Hannah Fell in Love with my Piano

(Frankie Jaxon ?)

Transcribed from vocals by Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon, recorded May 14, 1926.
From Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, vol. 1. 1926-1929, Document Records, DOCD-5258.
Photo of Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
When I was a little kid down in Louisiana,
Playing with my little sweetheart, Hannah,
Playing hide and go seek among the sugar cane,
When I heard my mammy call, at the bend of the lane:

She say, "Jim"; "Yeah, what do you want, Mother?"
"I'm going to town, son, and buy you a suit."
"And what else, Mother?"
"And when I come back, you know, darling, I'm going to give you some fruit."
Why, she gave me an apple, banana, pie, peach and plum;
I started playing on my instrument for Hannah,
And then she started to... said, "Son"
The way that gal looked at me, I could plainly see,
It was in her eyes,
She wanted me to play, can I see,
Miss Hannah, she got stuck on the way I played piano.
Nice little piano.
All but her my apple, [?]
I wanted to play her grand opera, too.
She said, "Stop it, man,
Don't play that stuff for me,
I want you to play something good, you fool."
Go on and play that piano.
She got stuck on the way I played piano.
Ummm, piano,
Said, "If you want me to be,
Go on, Tennessee," [?]
You better play it, whip it, pat it, bang it,
Play it, oh, papa, play for me!

Spoken:
Now, listen here, what do you mean you're going to take me home?
You know a man and a taxicab is two dollars fare.
You gonna do what?
You gonna put it in my stocking, the money, bro?
Well, you'll never do nothing like that to me!
I can't stand that kind of a jive!
Lord, the last man said he was going to give me something,
When I woke up and come home the next morning,
I didn't have no legs, stockings or anything else!
Have I got another fellow?
Sure I got another fellow!
Where is he? Out of town?
What am I doing when he's out of town?
What do you think old lady Rip van Winkle was doing while Rip was sleeping?
I guess you thought that she was out there on the corner playing in the sand or doing something like that.
All you got to do is one thing for me,
Play it, play it, play it, papa, for me,
Ummm, Hannah,
She got crazy way I play the piano.
Lord, piano!
I want to play her grand opera.
Play her radio tunes, [?]
She said, "Lord, Lord, nobody better come in here!"
Crazy Lord, oh!
Miss Hannah!
She went wild about the way I play piano,
I mean, pretty piano,
You want me to be
Go up in a tree? [?]
You better play it, whip it, bang it, pat it, rip it and play it,
All for me!

About this recording

This is Frankie's earliest known recording, made in St. Louis, MO. He was accompanied on the piano by DeLloyd Barnes.

About this CD:

The CD includes extensive liner notes by Jim Probaska, and provides us with recording dates, labels (in code, with no key), locations, personnel and time. Unfortunately, Document Records information does not include the names of composers or lyricists unless they happen to be mentioned in the liner notes.

Pieces included on this CD are:

1) Hannah Fell in Love with my Piano
2) If That Don't Get It - This One Will
3) Can't You Wait Till You Get Home
4) I'm Gonna Steal You
5) Willie the Weeper
6) She Got "It"
7) I'm Gonna Dance Wit De Guy Wot Brung Me
8) Corinne
9) Hit Ta Ditty Low Down
10) Down at Jasper's Bar-B-Que
11) How Can I Get It?
12) Fan It
13) Fan It
14) My Four Reasons
15) Rock Me Mama
16) Let's Knock a Jug
17) Can You Wait Till You Get Home
18) She's Coming Round the Mountain
19) Get the "L" on Down the Road
20) Don't Drink It in Here
21) It's Heated
22) Jive Man Blues
23) Corinne Blues
24) Operation Blues

Read about Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon.
Return to the Jazz and Blues Lyrics Page.

Published 7/21/99.
Updated 9/12/99.

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