Jelly, Jelly, Jelly Question
Writejazz
blind." I am 72 years old and "Jelly" was never in my lexicon. I use to think
it referred to sex but then another guy my age guessed it had something to do
with bootleg booze but he doesn't know for sure. I am hoping one of you might
know what "jelly" really is.
Scott
info @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/jazz/jazzprofiles/morton.shtml .
Nou Dadoun
Despite Jelly Roll Morton's self-styled reputation, I doubt that he ever
killed anybody's papa (I've never heard those specific lyrics and I'm not
sure what tone blind is). Jelly roll is an old euphemism for sex, which is
likely where Ferdinand got his nickname, according to his old stories
he used to play the piano in Storyville whorehouses from behind a screen,
taking occasional peeks for his rhythmic cues. The killer part is probably
syphillis or something.
But nobody in town bakes a sweet jelly roll like mine ... N
====
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Simon Weil
>Despite Jelly Roll Morton's self-styled reputation, I doubt that he ever
>killed anybody's papa (I've never heard those specific lyrics and I'm not
>sure what tone blind is). Jelly roll is an old euphemism for sex, which is
>likely where Ferdinand got his nickname, according to his old stories
>he used to play the piano in Storyville whorehouses from behind a screen,
>taking occasional peeks for his rhythmic cues. The killer part is probably
>syphillis or something.
>
>But nobody in town bakes a sweet jelly roll like mine ... N
>
I found this:
"Stormy stormy rain
I'm as lonesome as a man can be
Oh, it's stormin', stormin' rain and
I'm as lonesome as a man can be.
Whoa, the way you've been treatin' me,
I realize it's not the same.
It's a down-right rotten,
Low down dirty shame
Lord it's a down right rotten
low down dirty shame
The way that you treated me
Lord I know I'm not to blame
Jelly jelly jelly
Jelly stays on my mind
Jelly jelly jelly
Jelly stays on my mind
Jelly roll killed my pappy,
And drove my mama stone blind.
By Gregg Allman [it says]"
at:
http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/jelly-jelly.htm
This has "jelly roll" in it, as well as "jelly, jelly" - So that would fit with
what Nou says. Apparently syphilis can cause people to go blind in its later
stages.
http://folkindex.mse.jhu.edu/J02.htm
Has a "Jelly, Jelly"(1955) by Josh White, who somewhat predates Gregg Allman
(surprise!).
See also:
http://www.urbanlegends.com/songs/what_is_a_jellyroll.html
On the imagery of "Jell Roll" etc.
Simon Weil
Mike T
You were right the first time, see below.
Mike.
'jelly roll'
--Black slang from the nineteenth century for the vulva, with various
related meanings, i.e. sexual intercourse, a loving woman, a man
obsessed with finding same. "'What yo' want?' she asked softly. 'Jelly
roll?'" (Thomas Wolfe, 'Look Homeward Angel,' 1929). The term probably
derives from 'jelly,' meaning semen: "Give her cold jelly to take up
her belly, And once a day swinge her again" (John Fletcher, 'The
Beggar's Bush,' 1622). Related expressions include 'jelly bag,'
referring both to the scrotum and the female genitals; 'jerk [one's]
jelly,' to masturbate; and 'jelly,' a good-looking woman. 'Jelly Roll'
appears in many blues songs, such as "I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None
o' My Jelly Roll," "Nobody in Town Can Bake a Jelly Roll Like Mine,"
and "Jelly Roll Blues," the last by Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe "Jelly
Roll" Morton (1885-1941).
'juke'
Scott
Dave Moore
news:20021018180000...@mb-fq.aol.com...
>
> http://folkindex.mse.jhu.edu/J02.htm
>
> Has a "Jelly, Jelly"(1955) by Josh White, who somewhat
> predates Gregg Allman (surprise!).
Josh White had previously recorded "Jelly, Jelly" in 1944 (for Decca) and
1945 (for Asch).
Other early recordings relating to Jelly (Roll) are:
I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None O' This Jelly Roll -- Mamie Smith (1922)
Jelly Roll Blues -- Excelsior Quartet (1922)
Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine -- Bessie Smith (1923)
Jelly Roll Blues -- Edmonia Henderson (1924)
Your Jelly Roll Is Good -- Alberta Hunter (1925)
Mammy Aly's Jelly Roll -- Jack Erby (1926)
Jelly Roll -- Furry Lewis (1927)
Jelly Roll Queen -- Butterbeans and Susie (1927)
Got Jelly On My Mind -- Ivy Smith (1929)
Hot Jelly Roll Blues -- George Carter (1929)
I Got The Best Jelly Roll In Town -- Lonnie Johnson (1930)
Jelly Roll Killed Old Sam -- Lonnie Johnson (1931)
Good Jelly -- Big Bill Broonzy (1935)
Dave Moore
KJB2225
etc.
The name apperas to derive from ther fact that the dancs was a form of "Slow
Grinding" that simulated sex; only done while standing
If you want a MP3 of the original Earl Hine & Billy Ekstine of the soind drop
me a note
KJB
Joseph Scott
female and male anatomical bits (and can also refer by extension to
other things such as a person's rear end or a person's lover). Some
'20s and '30s recordings make that meaning very explicit, and many
other '20s and '30s recordings are much more subtle about it. The
first record about "jelly" to sell well was apparently "Jelly Roll
Blues" by the Norfolk Jazz Quartet (a wonderful blues, gospel, and
jazz vocal quartet from Virginia) in 1921. Not because the expression
wasn't much older than 1921, but because 1921 was roughly when the
record companies started recording significant numbers of "black"
artists in fairly down-home styles.
"Jelly Roll" Morton adopted that nickname because of his reputation
for womanizing etc. The adjective "stone" in "stone blind" means
completely.
This expression "jelly" or "jelly roll" was probably used by "white"
singers during the '30s and early '40s more than at any other time --
by "hillbilly" singers who were influenced by "race records" they
enjoyed, and by "popular" singers who were influenced by the
nationwide boogie-woogie fad of the late '30s and '40s.
Joseph Scott