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Song of the Shrimp
Words & Music:
Roy C. Bennett/ Sid TepperI saw three shrimp in the water, two were old and gray
I swam a little bit closer and .. I heard the third one say
Goodbye mama shrimp, papa shake my hand
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
He showed his mama and papa, the shrimp newspaper he read
An invitation to all the shrimp and this is what it said
Free ride, New Orleans, stay in grand hotel
Big Creole gal who help you come out of your shell
Big Creole gal who help you come out of your shell
If I should live to be ninety, I will never forget
The little shrimp and the song he sang as he jumped into the net
Goodbye mama shrimp, papa shake my hand
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian' Recorded:
1962/03/27, first released on
Girls! Girls! Girls!Reactions
So Elvis also did calypso, why not. Great percussion on this one (there were three drummers present on the session). The Jordanaires did an amazing job on this one. Very enjoyable and unique in Elvis' repertoire.
This isn't a great song, but I like it. It's a very fun and a very unique song. This is the only song entirely about shrimp that I've ever heard and I find the song to be highly entertaining.
Yes, the lyrics are absurd, but the calypso melody is quite catchy and Elvis sings it very well. It's a weird song, but I like it :)
Has attracted so much opprobrium over the years, often being cited as the lowest point ever in Elvis' career - complete nonsense. This is an outstanding recording of the in-situ movie type song. The writing itself is a very good in calypso-style, the performance lavished upon it, outstanding. So, it's a song about a shrim - who critiicses Crawfish (also with a shellfish theme) for the same reason?
I've always enjoyed this song along with the rest of the "Girls, Girls, Girls" soundtrack. The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" reminds me a little of this song.
On its own the song has bizarre lyrics, but it fits in the film and Elvis delivers it masterfully. The rhythm, the catchy tune and the voice are in some strange way just wonderful. I do not skip this one when it starts but actually kind of enjoy it. Three stars from me.
A poor man's Belafonte. Melody not bad, lyrics are awful though. Fits the film so we could get 13/14 songs in? Should have been an EP then.
Elvis Presley sings Harry Belafonte. For one reason or another I always loved this song. Very catchy tune, great backing by the Jordonaires on the chorus and that falsetto voice at the end of the song gives it that little bitty extra.
I had previously said that this song was only barely more bearable than "Earth Boy". After further consideration, I would have to be a little more generous to this song. It is juvenile and not exactly at the top of my play list, but Elvis' vocals are great and it is at least worth 2 1/2 stars. Is this the kind of song Elvis should have been singing in '62? Probably not, but he did and I do get some enjoyment out of it. It still reminds me of "Sand Castles" from the PHS soundtrack, but I have also come to appreciate that song more to.
I first heard this song when I was forteen years old (in ´64) and thought it was great. Still think it´s a great song! Sorry guys!
Another corker from the always reliable Tepper and Bennett. Please read that last sentence with extreme sarcasm. Actually the worst thing about this song is the title which is embarrassing. The melody is surprisingly enjoyable, especially considering who wrote it. Makes me wonder if it's based on an existing trad song.
It fits the film,that's it !
Catchy chorus...but that's about it I am afraid.
This tune is more bearable on record than "Earth Boy" (from the same movie, "Girls! Girls! Girls!"), but only barely. I do find it funny that people blast this song, but say they like "Sand Castles" from the "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" soundtrack LP. They are both juvenile and sound like they belong in the movie the "The Incredible Mr Limpet".
Oh my. An all time low for this songwriting team. Leiber/Stoller where have you gone?
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