Annette Hanshaw - I Want to Be Bad

1929

To be or not to be -
That is not the question!
I decided long ago to be!

With me, it's what to be,
Make me some suggestions,
Good or bad,
Which is the best for me?
When you're after fun and laughter, this aggravates you,
Some reformer says a warmer climate awaits you!

If it's naughty to rouge your lips,
Shake your shoulders and twist your hips,
Let a lady confess, I wanna be bad!

And if it's naughty to vamp the men,
Sleep each morning till after ten,
Then the answer is yes, I wanna be bad!

This thing of being a good little goodie is all very well,
But what can you do if you're loaded with plenty of health
And vigor.

When you're learning what lips are for,
If it's naughty to ask for more,
Well let a lady confess, I wanna be bad!

Bop-buh-da-daddle-dah-da-dah-da

Bop-buh-daddle-do-doodle-do

If it's naughty to rouge your lips,
Shake your shoulders and twist your hips,
Let a lady confess, wanna be bad!
Bad girl, I do!

And if it's naughty to vamp the men,
Sleep each morning till after ten,
Then the answer is yes, I'm gonna be a bad, bad girl!

While all around me they tell how terribly naughty I am,
Boop-boop-be-doop!
Nobody's caring and nobody's giving a damn!
Sel credit!

If it's wrong to let someone take,
Just a little kiss by mistake,
Well let a lady confess, I wanna be bad!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• oldies
• music
• annette hanshaw

[crab5mt]

@Gydinglight12

I suspect this was recorded before the Hayes Act came into force. Anyway, Annette actually sings "nobody's giving a dam..... sel credit" (as in "damsel" !) Folks in the 1920s weren't quite as prudish as some folks imagine, even in the USA! This was the reaction after the carnage of World War 1, don't forget. The prudes re-asserted themselves later, and are still at it now, worse luck!!!

[fabfashionista13]

@JeremyxFisher it's annette she did a bunch of recordings mimicking helen kane...listen to button up your overcoat and litte white lies

[pinkfloyd32389]

@SSArcher11 yikes, youtube needs edit.

[SSArcher11]

@pinkfloyd32389 I never heard of one of those coming from heaven before.

(Only kidding. I know you really meant "pennies.")

[pinkfloyd32389]

pennis from heaven ftw

[gerkins1]

And Lindsay got it from this lady.

History repeating itself again.

[neatoauctions]

Hannanshaw was no Helen Kane.

[calliesdad]

Known by several names, especially on bargain discs of the day - Gay Ellis (mostly for those in the style of Helen Kane?), Dot Dare, and Patsy Young. Those are found on Harmony, Diva, and Velvet-Tone, among possibly other labels. Not sure about Harmony, but I have Diva and Velvet-Tone 78s under her own name also.

[Gydinglight12]

How did she get away with saying "damn" on record back then? Interesting that Annette and Huey Long shared the same magazine cover. The world missed something in that this song was never recorded or sung in a movie by Gloria Graham, Hollywood' s perfect Bad Girl.

[chiachhu]

be original dont imitate

[syncopeter]

Annette DID quite a few recordings in the Helen Kane style, even some combining her 'normal' singing voice with the Helen imitation. From her timing though and the way she plays tricks with the lyrics (did she invent double-entendre?) it's not difficult to recognize her. Peter.