o, Wyo - If you do a Google Search (click) for Louise Raitt chords, you, too, can work wonders - just like Joe Offer....
(Can't find it in A, though.)
-Himself-

LOUISE
(Paul Siebel)


  C                                  G7
  They all said Louise was not half bad
         F              G7                C
  It was written on the walls and window shades
                                G7
  And how she'd act the little girl
       F              G7                       C
  The deceiver, don't believe her, that's her trade    

F            G7          C
  Sometimes a bottle of perfume
  F            G7          C
  Flowers and maybe some lace
  F              G7             Am
  Men brought Louise 10-cent trinkets
            F                   G7
  Their intentions were easily traced    

Ah, and everybody thought it kinda sad
  When they found Louise in her room
  They'd all put her down below their kind
  Still some cried when she died this afternoon    

Louise rode home on the mail train
  Somewhere to the south I heard 'em say    

Too bad it ended so ugly
  Too bad she had to go that way
  But the wind is blowin' cold tonight
  Good night Louise good night

02 Dec 01 - 08:49 PM (#602433)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Jon Freeman

In A...

C=A
G7=E7
F=D
Am=F#m

Jon

02 Dec 01 - 09:01 PM (#602439)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: GUEST

hmmm, F#m ain't easy if you only play 'open'...

E might be easier, though the open B7 isn't the easiest chord...

G would be the easiest I guess:

G, D7, C, Em

02 Dec 01 - 09:11 PM (#602446)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Jon Freeman

With my chord playing, I agree F#m isn't that nice... So for A capo 2nd fret and play G chords... Not sure why Joe wanted to find it in A though.

Jon

02 Dec 01 - 09:13 PM (#602447)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Joe Offer

Wyo sings in A - gotta keep the woman happy, ya know....
[grin]
-Joe-

02 Dec 01 - 09:13 PM (#602448)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: GUEST

it was in another thread, Jon

WyoWoman said that she played everything in A...

03 Dec 01 - 11:47 AM (#602717)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Gary T

I've never heard Paul Siebel's "Louise" by him or Bonnie Raitt, but my friends (who have) use these chords: 

         A           B7               E7
    THEY ALL SAID LOUISE WAS NOT HALF BAD
           D              E7               A 
    IT WAS WRITTEN ON THE WALLS AND WINDOW SHADES
        A         B7             E7
    AND HOW SHE'D ACT THE LITTLE GIRL
        D               E7                      A  
    THE DECEIVER, DON'T BELIEVE HER, THAT'S HER TRADE
    
    D           E7        A
    SOMETIMES A BOTTLE OF PERFUME
    D           E7         A
    FLOWERS AND MAYBE SOME LACE
    D              E7          F#m
    MEN BROUGHT LOUISE 10 CENT TRINKETS
            D7                   E7
    THEIR INTENTIONS WERE EASILY TRACED

03 Dec 01 - 11:54 AM (#602722)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Jon Freeman

Just thinking on the doing everything in A. I've never been able to do everything in one key but found I could get away with most things I would try to sing by using 2 keys - in my case C and G. I later changed to mostly using D and G - far more sociable for fiddles, manodlins, melodeons, etc in sessions.

Jon

03 Dec 01 - 12:07 PM (#602730)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: GUEST

Leo Kottke does a really good version of Seibel's Louise with great guitar as well

03 Dec 01 - 01:20 PM (#602775)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: GUEST,kynnebextra@lineone.net

Thanks very much to all who replied to my "Louise thread". Hope I can find lyrics for for some of you someday from the East (Scottish) side of the Atlantic pond. To call it anything else would just be a notion. I have also learned aboute "Google" search engine which I did not know about. Thanks again

03 Dec 01 - 02:46 PM (#602847)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: okthen

I get little chance to be pedantic,so, I'll just mention that the bonnie Ms. Raitt also does a fair rendition of the Fred McDowell song "Louise"

03 Dec 01 - 03:45 PM (#602891)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Joe Offer

Bonnie Raitt recorded TWO songs with the same name? What are the lyrics of that one, okthen? The only one I can find it the Paul Siebel one, posted above.
-Joe Offer-

03 Dec 01 - 06:24 PM (#602990)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Stewie

Jimmy Murphy also does a bluesy 'Louise', probably from the same rootstock as McDowell's - the opening lines and melody are similar. It is on his classic 'Electricity' album which has been reissued to CD on Sugar Hill SHCD3890. The CD booklet has an excellent essay by Dick Spottswood but makes no mention of Murphy's source for 'Louise' - it is simply credited 'PD'.

--Stewie.

