Tony Joe White - Swamp Rap

Although Tony Joe's sound is unmistakable, it's hard to put into words exactly what that sound is. Hailing from the town of Oak Grove in northeast Louisiana, he's from the part of the state that culturally and geographically has much more in common with the Mississippi Delta than with New Orleans. It's bayou country, a part of rural America that helped inspire the greatest works of John Fogerty, even though he had never spent any time living there. Consequently, White's oeuvre can be appreciated as a more authentic representation of the kind of roots-based music that helped make Creedence Clearwater Revival so successful. The big difference, of course, is the fact that Tony Joe had actually experienced the things about which he sang. But back to his sound. Some people will probably take issue with the labels - including blues, country, country rock, 1960s-1970s rock, psychedelic, and even soul - that I've attached to him. But the fact of the matter is that this musician is all of those things...and more. When one is influenced by Lightnin' Hopkins, Bobbie Gentry, John Lee Hooker, and Bob Dylan, gets signed by a Nashville-based label, records with Muscle Shoals session musicians, and utilizes a wah wah pedal (endearingly referred to by White as a "Whomper Stomper"), such a musician obviously defies simple categorization. However, artists like these, who are not so easily pigeonholed, are very appealing, even if it sometimes prevents them from being as commercially successful as they should be in spite of their creative triumphs.
Source: Record Fiend Blog

   Swamp Rap Lyrics

Tony Joe White

Ungr, now I don't move too fast

And my talk is kind o' slow

I'm from the swamps and I like to stomp

To the Cotton-Eyed-Joe

Now I work hard all week

When it comes Saturday night

I go downtown and cruise around

In my four wheel drive that's right

With mud flaps, ungr

Sometimes I like to slow dance

And I hold my woman tight

'Cause you can't get nothing done

If you stand apart and sling your arms and all

That's right

Now I see a lot of people

And they're thinking they're where it's at

But you know that times are a-changing

When soul brothers wear cowboy hats

That's right, ha ha

But there's still a lot of cowboys

Who don't mind biting the dust

They ride Brahman-bulls and bucking broncs

And they don't want no fuss

[ Tony Joe White Lyrics are found on www.findlyrics.com ] 

But now they're everywhere you look

And though it may sound strange

They ride Coupe De Villes done too cutter Bill's

And overnight they can ride the ranche

I heard that

Ha ha ha, alright

I was down in the swamps one night

Singing to the moon

When an alligator crawled up to me and said

"Hey, I like your tune"

He started to twist and shake his tail

Thought he was having a fit

And my fingers was starting to hurt like hell

But he wouldn't let me quit

He said, "Keep on, ha ha"

Yeah but it's a long time since I wanted to dance

Would you please give me some more

A one two three four you can't alligator

Till you get down on the floor that's right

That's right

Tony Joe White - Disco Blues - Austin, TX 1980

Tony Joe White has accomplished much in the years since he emerged from his home in Louisiana’s swamp country and the hardscrabble circuit of Texas honky-tonks. His music is part of America’s soundtrack – sparse and elegant, filled with shadows, sadness and beauty. Nobody else writes songs like these – songs that evoke both the mysteries of the place were he was raised and the spirits that haunt us all in our most private, lonely moments. Nobody sings them like White either. That dark baritone, scarred and sweet, brings these songs to life like none other. Even so, others have memorably interpreted his songs, from Brook Benton’s unforgettable take on “Rainy Night in Georgia” in 1970 to Tina Turner’s intensely soulful rendition of “Steamy Windows.” Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, RoyOrbison, Dusty Springfield, Etta James – iconic artists in their own right have honored “the Swamp Fox” by cutting his tunes. Others have joined White, with Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Shelby Lynne among those who have paid tribute as guests on recent, theme-oriented projects such The Heroines and Uncovered..

  DISCO BLUES
(Tony Joe White)

I love to party
I like to dance
And with the right woman I like to romance
But I've been out every night
Done wore out my shoes
And I got a severe case out of disco blues
And I've been going like this ...

I've been burning the candle at both ends
Stand out every night
Belittlin my hands've been shaking
And I know I don't treat my body right
But I got to boogie
Got to turn it loose
Well I believe I'm coming down with disco blues wow

I went out and bought myself some new boots
Thought I wanted to shine
I even traded in my old levi's
For a pair of Calvin Kleins
Keeping me running
Can't turn it loose mama
But I woke up this morning with them disco blues

Some ladies wear them split skirts
All the way up their thighs
They know that it hits you where it really hurts
You can see it in their eyes
Keeping me running
Can't turn it loose
But I believe I'm coming down with them disco blues

Wow disco blues
Got them disco blues

Woo it is keeping me running
Got to turn it loose
Cause I woke up this morning ya'all with them disco blues
Burning the candle 

Tony Joe White - Rainy Night In Georgia - Austin, TX 1980

Tony Joe White (born July 23, 1943, Oak Grove, Louisiana, United States) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989. "Polk Salad Annie" was also recorded by Elvis Presley and Tom Jones.

