This may be the last recording for Big Marv and The Hodads for a while. Big Marv isn't going down to New Orleans with the band for Mardi Gras, and he has no idea when they'll get back. Big Marv says:
I been to Mardi Gras lots of times. Too damn old for that nonsense anymore. Got no interest in throwin' strings of beads to women showin' their titties, all the boozin' dope, carousing in general. Oh, the boys will have their share of music to play an' all, but them guys won't draw a sober breath the whole time. Hell, Mardi Gras doesn't start until March 4th this year, but they got lots of gigs before then, I guess. Least that's what they told me. They tried to get me to go along, to keep unity with the group. But we've never been a tight knit group. The Hodads just might go on without me, even after they get back, but it's no skin off my nose. There's lots of opportunities for my wife and I to make music!
By the way, Big Marv's wife is 'Big' Sheila Jonsmite, known for her gourmet Cajun food, plus she's a good singer and musician in her own right that has recorded for us as well. But back to the recording.
The bayous, swamps ans sloughs of Louisiana have given us a lot of folktales from the people that live there. A local legend that no doubt has basis in fact is what Big Marv has named as Swamp Ass Joe. This recording is unique for Big And Tall Records as it is basically a blues/boogie woogie piece that is prefaced by a short introduction by a full orchestra and operatic tenor!
Seems Big Marv was sitting in on a rehearsal of The Noir Players and he got the idea while listening to them. He had a talk with the leaders within the group, and they agreed to do the intro if he would allow them to use the idea for their own recording!
So the recording is not mislabeled, it's Big Marv and The Hodads with one of the brass players singing the lead and Big Marv ripping up the piano part!
Introduction
What's that coming up the dirt road,
It's form can just be made out,
A ghastly silhouette of terror!
Long legs and body stout!
LOOK! It's covered in long hair!
All the folks closely watch
It comes nearer........,and nearer.....
OH MY GOD IT LOOKS LIKE SASQUATCH!
Swamp Ass Joe
WHOA! HOLD ON! HOLD ON BOYS!
I SAID HOLD ON!
That ain't no Sasquatch!
That's just Swamp Ass Joe!
He's big as a squatch, 'bout as hairy too,
But he ain't gonna do nothin' to you.
He's friendly as a puppy dog,
'Bout as bright as a cedar log.
If you're a gator it's a differnt story,
Causes all the 'gators a whole lot of worry
He hunts them down and they see defeat,
Cuz he strips 'em down and sells their meat!
Swamp Ass Joe, lives in the swamp,
Next door to the cottonmouth snakes
Don't eat nothin' but catfish, crawdads and gator,
He knows every square inch of the swamps and lakes
Lives in a bug infested cabin in the boonies,
Got lights and TV, likes to watch cartoonies
In gator season he becomes a predator,
Of anything looks like an alligator
He snares, 'em, ropes 'em, knocks 'em in the head,
When he drags them in the boat wants be sure theys dead
Swamp Ass Joe came to town was all mad and sad,
We tried to cheer him up, tell him a joke that’s funny
"Ain't no use," he said hangin' his head. "I'm feelin' bad!
My TV done quit showin' that rascal Bugs Bunny!”
He comes to town, folks give him room,
In his pocket I saw a growin' mushroom,
That's how dirty and nasty he is, what a stink!
He don't even bother to wash in the sink!
So people just want to avoid the smell,
His long hair and beard are just nasty as hell,
He thinks folks don't like him, but he don't care,
Wears overalls with no underwear!
Swamp Ass Joe, tol' me he used to wipe his ass,
With a page from the Catalogue of Sears fame,
But they don't print 'em, long gone and passed,
So he don't wipe at all, that's how he got his name!
So you ain't gotta be 'fraid of ol' Joe,
He's like a little boy.He likes sit and whittle out little toys
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