Whistle It, Pluck It, or Sing It, Sweet Georgia Brown Really Moves
In the intervening eighty-plus years, the song has been reimagined, re-recorded, covered, and re-written by jazz, country, bluegrass, and pop musicians alike. Then, in 1949, the whistle-filled version of Sweet Georgia Brown from Ben Bones and His Shadows became the theme song for the Harlem Globetrotters. The Beatles recorded the tune while they were still a back-up band for Tony Sheridan. Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra both swung the tune like mad, in their day.
In short, Sweet Georgia Brown is a fun song that's been enjoyed by generations, in its various versions. Here, you'll find lyrics, music videos, samples of dozens of different versions, and a place to share your memories of this long-popular song.
Learn More about Sweet Georgia Brown
Watch It, Listen To It, Love It!
- Start with the Original Performer of Sweet Georgia Brown
- Lyrics for Sweet Georgia Brown
- Music Videos for Sweet Georgia Brown
- Guitar Chords for Sweet Georgia Brown
- Sample Dozens of Cover Version of Sweet Georgia Brown
- Where Did You First Hear Sweet Georgia Brown?
- Other Big Band Swing and Jazz Standards
Start with the Original Performer of Sweet Georgia Brown
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Sweet Georgia Brown and other hot numbers
Amazon Price: $17.98 (as of 12/17/2009)
In the hey-day of Big Band swing, Ben Bernie and His Orchestra released Sweet Georgia Brown to immediate acclaim. The melody and the lyrics combined to make a song that caught the imagination of both jazz fans and club-goers.
Lyrics for Sweet Georgia Brown
The Original Kenneth Casey Lyrics
She just got here yesterday,
Things are hot here now they say,
There's a new gal in town.
Gals are jealous, there's no doubt.
All the guys just rave about
Sweet, Sweet Georgia Brown.
And ever since she came, the common folks all claim, say;
CHORUS
No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown.
Two left feet, but oh, so neat has Sweet Georgia Brown.
They all sigh and wanna die for Sweet Georgia Brown,
I'll tell you just why, you know I don't lie (not much!).
It's been said she knocks 'em dead when she lands in town.
Since she came why it's a shame how she's cooled 'em down.
Fellas that she can't get must be fellas that she ain't met.
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her, Sweet Georgia Brown.
All you gals will get the blues,
all you pals will surely lose.
And, there's but one excuse.
Now I've told you who she was,
and I've told you what she does,
Still, give this gal her dues.
This pretty maiden's prayer is answered anywhere
CHORUS
Music Videos for Sweet Georgia Brown
Recordings from the Globetrotter Anthem circa 1949 to Bud Freeman in 1984
Guitar Chords for Sweet Georgia Brown
Simple Tabs to Play the Melody
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------2--------5----------------------
------------2---------5----2-------5------------5---2---------
3------5---------3-------------------------------------------3-
------------------------------------------------------------------
They all sigh and want to die for Sweet Georgia Brown
F A7
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
5--5--------5---2--------------------------2---2-------
-------------------------------------------------------5--
-------------------------3----5----3-5------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
I'm telling you why; you know I don't lie, not much
Repeat the part with the D7 and G7 chords. The second half of the verse ends:
Dm A7 Dm A7
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
2----2---------------2--------2---2--------------2----
-----------5-----2-----------------------5----2--------
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
Fellahs she can't get are fellahs she ain't met
F D7 G7 C7 F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------3---------------3------------------
---------------------2----5---5---------------2-------------5---2------
-----------3-------------------------------------------------------------3
3---5--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georgia named her, Georgia claimed her, Sweet Georgia Brown
Sample Dozens of Cover Version of Sweet Georgia Brown
Jazz, Pop, Country, Gypsy Swing, and Everything in Between
Where Did You First Hear Sweet Georgia Brown?
Which Version Is Your Favorite?
Was it the Globetrotters who introduced you to Sweet Georgia Brown, with Brother Bones's fabulous whistling, clicking version or Ella Fitzgerald singing, "I don't lie, not much"? I didn't even know that the song had lyrics, as the first versions I heard were instrumental, from the Globetrotter's theme to bluegrass. Please share your memories of this energetic standard.
-
Reply
- OhMe OhMe Feb 7, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
- I love to hear this song and it makes me want to grab a basketball and start dribbling like the globetrotters. Great work on this lens.
Other Big Band Swing and Jazz Standards
From the Canon of Great American Music
-
Caravan: A Jazz Standard
-
Although the original recording of Caravan was made in 1936 by Barney Bigard And His Jazzopators, Duke Ellington composed the music for this jazzy cover song recorded it many times. Then again, Irving Mills wrote the lyrics and the song was based on...
-
Something's Gotta Give
-
Johnny Mercer wrote Something's Gotta Give for Fred Astaire's movie "Daddy Long Legs", released in 1955. From there, the song has taken on a life of its own. It was covered and reimagined by The McQuire Sisters that same year and various versions fro...
-
One Note Samba: A Bossa Nova Standard
-
Antonio Carlos (or Tom) Jobim wrote the music--and translated Newton Mendonca's Portuguese lyrics into English--for Samba Uma Nota So, or One Note Samba, but the song was first recorded by Stan Getz for his 1962 album "Jazz Samba". The song went on t...
-
Mack the Knife: A Swingin' Standard
-
For a complete explanation of where Mack the Knife came from (and why you ought not be too taken with the scoundrel), check The Straight Dope. This lens picks up at the point where Louis Armstrong recorded the smash hit swing version of the song in 1...
-
Summertime By George Gershwin: The Greatest Cover Song Ever
-
Everbody who's anybody in the music world has covered George Gershwin's Summertime at one point or another. From mournful, operatic versions true to the original aria to Janice Joplin's throaty shout-blues to Billy Stewart's exuberant scat, Gershwin'...
by Not-Pop
Explore related pages
Ain't Nobody's Business- Would you believe that there are three songs, all having been recorded for decad...
The Christmas Song- When you take a song written by wonderful Mel Torme and Bob Wells, then have smo...
Caravan: A Jazz Standard- Although the original recording of Caravan was made in 1936 by Barney Bigard And...
People Get Ready: A Gospel-Inspired Standard- Curtis Mayfield wrote People Get Ready for The Impressions, who had their bigges...
Stagger Lee: A Murderous Blues Standard- It seems that folk and blues songs about otherwise minor historical characters,...
Scat Singing and Nonsense Songs: Playing with Words- Folks have been doing the verbal two-step with scat singing for a hundred years....
