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Song: Hats Off To (Roy) Harper
Album: Led Zeppelin III [released Oct 5, 1970 (US) | Oct 23, 1970 (UK)]
Single: N/A
Credited to: Traditional (arr. by Charles Obscure)
Related Songs:
Shake 'Em On Down - Bukka White (original)
Shake 'Em On Down - Mississippi Fred McDowell (previous cover)
Lone Wolf Blues - Oscar Woods (lyrics)
Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson (reference)

Lyrics:

(Must, must, must, must, must, down)
When I done quit hollerin', babe
I believe I'll shake 'em on down

Get me, baby, won't be late
You know by that I mean not seconds late
Ah, must I holler, must I shake 'em on down
When I done quit hollerin', babe
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Shake 'em, ah

Well, I ain't no monkey, I can't climb no tree
No brown-skinned woman gonna make no monkey outta me
Yeah, and I ain't no monkey, sure can't climb no tree
I been mistreated, babe, I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Well, I been mistreated, babe, I believe I'll shake 'em on down

Ah-hah-hah, hah-hah-hah-hah, hi-hi-hah-hah, hi-hi-hah-hah, hi-hi-hah-haaah

Listen, mama, put on your mornin' gown
Put on your nightshirt, mama, we gonna shake 'em on down
Yeah, must I, must I, must I, must I shake 'em on down, ah
Oh, well, I done been mistreated baby
I believe I'll shake 'em on down

Gave my baby twenty-dollar bill
If that don't finish her, I'm sure my shot-shot-shotgun will
Yeah, yeah, I gave my baby twenty-dollar bill
Well, if that don't get that woman out, I'm sure my shotgun will
Yeah, I'll go shoot her, now

Personal notes: I've talked to a lot of people (Zeppelin fans) that don't like this song. I suppose I can understand why, it's pretty...different. But I like it. It has some really nice slide guitar. The lyrics are interesting, but I like them, and I like the way Plant delivers them.

Influences: This song is mainly based off of Bukka White's song Shake 'Em On Down, which was also covered by Mississippi Fred McDowell. There are also some lyrics borrowed from the Oscar Woods song Lone Wolf Blues. The nightshirt/morning gown lyric is likely a reference to the song Help Me by Sonny Boy Williamson.



Shake 'Em on Down - Bukka White

Yes, you're a nice girl, mama
And little girl
Night before day
We gonna shake 'em on down

I need some time holler, now
Oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done shout hollerin', now
Must I shake 'em on down

Too much is debted to me
Through the week
Save these chili peppers
Some ol' rainy day, here

Best I'm hollerin', now
Ooh, must I shake 'em on down
I done shout hollerin', now
Must I shake 'em on down, now

Fix my supper
Let me go to bed
This white lightnin' done gone
To my head

Oh, must I holler now
Ooh, must I shake 'em on down
I done shout hollerin', now
Must I shake 'em on down

I ain't been in Georgia, babe
I been told
Georgia women got the best
Jellyroll

These nights time holler, now
Oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done shout hollerin', mama
Must I shake 'em on down

See See mama, heard
You, done-done
Made me love you, now I know
Man done coming

Best I'm hollerin', now
Oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done shout hollerin', mama
Must I shake 'em on down

Pretty girl's got, they don't know
What it is
Make me drunk at that old
Whiskey still

It's best I'm hollerin', now
Oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done shout hollerin'
Must I shake 'em on down.



Shake 'Em On Down - Mississippi Fred McDowell

If you see my baby, Lord, standing round
Somebody, Lord, must be shakin' on down
Lordy, must I holler, must I shake 'em on down!
If you come to my house, Lord, you don't find me round
Somebody, Lord, must be shakin' on down.
Put your needle down, baby, let your backbone move!
Ain't no one in town can shake it down like you.
Me and my woman went round the hill to get some ice
We found time to shake 'em down twice.



Lone Wolf Blues - Oscar Woods

Mama mother told me, when I was quite a child
Mama mother told me, when I was quite a child
I say the life that you are living will kill you after a while

I just began to realize the things my mother said
I just began to realize the things my mother said
Since I been down here I been mistreated this way

I never loved no one woman, hope to God I never will
I never loved no one woman, hope to God I never will
All these triflin' women will get some good man killed

Now I ain't no monkey, and I sure can't climb no tree
I ain't no monkey, and I sure can't climb no tree
And I ain't gonna let no woman make no monkey out of me

Now I sent my baby a brand new twenty-dollar bill
Now I sent my baby a brand new twenty-dollar bill
If that don't bring her, I know my shotgun will



Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller)

You got to help me, I can't do it all by myself
You got to help me, baby, I can't do it all by myself
You know if you don't help me darling, I'll have to find myself somebody else

I may have to wash, I may have to sew
I may have to cook, I might mop the floor
But you help me babe
You know if you don't help me darling, I'll find myself somebody else

When I walk, walk with me
When I talk, you talk to me
Oh baby, I can't do it all by myself
You know if you don't help me darling, I'll have to find myself somebody else

Help me, help me darlin'

Bring my nightshirt, put on your morning gown
Woh, bring me my nightshirt, put on your morning gown
Darlin' I know we stripped bare, but I don't feel like lyin' down