BESSIE COULDN'T HELP IT
(Charles Bayha / Jacques L. Richmond / Byron H. Warner)

Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five - 1930
Hoagy Carmichael & His Orch. (vocal: Carmichael) - 1930
Billy Cotton & His Band (vocal: Nat Gonella) - 1930
Slatz Randall - 1930
Keith Nichols Cotton Club Orchestra - 1991
Also recorded by:
Jack Hylton & His Orch;
San Francisco Starlight Orchestra;
Digby Fairweather & The New Georgians;
Roy Evans with Rube Bloom & Bayou Boys.


Bessie couldn’t help it,
Bessie couldn’t help it

Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could
Bessie couldn’t help it though she tried to be good, Oh! So good.
She was pretty as the heavens above
Oh! Boy but how she could love
Bessie had affection that was simply wonderful,terrible
But Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could or I could.
When she smiled you were bound to fall, that’s all
A boy kissed Bessie in the parlour one night
Why, oh! Why did she yell with delight
‘cos Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could

(Instrumental interlude)

Aww! Dum pe dum now people listen
Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could or I could
No Bessie couldn’t help it though she tried to be good, oh! So good.
She was pretty as the heavens above
And oh! Boy how that girl could love
Bessie had affection that was simply wonderful
Bop, bop be de oww.
Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could
Now when she smiled you were bound to fall, that’s all. Boy!
Boy kissed Bessie in the street one night
My oh! My how she yelled with delight
Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could



(Transcribed by Bill Huntley - November 2004)


VERSION II

BESSIE COULDN’T HELP IT
Byron H. Warner, J L Richmond, & Charles A Bayha

Pee Wee Hunt


Now this is a story of Bessie Brown
Red Hot Mamma from Memphis Town
She didn’t know what it’s all about
She was right when the lights went out
Now don’t get me wrong Bessie wasn’t bad
Just had lovin’ like you never had
She was a blue eyed Queen
The likes you’ve never seen


But Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could
And Bessie tried to do the very best that she could, that you could
She was pretty as the heavens above
Boy Oh! Boy but how that gal could love
Bessie had a passion that was simply wonderful, or terrible


But Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could
And like good peaches she was bound to fall, that’s all
Now a boy got Bessie in the parlour one night
Don’t know what he did but she giggled with delight
Bessie couldn’t help it any more than you could, or I could


{Instrumental bit}


Yes Bessie couldn’t help it, any more than you could, or I could
And like good peaches she was bound to fall, that’s all
Now first came Triplets and then came Twins
Mamma’s alright, Pappa’s weak on his pins
Bessie couldn’t help it, any more than you could










(Contributed by Alison Grech - August 2007)