Boswell Sisters: Sleepy Time Down South [1932]

[2emeraldeyes]

How could four people not like this? Tin ears? No appreciation for real music? what??? Can't figure it out....

[sirjuandabicho]

Gracias por compartirlo.

[kovik62]

Can't get enough of The Boswell Sisters. Such great harmony and rhythmn. So much of current music is degrading and offensive - like rap. And we consider ourselves "more enlightened" today. Go figure.

[ArturoYamashita]

Wacky Music.

[RRaquello]

If you're overly sensitive to prejudicial phrases, you should stay away from this completely. In 1932, Connie Boswell would have been called a cripple. In 1932, Eddie Lang had to change his name from Salvatore Massaro so he wouldn't be typed as another "Dago" musician. And this song uses the words darky and mammy. The Fleischers, who made this film, were Jews and their cartoons were full of Jewish jokes. If you want to prove how morally superior you are to everyone else, go watch Barney.

[jaxpublishing]

yeah, eddie lang.

[GunMeat]

Could anyone write down the lyrics of the "introduction" ?

And what's the melody?

[Alonzo30307]

The racial stuff is something you have to put up with if you are going to put up with if you are going to spend any time with videos and music of that era. Be glad we're better than that.

But, one thing to consider. Conee Boswell -- the one who solos here, and the musical sparkplug of the sisters -- was confined to a wheelchair because of childhood polio. Do you think she would have had any kind of career in today's popular music culture?

Different eras have different prejudices.

[memorylanefrank]

What a great sister group. Sang New Orleans jazz, like no one else. By the way, guitarist, Eddie Lang, was Bing Crosby's best friend who died at a very early age after a toncilectomy (sp)? Sad story as Bing pushed Eddie to have the necessary surgery.

[oysterjoe]

One of these babes was a victim of polio and always sang sitting down.

When I was a kid there were kids with polio everywhere.

And let's not forget Thalidimide.

We have made SOME progress.

[HyruleanaZeldin]

One of the first karaoke videos, I dare to say...

[Jaycool10]

Sounds like Look Away to me.

[bibikula]

What this trio Kind of music? Classic, Blues, Jazz or Swing? can anybody answer this question?

[justinian693]

dixie?

[bibikula]

Is Dixie One of the Music genre???

I'm never heard that !, or can you tell me few singer or group that have music genre of dixie???

[jeanserge21]

The Boswell sisters are generally classified in vocal jazz

[oysterjoe]

Be-Bop.

[lexo30]

@oysterjoe It's not bebop. For one thing, bebop didn't get started until the early 1940s.

[oysterjoe]

@lexo30 Right you are.

As I recall Betty Boop used to sing this stuff.

"Boop, boop-a-do" if memory serves.

[SatchmoSings]

This is music that my country produced and that the rest of the world loves.

The guitarist on this song is also someone famous; he died very young.

[lexo30]

@bibikula - I'd call it jazz-inflected pop music. It's not blues because the song isn't a blues song. I don't really think it's swing, either, because it doesn't have swing's characteristic rhythm (although it has a swing of its own). It certainly isn't classical music. It's really good, though, apart from some unfortunate lyrics.

[oysterjoe]

@lexo30 If I may, one shouldn't be to quick to apply todays social standards to our forbears of yesteryear.

In times yet to come we shall fall just as short by a similiar future yardstick.

[lexo30]

@oysterjoe - Our 'forebears of yesteryear' were not universally in favour of the word 'darkies'.

[oysterjoe]

@lexo30 Drop dead, fool!

Turn your animosity towards Jesse Jackson or the asshole Obama who have sold you out big time.

Get over it.

Call me ofay---who gives a flying fuck?

[lexo30]

@oysterjoe You seem to have mistaken me for an American, which I'm not. I'm not going to call you names, and I'm surprised that you've suddenly got so angry. What are you so angry about?

[oysterjoe]

@lexo30He who ain't angry ain't paying attention.

[lexo30]

@oysterjoe Ah.

[justinian693]

I do love this song...

[mr1940s]

ah the life of Ease, segrigation, poverty and ease, still it's a good Song but the low production qaulities make it kind of creepy, still good

[cdadave83814]

I don't think 'darkies' was used in a bigoted way here; it was the times, it's how people talked back then. Obviously that word is not PC to use now...the times are different now; hopefully we're more aware now.

All that said, I've never heard the Boswell Sisters before...they're great!

[msjazzmeblues]

After all, this song was one of Armstrong's big songs as well, despite the use of the "d: word!

The Boswells were from New Orleans, also and knew whereof they sang. Nostalgia for the South and "darky music" were popular all through the 1920s and 1930s and can be found in many performances by blacks as well as whites.

[cdadave83814]

I'm a huge fan of Lee Morse, another singer of the era, and a couple of songs she sang featured the "d" word. They said "darkie" back then the same way we say "black" man/woman these days. Most of all, the 'd' word was a description. Much as I'm a 'white' guy, for example.

[frankgrappa]

great stuff - the Ralph Kramden "chef of the future" intro was a nice touch :-)

[karmicrevolutionary]

heavenly bliss!!!!!!

[JackFertig]

The Boswell Sisters are so marvelous I'd forgive them anything, and sometimes you have to set politics aside to accept the beauty of the art on its own terms. No offense was intended, but the lyrics are racist, not deliberately, but thoughtlessly insulting. Such were the times. Knowing better now doesn't mean we can't enjoy the song, but any newer versions should update the lyrics a bit, as previous comments show they have.

[harbottle99]

Thanks for posting this song, it's a lovely old melody and lovely lyrics. I have a CD of the late, great Paul Robeson singing it....lovely! (incidentally, he sings "darkies" and didn't seem to be offended by it...I think some people see offence where none was intended.