03 Dec 01 - 06:49 PM (#603002)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Joe Offer

OK, I'm thoroughly confused. What's the McDowell version?
Is it the one that begins "They all said Louise was not half bad..."?
That's the one the Bonnie Raitt albums identify as coming from Paul Siebel. If it's another one, could somebody polease post the lyrics?
-Joe Offer-

03 Dec 01 - 07:03 PM (#603007)
Subject: Tune Add: LOUISE (Paul Siebel)
From: Lin in Kansas

Don't know anything about the McDowell version, never heard Ramblin' Jack's song, but here's the Miditext in A (just for WyoWoman--hi KC!) for Paul Siebel's "Louise"--transcribed from SingOut!, Vol. 42, #1, page 112. (One of my favorite Bonnie Raitt tunes...)

Lin

MIDI file: Louise.MID

Timebase: 1024

TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: A
Tempo: 108 (555555 microsec/crotchet)
Name: Acoustic Grand Piano
Start
3072 1 61 064 0512 0 61 000 0000 1 61 064 0512 1 69 064 0000 1 73 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 69 000 0000 0 73 000 0000 0 76 000 0000 0 61 000 0000 1 61 064 0512 0 61 000 0000 1 64 064 1024 0 64 000 0000 1 66 064 2048 0 66 000 0000 1 61 064 0512 0 61 000 0000 1 61 064 0512 0 61 000 0000 1 61 064 1024 1 71 064 0000 1 75 064 0000 1 78 064 0000 0 61 000 0000 1 59 064 0512 0 71 000 0000 0 75 000 0000 0 78 000 4096 0 59 000 2560 1 66 064 0512 0 66 000 0000 1 66 064 0512 1 74 064 0000 1 78 064 0000 1 81 064 0000 0 66 000 0000 1 66 064 0512 0 74 000 0000 0 78 000 0000 0 81 000 0000 0 66 000 0000 1 66 064 2560 0 66 000 0000 1 66 064 1024 0 66 000 0000 1 66 064 0512 0 66 000 0000 1 76 064 0000 1 80 064 0000 1 83 064 0000 1 66 064 0512 0 76 000 0000 0 80 000 0000 0 83 000 0000 0 66 000 0000 1 64 064 1024 0 64 000 0000 1 64 064 0512 0 64 000 0000 1 64 064 0512 0 64 000 0000 1 62 064 1024 1 69 064 0000 1 73 064 0000 1 76 064 0000 0 62 000 0000 1 61 064 0512 0 69 000 0000 0 73 000 0000 0 76 000 4096 0 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64 000 0000 1 60 064 1024 0 60 000 0000 1 60 064 0512 0 60 000 0000 1 57 064 0512 0 57 000 0000 1 57 064 0512 1 69 064 0000 1 73 064 0000 1 76 064 4096 0 69 000 0000 0 73 000 0000 0 76 000 0000 0 57 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Acoustic Grand Piano
M:4/4
Q:1/4=108
K:A
C7C|Ace4CE2F|-F3CCC2B^dfB,|-B,8|B,5F3|-F6FdfaF|
F5F2F|egbFE2EED2AceC|-C8|C5C3|-C7C|-C6EF|
-F3CCC2C|B^dfB,8|-B,5FFdfaF|-FF4F2F|FegbE2=C3B,A,|
Ace8|AA,CE=G8|dfaD2D3CE|egb3E2F3|AceDC7|AA,CE=G8|
dfaD2D2C2E|egb3E4E,|AceC8|AA,CE=G8|dfaD2D2C2E|
egb4ED2D|f^aC'C7|-C5CCC|B^dfB,B,5B,A,|-A,3G,2A,2egbB,|
-B,8|B,5=C3|-=C7C|Ace3CCE2F|-F3C2C2C|B^dfCB,7|
-B,5FFF|dfaF3F3FE|egb3=C2=CA,A,|Ace8||

03 Dec 01 - 07:25 PM (#603017)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Stewie

Joe

McDowell's begins:

I said Louise, the sweetest girl I know
I said Louise, the sweetest girl I know
She caused me to walk (from) Chicago down the Gulf of Mexico

Murphy's begins similarly and then his lyrics diverge from McD's. Because of his slurring, McDowell's version would be a challenge to transcribe. I don't have the time or inclination to grapple with it at the moment. Maybe okthen has it. It must be on the web somewhere.

--Stewie.

03 Dec 01 - 07:47 PM (#603035)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: jaze

This Louise broad really got around!

03 Dec 01 - 09:09 PM (#603076)
Subject: Lyr Add: LOUISE (Mississippi Fred McDowell)
From: Stewie

Someone had a throw at the stumps re McD's version on Harry's site - incomplete:

Louise

--Stewie.

