IT'S TIGHT LIKE THAT
(Thomas A. Dorsey / Hudson Whittaker)
Tampa Red & Georgia Tom - 1928
McKinney's Cotton Pickers - 1928
Jimmy Noone & His Apex Club Orch. (Instr.) - 1928
Tampa Red's Hokum Jazz Band (vocal: Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon) - 1929
Zack Whyte's Beau Brummels - 1929
Clara Smith - 1929
Lou Gold & His Orch. - 1929
Jimmy Bracken's Toe Ticklers (Instr.) - 1929
Kentucky Grasshoppers (Instr.) - 1929
Huddie 'Leadbelly' Ledbetter - 1948
Chris Barber's jazz Band - 1954
The Jeff Healey Band - 2006
Basin Street Brawlers (vocal: Peter Horsfall) - 2014
As recorded by McKINNEY'S COTTON PICKERS,
vocals by George Thomas and Dave Wilborn, 23rd November 1928:
Listen here, folks, I'm gonna sing a little song
Don't get mad, I don't mean no wrong
You know, it's tight like that
Aw, it's tight like that
You hear me talkin' to you
I mean, it's tight like that
If you see my gal, tell her to hurry home
I ain't had no sleep since she's been gone
You know, it's tight like that
I mean it's tight like that
You hear me talkin' to you
I mean, it's tight like that
Uncle Bill came home 'bout half past ten
Couldn't find the key so he couldn't get in
Aw, it's tight like that
I mean, it's tight like that
You hear me talkin' to you
I mean, it's tight like that
Tight like that
Oh, it's tight like that
Oh, it's ready like that
Oh, it's tight like that
********************
As recorded by ZACK WHITE'S BEAU BRUMMELS, 26th February, 1929:
Oh, it's tight like that
Oh, it's tight like what
Oh, it's tight like this
Now, look a-here, folks, I wanta sing a little song
I hope you don't get mad, for I don't mean no wrong
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir!
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir, mmmm
'Cause it's tight like that
When you see a spider goin' up the wall
He's goin' up there to get his ashes hauled
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir!
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir, mmmm
'Cause it's tight like that
(Instrumental Break)
Gonna roll my britches up above my knees
Gonna strut my stuff with whoever I please
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir!
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir, mmmm
'Cause it's tight like that
(Instrumental Break)
My baby says she likes her lovin' done
Early in the mornin' before the rising sun
'Cause it's tight like that
Yes, sir!
'Cause it's tight like that!
Yes, sir, mmmm
'Cause it's tight like that
********************
As recorded by CLARA SMITH:
Listen here, folks, I'm gonna sing a little song
But you mustn't get mad, I don't mean no wrong
There's an old maide, name of Liza Fair
Always singin' the blues when she tumbles in bed
Oh, it's tight like that
Oh, it's tight like that
You hear me talkin' to you
I mean it's tight like that
I know an hotel, it's called the Slumberin' Patch
Got a million bed bugs just to make you scratch
Monkey woke up a quarter-to-three
And he said to the flea, "Quit your pickin' on me"
Oh, it's tight like that
Oh, it's tight like that
Ah, hear me talkin' to you
I mean it's tight like that
(Instrumental Break)
Mandy-Lee Jones got to vampin' at night
And she never gets home till it's comin' daylight
Old Uncle Bill came by at half-past-ten
Put the key in the hole, but he couldn't get in
He said, It's tight like that
What's the matter with it gettin' tight like that
Ah, hear me ??? ??? ?????
I mean it's tight like that
If you see my man, tell him to hurry home
I ain't had no bread since he's been gone
Another man, slender and slim
When he struts his stuff, why, too bad, Jim
Oh, it's tight like that
Oh, it's tight like that
Ah, hear me talkin' to you
I mean it's tight like that
(Instrumental Break)
Ah, the little red rooster said to the hen
You ain't laid a egg in I can't tell when
The little red hen said to the rooster
You don't come around as often as ya used ta
Now it's tight like that
A long delay makes it tight like that
Hear what I say, hear me talkin' to you
I mean it's tight like that
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2016)