Rainy Night in Georgia Lyrics

Tony Joe White

Hoverin' by my suitcase

Tryin' to find a warm place to spend the night

A heavy rain a fallin'

Seems I hear your voice callin'

"It's all right"

A rainy night in Georgia

A rainy night in Georgia

I believe it's rainin' all over the world

Neon signs a flashin'

Taxi cabs and busses passin' through the night

The distant moanin' of a train

Seems to play a sad refrain to the night

A rainy night in Georgia

A rainy night in Georgia

I believe it's rainin' all over the world

How many times I've wondered

It still comes out the same

No matter how you look at it, think of it

You just got to do your own thing

I find me a place in a box car

So I take out my guitar to pass some time

Late at night when it's hard to rest

I hold your picture to my chest

And I'm all right

A rainy night in Georgia

A rainy night in Georgia

I believe it's rainin' all over the world

Tony Joe White - Lustful Earl And The Married Woman - Austin, TX 1980

Lustful Earl and the Married Woman Lyrics

Tony Joe White

Now, big Earl Bradshow, he was a lone wolf

He was always on the prowl

And when he'd go out to find a woman

You could hear his awful howl:

Ahooo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Ahooo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Baby I'm comin' for you

Ahoo ahoo ahoo

Now, Lucy Dorcey, she was a pretty thing

But you know, she was married

Whenever she see him, old big Earl coming

She'd hide the ring she was wearing

Ahooo hoo hoo hoo, all right

This went on every night

Big Earl would howl for more

But then one night there came a-poundin' on the door.

There went her husband; he knocked the door down

And he grabbed her ferociously

She said, "Earl, honey, would you call the police

'Cause I believe, he's a-killin' me"

He turned on Earl with the gun

There was no chance to run

He said, "You've had it, son"

But he'd missed and shot him through the knee.

Well, old Earl, he jumped out the window

He was naked and limping down the road

And you could hear him howling in the distance

But he sounded like a wounded toad:

"Ahoooie

Why did you shoot me in the knee?

I was just trying to do

The thing that comes naturally!"

Tony Joe White - Willie And Laura Mae Jones - Austin, TX 1980

---

WILLIE AND LAURA MAE JONES 

(Tony Joe White) 

Willie and Laura Mae Jones 

Were neighBours a long time Back 

They lived right down the road from us 

In a shack just like our shack 

We worked in the fields together 

And we learned to count on each other 

When you live off the land 

You don't have time 

To think aBout another man's color 

Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' fast 

But that was another place and another time 

They'd sit out on the front porch in the evenin' when the sun went down 

Willie would play and Laura would sing and the chilluns would dance around 

And I'd BRing over my guitar and we'd play into the night 

And every now and then ol'Willie would grin and say "Boy you play allright" 

And that made me feel so good" 

The cotton was high and the corn was growin' fast 

But that was another place and another time 

I rememBer we'd hitch up the mules when Saturday rolled around 

We'd always stop By Willie's house and say "Do you need anything from town?" 

And he'd say "No, But why don't y'all stop on your way Back home 

And I'll get Laura Mae to cook up some corn pones 

And you know they're good 

Oh Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' fast 

But that was another place and another time 

The years rolled past the land and took Back what they'd given 

And we all knew we'd have to move if we was gonna make a livin' 

So we all moved off and we went our separate ways 

And it sure was hard to say goodBye to Willie and Laura Mae Jones 

Oh the cotton was high and the corn was growing fast, yes it was 

But that was another place and another time 

The years roll past our door and we heard from them no more 

Till I saw Willie down town the other day 

I said "Y'all stop By tonight and we can sit down and eat a Bite 

We'd love to see your childrens and Laura Mae" 

He shook his head real slow and spoke with his eyes so kind 

"This is another place and another time!" 

Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' gast 

But that was another place and another time 

Lord, Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' gast 

But that was another place and another time 

Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growing so fast 

But that was another place and another time 

Good God! 

Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie - Austin, TX 1980

POLK SALAD ANNIE
(Tony Joe White)

Polk salad Annie revisited
Ungr
Now some of ya'all still have never been down south
I'm gonna tell you about it one more time
So that you understand what I'm talkin' about
Now down there we got a plant it looks some like a turnip green
Except it ain't cause everybody calls it polk salad
That's polk salad!
Now used to know a girl lived down there
She'd go out in the evenings
And pick her little bit of it
And carry it home
And cook it for supper
And if she had any left over she'ld hang it out on a clothes line
And dry it out and smoke it
But she did allright ya'all

I said: Down in Louisiana where the alligators grow so mean
There lived a girl that I swear to the world
And made the alligators look tame
Polk salad Annie, polk salad Annie
Everybody said it was a shame
Cause her mama was a-workin' on the chain gang
A mean vicious woman ungr

Everyday 'fore suppertime, she'd go down by the truckpatch
And pick her a mess o' polk salad
And carry it home in a tow-sack
Polk salad Annie the gators got your granny chomp chomp
Everybody said it was a shame
Cause her mama was a-workin' on the chain gang
A wretched spiteful straight-razor tottin' woman
Aww give me some of it

