Story Behind the Song
Red:
Wed performed Sadie Green, the Vamp of
New Orleans for years during the late
sixties and early seventies. Audiences
loved this naughty, but nice early jazz
classic, but we always wished there were more of it! This time around, with a new, larger band, I was determined to track down the elusive "second verse" that would
allow us to present a full-length version of this rollicking stomp.
Only, there wasnt one! Not that anyone we knew could remember or find, anyway. I began with the notion of adding a "Happy to be here, Have a good time" verse, wrote the rough draft of exactly two lines, and then these two characters, Dan and Ida, barged in, pushed me away from the keyboard and wrote the song themselves.
OR, maybe it was just interference
from the Mother Ship again. Sometimes its
hard for me to tell.
Either way, I hope you dig it, its a blast to perform.
We were very pleased to have original Ragwagoneer, Diane Orson rejoin us for several songs on our new cd. Her voice and violin are always welcome.
This track features vocals by, in order of
appearance, Red, Gilby, Diane, & Amy.
The guitar is the mighty, mighty Guild F-412 12-string.
Stand Back, Boys!
Lyrics
SADIE GREEN, THE VAMP OF NEW ORLEANS
HAS MORE BOYS THAN THE NAVY HAS MARINES.
WHEN SHE STARTS TO DANCE OH GEE!
MAMA MAMA PIN A ROSE ON ME
SHE MAKES THE BALD MEN TEAR THEIR HAIR
NOW HOLD HER TIGHT DON'T LET HER REAR.
SINCE THIS DANCIN' BABY CAME TO TOWN
SHE'S TURNED EVERYTHING RIGHT UPSIDE DOWN.
OH BOY WHAT A CATCH
SHE GOT GREAT BIG EYES AND FEET TO MATCH
WHAT A QUEEN, SADIE GREEN,
SHE'S THE VAMP OF NEW ORLEANS.
DANDY DAN'S THE TOAST OF OLD SAN FRAN.
HE GETS THOSE HI-TONE GALS YOU KNOW HE CAN.
TEN DOLLAR SUIT, TEN DOLLAR SHOES,
DIXIE PEACH, AND SINGIN' THE BLUES
WATCHIN DANNY STRUT HIS STUFF
YOUR MAMAS WARNIN AIN'T ENOUGH
DAN'S THE NOB HILL LADIES DEUX A QUATRE'
HE'LL EASE THEIR MARRIED BLUES
WITH ALL HE'S GOT
FANCY LADIES TELL THIER FRIENDS
"GET HOLDA DAN, YOUR TROUBLE ENDS"
DANDY DAN, WHAT A MAN,
HE'S THE TOAST OF OLD SAN FRAN
IDA ROSE STOOD NEW YORK ON ITS NOSE
THIS GALS GOT CLASS LIKE BROADWAYS GOT BIG SHOWS
WHEN IDA ROSE BEGINS TO SING,
WHOLE BIG APPLE GOTTA SWING,
EVERY GOTHAM HEPCAT
NEW YORK LOVES HER: IDA ROSE
STAND BACK BOYS WHEN IDA STARTS TO BELT
THE COLDEST WALL STREET HEARTS A GONNA MELT
TELL YOUR MOM AND ALL THAT JAZZ
"IDA'S GOT THAT YAS, YAS, YAS"
MISS FANCY CLOTHES, IDA ROSE
SHE'S NEW YORK TO THE TOES.
ATTENDEZ-MOI MES AMIES S'IL VOUS PLAIT
CE SOIR, CE SOIR LAISSEZ BON TEMPS ROULER
NOW, SADIE, DAN, AND IDA TOO,
MAY BE THE PANTS BUT THEY AIN'T YOU
SHAKE YOUR LEG, AND JIVE YOUR JIVE,
IT'S 'GREAT SKIDDOO' TO BE ALIVE
MR. BLUES E'S GOT NO CHANCE WITH YOU
CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT HERE AND, HOT DAMN, WE ARE TOO
LET DOWN YOUR HAIR, AND DOFF THAT TIE
IT'S TIME TO BOP AND NOT ASK WHY
KICK OFF THEM SHOES AND LISTEN TO
RAGWAGON ROLL THAT RAG.
Copyright 1997 Red Riley
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The Ragwagon Band
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