I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE
(Armand J. Piron)


Eva Taylor - 1922
Leona Williams - 1922
Anna Jones - 1923
The Virginians - 1923
The Georgians (Instr.) - 1923
Harry Reser & The Okeh Syncopators (Instr.) - 1923
The Goofus Five - 1927
The University Six - 1927
Jan Garber & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1928
Ray Miller & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1928
Clarence Williams - 1934
Cliff Bruner & His Texas Wanderers - 1938
Muggsy Spanier Octet (Instr.) - 1939
George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings (Instr.) - 1940
Bunk Johnson & His New Orleans Band - 1945
Graeme Bell & His Austrailian Jazz Band - 1947 
Betty Grable (feat. in the film "Wabash Avenue") - 1950
Mary Kaye Trio - 1952
Kathryn Grayson (feat. in the film "So This Is Love") - 1953
Humphrey Lyttelton & His Band - 1954
Frances Faye - 1955
Chris Barber's Jazz Band (vocal: Ottilie Patterson) - 1956
Shel Silverstein - 1959
The Olympics - 1960
Gaynor Bunning - 1960
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band  - 1967

Also recorded by: Bob Crosby's Bobcats; The Cotton Pickers;
Jim Croce; George Melly; Red Onion Band; Madeleine Peyroux;
Moon Mullican; Dave Van Ronk; Remo Four; Hoosier Hot Shots; 
Veronica Sbergia & The Red Wine Serenaders; Paula Portella;  
The Ditty Bops; The Original Memphis Five; The Vagabonds; 
The Beatles; Jim Kweskin; Eddie Condon ...... and others.







As recorded by ANNA JONES (with Fats Waller):

I went to a dance with my sister Kate 
Everybody there thought she danced so great 
I realized a thing or two 
When I got wise to something new 

When I looked at Kate, she was in a trance 
And then I knew it was in her dance 
All the boys are going wild 
Over sister Katie's style 

Oh, I wish I could I shimmy like my sister Kate 
She shimmies like a jelly on a plate 
My mama wanted to know last night 
What makes the boys think Kate's so nice 

Now all the boys in the neighborhood 
They know that she can shimmy and it's understood 
I know that I'm late, but I'll be up-to-date 
When I shimmy like my sister Kate 
I mean, when I shimmy like my sister Kate 

Now I can shimmy like my sister Kate 
I know that I'm real late 
I think I'll do a real shimmy dance 
Dancing like my sister Kate 
Sweet papa, just like my sister Kate


++++++++++


As recorded by BETTY GRABLE
(with additional lyrics by Mack Gordon):

I never get a chance at romance
The boys all wanta date my sister Kate
Katie never read a book and she never learned to cook
But she's always got a string o' fish upon her hook
When she's around the boys all pass me by
And then last night I learned the reason why

I went to a dance with my sister Kate
I'm tellin' you she was really great
I didn't have to wait all night
Till I began to see the light

Kate did a dance that was somethin' new
She shook her shoulders and then I knew
Why all the boys are going wild
Over sister Katie's style

I wish I could I shimmy like my sister Kate 
She shimmies like a jelly on a plate 
My mammy wanted to know last night 
Why all the boys treat sister Kate so right
 
Ev'ry boy that passes by our neighbourhood
Knows that she can shimmy and she's jelly good
I may be late, but I'll be right up to date
When I can shimmy laike my sister Kate
Uh-huh, shimmy like my sister Kate

(Instrumental Break)
Don't raise the bridge, boys, lower the river

I may be late, but I'll be right up to date
When I can shimmy laike my sister Kate
Ah shake it, shimmy like my sister Kate
Sweet Papa, shimmy like my sister Kate






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2011)