Dat Dere lyrics

[Eric Scheirer]

This is a FAQ going in the other direction -- "What is that song about
that elephant thing?" I know the answer to that: Bobby Timmons' "Dat
Dere".

But does anybody have the lyrics to "Dat Dere" lying around somewhere, or
know a book that has them?

Thanks.

--
+-------------------+
| Eric Scheirer | A-7b5 D7b9 | G-7 C7 | Cb C-7b5 F7#9 | Bb | B-7 E7 |
| e...@media.mit.edu | < http://sound.media.mit.edu/~eds >
| 617 253 0116 | A A/G# F#-7 F#-/E | Eb-7b5 D7b5 | Db | C7b5 B7b5 | Bb |
+-------------------+

[Trina Borras]

e...@fripp.media.mit.edu (Eric Scheirer) writes:

>This is a FAQ going in the other direction -- "What is that song about
>that elephant thing?" I know the answer to that: Bobby Timmons' "Dat
>Dere".
>But does anybody have the lyrics to "Dat Dere" lying around somewhere, or
>know a book that has them?

Hi, Eric,

As it happens, I transcribed the lyrics (by O.Brown, Jr.) as sung by
Sheila Jordan (on _Portrait of Sheila_) ages ago and thank goodness
still have them in a file, else I'd have felt compelled to do so all
over again (for I share your -- presumed -- fondness for these lyrics).
So, here they are, there were a couple of places (indicated by "< >"s)
where I wasn't certain about the words. She also sings it in a recent
duet cd w/Harvie Swartz (which doesn't touch me like her 1960 or there-
abouts version does), I just listened to the new one now and still can't
swear to what she's saying in exactly the same places (there are varia-
tions in the words too, such as, e.g., "my little lady's" instead of "the
little lady's," "into this crazy world" instead of "into the world,"
some "heys" have become "ands," but nothing that changes the meaning).
I really do wish I had a recording of Oscar Brown Jr. singing it because
I love his phrasing (plus it would be nice to know which are Sheila's
embellishments) ...

* * *

Hey momma what dat dere
Hey why dat under dere
And oh momma oh hey momma hey lookit over dere
Hey where dey goin dere
Hey what dey doin dere
Hey momma can I have that big elephant over there

Hey who dat in my chair
Hey what she doin dere
And oh momma oh hey momma hey what dat say up dere
Hey momma what's a square
Hey where do we get air
Hey momma can I have that big elephant over there

My quizzical kid
She doesn't want anything hid
She's forever demanding to know
Who what and why and where
Inquisitive child
And sometimes the questions get wild
Like momma can I have that big elephant over there

Don't wanna comb my hair
Hey where my teddy bear
And oh momma oh hey look at that cowboy comin there
Hey can I have a pair
Of boots like that to wear
Hey momma can I have that big elephant over there

The time will march the years will go
The little lady's gonna grow
I've gotta tell her all she'll need to know
I'll help her along so she'll know right from wrong,
Gotta make her strong
As life's parade goes trudging by
She'll need to know some reasons why
I don't have all the answers but I'll try
<As best as I can gotta help her plan>
So she'll make her stand

You give the kid your best
And you hope she'll pass the test
When you finally send her out
Into the world somewhere
Although she's grown <abeddin>
I never am forgettin
Mamma can I have that big elephant over there

What dey doing dere
Hey where dey goin dere
Hey why dat under dere
Hey momma can I have that big elephant over there

Hey momma what is fair
How come I gotta share
Hey momma can I have that big elephant over there
Yeah momma can I have that big elephant over there
Yeah momma can I have that bi-i-i-i-g elephant over there

-- Trina

Trina Borras
Washington, D.C.

[Benjamin]

Oscar Brown, yeah. One of my favorite Oscar Brown songs was "Be Cool", I
think that's what it was called. He used to sing with Jean Pace, Judy's
sister.
What's happened to him? Is he still around? Any other Oscar Brown fan's
out there with their favorite Oscar Brown recordings.

[JDWEBSTER]

My fave Oscar Brown Jr album is "Sin And Soul".
He hosted a program in the early '80s called "On Jump Street". I have an
episode on tape where his guests were Carmen McRae and Al Jarreau. Has
anyone else ever seen these?
Jessica

[Eric Thomas]

In <3usm3v$c...@ixnews6.ix.netcom.com> Benjamin <bsm...@ix.netcom.com>
writes:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Benjamin,
I too enjoy Oscar Brown, Jr. His lyrics with jazz-based music in
accompaniment were always fresh, innovative and witty. I consider him a
very astute poet and teacher.
"Brother Where Are You" (Atlantic SD 1649 copyright 1974) is an
LP that I have by him that has another favorite of mine, "The Lone
Ranger".
I don't know what's become of him, but it's nice to know that
others still think highly of his work.
Oh, and by the way, his version of "Dat Dere" was about a little
boy talking to his father.

Eric

[GJuke]

Yes....Many great Pop and Jazz guests (Stevie Wonder, etc.).... It's still
available as an overnight feed for teachers on some public TV stations, I
think. And I think it was called "From Jump Street".

GJ

P.S.-- This is a pretty weird segue; but has anyone ever seen this late
60's/early 70's movie called "Zachariah"? Wigged-out futuristic western
thing with a lot of then popular rock acts
(The James Gang, Ginger Baker)....But the weirdest/coolest thing is ELVIN
JONES as the drumming evil gunslinger. No kidding.

[LEHINCHI]

As far as I know, Oscar Brown Jr. and family (Including Oscar Brown
III) are based in Chicago, and have been performing at the Jazz Buffet
Supper Club for the last couple of months. They are scheduled to play at
the upcoming Saugatuck Jazz Festival.

Leon Harris
LEH in CHI (Leon Harris)

[JDWEBSTER]

Has Mr. Brown put anything out on record in the past 10 years or so?
Jessica

[Thomas F Brown]

I wonder what happened to the tapes of Jump Street, the jazz
history series on PBS for which Oscar was the mouth? It was
a pretty good show.

[Vincent E. Kargatis]

Trina Borras (TR...@IBRDVM1.WORLDBANK.ORG) wrote:
: I really do wish I had a recording of Oscar Brown Jr. singing it because

: I love his phrasing (plus it would be nice to know which are Sheila's
: embellishments) ...

The primary one is the substitution of Brown's "daddy" with "momma".
Lyrics are also printed in Kevin Mahogany's DOUBLE RAINBOW on Enja. Nice
performance and album, too.

vince

[JDWEBSTER]

Rickie Lee Jones did a decent version of it (w/ Joe Henderson on tenor) on
"Pop Pop". I talked to Joe about it, and he says he thinks that may be
some of his finest playing on record.
Jessica

[Ted Thompson]

He used to sing with Jean Pace, Judy's
> sister.

I believe he was married to Jean Pace.

[bu...@ibm.net]

In <3usuda$o...@ixnews7.ix.netcom.com>, eri...@ix.netcom.com (Eric Thomas ) writes:
>In <3usm3v$c...@ixnews6.ix.netcom.com> Benjamin <bsm...@ix.netcom.com>
>writes:
>>
>>Oscar Brown, yeah. One of my favorite Oscar Brown songs was "Be Cool",
>

I also like Mr. Oscar Brown J. Goes To Washington, which had 40 acres & a
mule, amongst other gems.

Good to know others who like him are out there.