Be-Da-Da-Bum

"Life sure is miserable for Scrapper these days. Tom cat and kitty fightin' on the shed and kittens playin' in his hall, wake him up every break of day. His good woman has told him to go and his friends give him the go-by. All because everybody's been messin' around with "BE-DA-DA-BUM." [from the Chicago Defender ad for this "novelty vocal" record (Vocalion 1276)] Recorded in Chicago on 21 March 1929, with Leroy Carr on piano (the only Carr/Blackwell duet with vocals by Scrapper Blackwell). From the Agram Blues LP "Blues That Make Me Cry" (AB 2008, with lyrics included). The chorus is nonsense, scat-like "de-da-da-di-di-da-da-dum" stuff (listen to the audio excerpt to get an idea).

I'm gonna stop them kittens, from playin' in my hall-way

They been waking me up every morning, about the break of day

chorus:

About that be-de-da-di-bum etc.

Now that tom was on the wood-shed, kitty on the ground

Tom made a pass, and they both went round and round

(chorus)

Now the tom said to the kitten, what you gonna do?

Come here to me, kitten, I'm gonna murder you

(chorus)

Now if these cats get crazy, and act the fool,

Now tell me, people, what am I going to do?

(chorus)

Now my baby put me out, said, I don't want you no more,

And I wonder why my baby, had to tell me so

(chorus)

Now I can remember way back, with ma and pa,

Let me tell you, about they swore

(chorus)

Now you take these young folks, that goes to high school,

They sometimes really, do act the fool

(chorus)

Now wonder baby, what more can I do,

In this wide world, to get along with you?

(chorus)