Might as well post 'em, Stewie. -Joe Offer-

Mississippi Fred McDowell
recording of February 13 1964, at his house near Como, Mississippi
from You Gotta Move (Arhoolie 304),

I said, Louise, the sweetest girl I know
I said, Louise, the sweetest girl I know
She call me to warm Chicago, down the Gulf of Mexico

Now look-y here Louise, somebody, fishin' in my pond
She ain't know that I'm pushin', mama ground, you know
Oh Louise, honey please don't do me wrong

Lord, I had no lovin', honey since Louise been gone
Now look-a here baby, that river, bank of sand
You don't, ... the clothes you wear

Lord Louise, honey please don't do me wrong
Lord, I had no lovin', honey since Louise been gone
won't come down, she don't

Lord, place where she never land

You know my mama bought me a ...
Came early mornin' I swear mama lord, late at night
Lord Louise, honey please don't do me wrong
Lord, I had no lovin', honey since Louise been gone

...
Lord Louise, honey please don't do me wrong
Lord, I had no lovin', honey since Louise been gone

...
Lord Louise, honey please don't do me wrong
Lord, I had no lovin', honey since Louise been gone

_________
Note: lyrics not yet complete, any help is welcome ;-)

03 Dec 01 - 10:10 PM (#603117)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Deda

Leo Kottke also recorded Paul Siebel's Louise, years ago. But there's a much older Louise song (my grandmother's name), I think that Maurice Chevalier sang it. This really isn't a folk song but it's a sweet, happy little thing:

Every little breeze seems to whisper Louise
Birds in the trees seem to twitter Louise
Every little rose tells me it knows
I love you, love you.
Every little beat that I feel in my heart
Seems to repeat what I felt from the start
Stars in the sky
Twinkle that I adore you, Louise

(I'm not sure this is in the right sequence, and I'm sure I've left some out. This is a song for skipping around your kitchen to, or skipping down a sidewalk on a summer night.)

03 Dec 01 - 10:21 PM (#603123)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: WyoWoman

I agree. That Louise certainly had an enviable social life.

Thank you, thank you for the lyrics, chords and the variations in A. (I DO have a capo now, so even if it ain't in A, I can translate ... )

I remember that Kotke song about Louise, too. Vaguely.

Hi back, Linn ...

ww

03 Dec 01 - 11:02 PM (#603151)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Gary T

I just noticed a glitch in the chords in my post. In the last line of the bridge, at the word "intentions," the chord should be B7, not D7.

03 Dec 01 - 11:24 PM (#603161)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)

Ah-ha! Bet none of you youngsters ever heard THIS, "Louise," because it was a song that obviously never made it on any hit parade, and was on a very, very early record in our house. Never heard anybody actually sing it, and never saw that record again after ours broke. The chorus:

Louisiana Louise,
Come give your baby a squeeze!
Now don't you sit there and tease,
Fannin yore face in the breeze... Just let me tell-a you this (pronounced theeze)
Then you can do as you please-
If you don't, you'll lose your honey-boy,
Louisiana Louise!

Deathless poetry, yes? Guess there ought to be a "Songs that died in infancy" thread, but it WAS a bona fide song for a tiny little while... Jean

04 Dec 01 - 09:09 PM (#603853)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: jaze

You got us there, Jean. Won't you sing it for us?

06 Feb 02 - 09:32 PM (#644244)
Subject: Lyr Add: LOUISE (sung by Maurice Chevalier)
From: Jim Dixon

LOUISE
(Robin/Whiting)

Every little breeze seems to whisper, "Louise."
Birds in the trees seem to twitter, "Louise."
Each little rose tells me it knows
I love you, love you.

Ev'ry little beat I feel in my heart
Seems to repeat what I felt at the start.
Each little sign tells me that I
Adore you, Louise.

Just to see and hear you,
Brings joy I never knew,
But to be so near you,
Thrills me through and through.

Anyone can see why I wanted your kiss.
It had to be but the wonder is this.
Can it be true someone like you
Can love me, Louise?

From the All Music Guide: 'Upon learning of the advent of motion picture sound, Chevalier relocated to Hollywood in 1928; a year later he made his American debut in Innocents of Paris, which popularized his song "Louise."'

07 Feb 02 - 06:21 PM (#644818)
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Louise
From: Arbuthnot

The blues referred to above, sung by Fred McDowell, and the Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee song, are versions of <> by Johnny Temple and Royston Mayoh. I'll post the lyric later when I've found the record. I seem to remember that Sonny Terry would sing this solo, with harmonica breaks between lines, while Brownie drank a cup of tea.

It may be of interest that the Leo Kottke version of the Paul Siebel song is performed in C tuning, ie CGCGCE. I believe that Ms Raitt used this tuning also, as it is amenable to bottleneck work.