early recordings
See-Line Woman
George Bass
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The exact origins of the song are unknown but it is believed to have originated in the southern United States. It was first recorded by folklore researcher Herbert Halpert on May 13, 1939. Halpert was compiling a series of field recordings for the Library of Congress in Byhalia, MS, when he ran across Walter Shipp, a minister, and his wife Mary, a choir director of a local church. Halpert recorded Shipp's daughters, Katherine and Christine, singing a sparse version of "Sea Lion Woman" that defined the basic rhymes and rhythm of the song. Two weeks later the song was covered by musicologist and folklorist John Lomax. This proved to be the first of many covers, though most are based on the version introduced to the pop catalog by Nina Simone in 1964.
-Wikipedia |
| Recording sessions |
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah alright now alright
See Line Woman she drink coffee
See Line Woman she drink coffee
Do you know "See Line Woman" you do
Yes it is isn't it
Oh je l'aime beaucoup le Français
Yes it is isn't it
Oh je l'aime beaucoup le Français
Right there right there
See line woman see line
She drink coffee see line
See line woman see line
She drink coffee see line
She drink tea see line
Then she go home
See line woman
Dressed in red
Wear a rag on her head
I thought you knew the song
You were clapping in rhythm
I thought you knew the song
Let's do it do it
See line woman
Dressed in red
Wear a rag on her head
What I really want you to do yeah
Yes I want the song
See line woman
Dressed in white
Sleep all day
Ball all night hey
See line woman
Dressed in red
Wear a rag
Keep it steady Paul
See line woman
Dressed in green
Wear silk stockings
Golden seams
It's nice isn't it? Yeah
What is it what you want
They don't pay enough money for that
I don't do that I don't have to
But you have to sing
See line woman
Dressed in khaki
Dressed in red
Dressed in brown
Dressed in white
Dressed in black
Sleep all day
On her back
See line
(Lyrics transcription by Roger Nupie)
Then she go home
See line woman
Dressed in red
Wear a rag on her head
I thought you knew the song
You were clapping in rhythm
I thought you knew the song
Let's do it do it
See line woman
Dressed in red
Wear a rag on her head
What I really want you to do yeah
Yes I want the song
See line woman
Dressed in white
Sleep all day
Ball all night hey
See line woman
Dressed in red
Wear a rag
Keep it steady Paul
See line woman
Dressed in green
Wear silk stockings
Golden seams
It's nice isn't it? Yeah
What is it what you want
They don't pay enough money for that
I don't do that I don't have to
But you have to sing
See line woman
Dressed in khaki
Dressed in red
Dressed in brown
Dressed in white
Dressed in black
Sleep all day
On her back
See line
(Lyrics transcription by Roger Nupie)
We're going to do "Four Women" coming up soon.
Let's do "See Line Woman". Remember it?
Let's do "See Line Woman". Remember it?
1990 [4:14] CD 7 Madame Nina Simone TS RRC 019 (NL)
