Mr. Five by Five
Jimmy Rushing
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Well, twirl my turban, man alive! Here comes Mister Five by Five He's one of those big fat bouncing boys Solid avoirdupois! Mister Five by Five He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide He don't measure no more from head to toe Than he do from side to side Mister Five by Five Got fifty chins and a line of jive He's a mellow old cat, a real hep fat He be Mister Five by Five That man Can really jump it for a fat man The only trouble is there's no way of knowin' Whether he's comin' or, or goin' Mister Five by Five He's slightly plump on his butter side He don't shake it no more from head to toe Than he do from side to side That man (my, my!) Can really jump it for a fat man (fat man!) Boys, the trouble is there's no way of knowin' Whether he's comin' or, or goin' Mister Five by Five He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide He don't measure no more from head to toe Than he do From side to side Mister Five by Five
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Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Composition"Mr. Five by Five" was written by Don Raye and Gene De Paul. The song's lyrics refer to a short, stout man who is as wide as he is tall.
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Original PerformerWhile Jimmy Rushing is a significant performer of this song, it was originally introduced by Freddie Slack with the Will Bradley Orchestra in 1942.
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Chart SuccessThe original version of the song, performed by Freddie Slack and the Will Bradley Orchestra, reached number 5 on the Harlem Hit Parade (early R&B chart) and stayed there for a total of 15 weeks.
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Notable PerformanceAlthough the song was not originally performed by Jimmy Rushing, his renditions are among the most famous, contributing significantly to the initiative of bringing blues to wider audiences.
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Other PerformersApart from Jimmy Rushing, the song has been recorded by several artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Amos Milburn, and the Andrews Sisters.
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Usage in Popular Culture"Mr. Five by Five" was used in the 1943 film “Stormy Weather," a 20th Century Fox film starring Lena Horne and Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson. In the film, it was performed by Ada Brown and Fats Waller.
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Reference to WallerThe song is thought to be an allusion to the famed jazz pianist Fats Waller due to the theories floating around suggesting the similar physical build he had, being both high and wide.
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The Jimmy Rushing VersionThe Jimmy Rushing version of the song was released under the Vanguard label. The song features his powerful bluesy voice which has been characterized as full-bodied, and it is largely due to his jazz and rhythm and blues interpretations that the song gained popularity.
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Versatile Song"Mr. Five by Five" is known for its ability to fit into multiple music genres such as Rhythm and Blues and Jazz because of its flexibility in music composition and interpretation.
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Legacy"Mr. Five by Five" has since become a classic in the jazz and rhythm and blues genres, covered by many different artists and continuing to be recognized for its unique blend of melody, rhythm, and lyrical content.
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"Mr. Five by Five Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5960287/Jimmy+Rushing/Mr.+Five+by+Five>.
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