[paintingangels]

♥ love love love

[cgboomer]

maybe it's just me, but they don't sound mean by calling them darkies.

[corvus13]

Ella Fitzgerald said that Connee Boswell was one of her influences.

[PaulFLUS]

@corvus13 Connee was indeed Ella's main influence early on. It is very obvious in songs such as the Mills Brothers" version of Dedicated To You" with Ella collaborating circa 1937. I think Ella did a better Connee Boswell than Connee Boswell

[2emeraldeyes]

@corvus13 Not surprising, Connie was excellent. They were all fantastic!

[everybodylovesmybaby]

This song was written by three African-Americans, Leon Rene', Otis Rene', and Clarence Muse. Leon Rene' was in the music and recording business through the 1950's, recording R&B and rock and roll. Clarence Muse was a lawyer. The song has been recorded, with the lyric "darkies" left out, by Billy Holliday, among others.

[direfranchement]

Yes....performances from Armstrong in 1942 and 1959 are here on YouTube...in '42, he used "darkies", in '59, he used "da folks". Billie sang "folks" and Mel Tormé "colored folks". Times changed. The ealier versions have included the more offensive lyrics, later versions were changed by the increased social awareness of the 50's.

[gjford1951]

Clarence Muse was also an actor. I think his last movie was in the late 1970s or early 1980s (The Black Stallion).

[everybodylovesmybaby]

I did see a reference to his career as an actor. If he was still making films in the late '70's, his career was quite lengthy.

[southernrockdrummer]

Notice how Connie runs to the bench in cartoon in the beginning though in real life she was paralyzed by polio from the waist down .

[ManilaSyndicate]

Nice vid and nice song. Love the vintage quality.

Political Correctness makes the lyrics funny. The irony.

[CinematicSun]

this is splendid

[hunarf]

splendid indeed ;)

[charlestil]

Thanks so much for posting this. My favorite "sisters" vocal group. And Eddie Lang too!

[Khalilullah]

The "good old days" were good; all times can be judged as terrible by the future. The last 60 years will be judged by the theft of Palestine and subsequent ghetto-ization of it's occupants, the deaths of 100's of thousands of innocent Iraqis. Muslims? 1/5 of the human population. Darkie, towwellhead, it's all the same coon-talk. Besides, coon songs are generally less derogatory than nigger/fuck/ho/bitch Rap music. At least back then we had white people to blame for these behaviors.

[merrihew]

My comment was not meant as any disrespect to the Boswell Sisters whom I consider the greatest vocal group of all time. I just become irritated when I hear any kind of apologist talk about "the good old days" in the south. VA issued rules about the treatment of slaves permitting dismemberment to act as a deterrent to others for bad behavior.

[oysterjoe]

@merrihew Not only Governments engage in such reprehensible tactics.

I believe that there is a disease currently spreading worldwide [masquerading as a religion] that does the same.

[arjdsm]

alrighty boys and girls if u dont know this song

it dont mean u gotta post crap bout it coz its

best melody the 1 can create

[Heykariblue]

Scotpens, you're on my prayer list. "Darkies" is not a term of affection.

[scotpens]

Maybe there should be an emoticon for "sarcasm / irony." Obviously I was being facetious about the "darkie" thing.

Actually, though, in the antebellum South and for many decades after the Civil War, white Southerners -- at least those of the upper class who considered themselves well-bred and genteel -- did use that word with a patronizing, condesceding kind of affection for blacks, both during and after slavery. There are lots of nastier words than that, you know!

[merrihew]

Well, I live in VA and have heard these well-bred and genteel southern aristocrats, who claim affection, wax nostalgically about how their hired help would run all day for a quarter. Also, excavations of slave cemeteries reveal extreme overwork. Jefferson didn't even provide food for his slaves. They were on their own and worked from the age of 10 from sunrise to sunset 6 days/week. Given one set of clothes per year.

[GunMeat]

Heh, poor darkies worked all the day and then 'danced til the break of day' ;)

[fluxx2000]

WOW! gives me goosebumps!

[scotpens]

This must be from one of the Fleischer Brothers' Bouncing Ball short films, in which an animated cartoon was followed by a filmed live-action segment featuring a popular song. The movie audience would be invited to sing along -- "Just follow the bouncing ball!"

Gee, I wonder why they don't write songs about "darkies" any more. . .

[sb6613]

tremendous

[ldFlorida]

Absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing this!

[kennethbear]

This song was Louis Armstrong's main theme during his career.

[rrbowes]

Give Goin Home a listen.

[fpngan]

For any of you that care, Wynonna has revealed that she has cut one of the Boswell sisters song for her next album!

I have never heard of them before so when I heard of this I came straight to youtube and have watched video upon video. I love them!

[bluewing04]

Nice how you can time travel with music. Love this thanks for posting.*****

[wbuno]

The Boswells had great voices and a great jazz style!

[BANJOISTSUPERSTAR]

This is the first time I've seen this and as I include the boswells in my jazz appreciation courses all around the country, I would love to obtain a copy of this DVD. Anyone know from where it can be obtained. - loved it!

[steve89z]

i dig it

[misspaddylee]

Ultracool!

[lorenkii]

Thanks for posting, great video

[wininboy]

And what a genius Eddie Lang was! Any recording he made was sure to be a small masterpiece. Thanks!

[Tenderness6]

I agree. Eddy Lang made many records with Joe Venuti on violin and Adrian Rollini on bass sax

[hoopjnky]

Can never get enough of those Boswell Sisters. Wish these were available from the original films!