Her Daddy was lazy and no count
Claimed he had a bad back
And all her brothers were fit for was stealin' watermelons out of my truck patch
Polk salad Annie the gators got your only granny chomp
Everybody said it was a shame
Cause her mama was a-workin' on the chain gang
Sock a little polk salad to me
You know I need me a mess of it
Sock a little ungr
Sock a little ungr ungr
Sock a little ungr ungr ungr
Uh sock a little ungr ungr ungr ungr
Polk salad Annie tha gators got your only granny 

Tony Joe White - Even Trolls Love Rock And Roll - Austin, TX 1980

Even Trolls Love Rock & Roll Lyrics

Tony Joe White

Now one time I had this little ol' band back home
A rock and roll band
And we was going to play this job one night
And it weren't too far away so we was walking
But we came upon a long dark stretch of woods
Had an old river running through it
And an old wooden bridge across the river
Well just as I was about to step upon the bridge
Out stepped the troll
A whole mighty troll

And he said: Hey looks like you all are going to play somewhere
And I said: Yes sir
Cause you always wanna say yes sir to a troll
He said: I hate to mess up your boys job
But I sure could dig hearing ya'all play a little bit
I said: Man we can't just plug up
And play it right here upon the bridge
He said: Why?
And I go: Cause ...
But the troll said: Play!
That's what we did ...

Well the wind was howling at the night
And the moon was covered up with clouds
I was walking cross a bridge on a dirt road
When I heard a troll growl
He said don't you go walking cross my bridge
I am gonna make it tough on you
I am gonna give you swamp fever
You'll be wondering if you're you
Yeah you know you got to pay the toll
Cause even trolls love rock and roll

Uh it will keep you up all night
Drinking and carrying on
Getting it to the swamp music
Get it on - Get it on
Yeah you know you got to pay my toll
Cause even trolls love rock and roll
Yeah

But the troll said: Hey!
He said you boys just ain't getting it
He said would you mind if I borrowed that old guitar?
And showed you all a lick
Since we never heard a troll play we let him have it
And he goes like this ...

I said: Damn troll!
Yeah you know you got to pay the toll
Cause even trolls love rock and roll
Wow

Would you mind if I had my guitar back?
And the troll said: Why?

Tony Joe White - I Get Off On It - Austin, TX 1980

I Get Off On It Lyrics


I met a pretty girl who really turned me on
But we didn't make it very far
It's hard to make love to a lady
When she's munching on a candy bar

And I couldn't help but say:
"Ain't no time for Milky-Way"
And she goes:
"I get off on it
I get off on it
Give just a little slack, 
can't you see I'm into snacks
I get off on it"

There was a pretty thing in Los Angeles
But she was a man in women's clothes
I told him he was dressing kinda dangerous
'cause how's a fool like me gonna know

And I couldn't help but say:
"Why you wanna dress that way"
And he goes:
"I get off on it
I get off on it
Ain't no sweat off your nose, 
I just dig 'em ladies clothes
I get off on it"

(solo break)

Good old boy he met a girl and liked her
But she didn't know what he was all about
'cause when he filled his lip with tobacco
Don't you know it nearly grossed her out

And she couldn't help but say:
"Why you wanna do that way"
And he goes:
"I get off on it
I get off on it
I don't mean to make you flip, 
But don't be messin' with my dip,
I get off on it"

(solo break)

There is a dude up in New York City
He wears nothing but a raincoat and he walks around
He comes up on to a lady looking pretty
And he gives her just glimpse from the waist down

And she couldn't help but say:
"Why you wanna act that way"
And he goes:
"I get off on it
I get off on it
I don't mean to bring you down, 
But I just gotta flash around"

There was a girl I had a lot of fun with
Did she ask me to her house, well not
And when she told me she was into bondage
Well don't you know it nearly blew my mind

And I couldn't help but say:
"Why you wanna do that way"
And she goes:
"I get off on it
I get off on it
Can't you see I'm into pain 
Please let me do my thing"

Tony Joe White - Susie Q

Tony Joe White - Red Neck Women

Tony Joe White - Swamp Rap

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe White has accomplished much in the years since he emerged from his home in
Louisiana’s swamp country and the hardscrabble circuit of Texas honky-tonks. His music is
part of America’s soundtrack – sparse and elegant, filled with shadows, sadness and beauty.
Nobody else writes songs like these – songs that evoke both the mysteries of the place were
he was raised and the spirits that haunt us all in our most private, lonely moments.
Nobody sings them like White either. That dark baritone, scarred and sweet, brings these
songs to life like none other. Even so, others have memorably interpreted his songs, from
Brook Benton’s unforgettable take on “Rainy Night in Georgia” in 1970 to Tina Turner’s
intensely soulful rendition of “Steamy Windows.” Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison,
Dusty Springfield, Etta James – iconic artists in their own right have honored “the Swamp
Fox” by cutting his tunes. Others have joined White, with Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler,
Michael McDonald, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Shelby Lynne
among those who have paid tribute as guests on recent, theme-oriented projects such TheHeroines and Uncovered..