Cow-Cow Boogie

The Ink Spots, Ella Fitzgerald

About Cow-Cow Boogie

"Cow Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay)" is a "country-boogie"-style blues song utilizing the folklore of the singing cowboy in the American West. In the lyrics, the cowboy is from the city and tells his "dogies" (motherless calves) to "get hip." The music was written by Don Raye, and lyrics were written by Benny Carter and Gene De Paul. The song was written for the 1942 Abbott & Costello film Ride 'Em Cowboy, which included Ella Fitzgerald as a cast member. The first recording was by Freddie Slack & his Orchestra, featuring vocalist Ella Mae Morse in 1942. The record was the second release by Capitol Records and their first million-seller/ number one on the charts record. Morse learned the song from hearing Fitzgerald on a soundtrack she had acquired, even though the song had been cut from the movie. Morse also recalled recording the song in a single take, which she had thought was only a rehearsal. The November 3, 1943 collaboration between The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald resulted in a number-one hit on the Harlem Hit Parade and a number-10 hit on the pop chart. The Ella Mae Morse version was later re-recorded as a "soundie," an early form of music video. 


Year:
2006
2:55
114 
#1

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Out on the plains down near Santa Fe
I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
And as he jogged along I heard him singin'
The most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty he learned in the city
Comma ti yi yi, yeah
Comma ti yippity yi, yeah

Now get along, get hip, little doggies
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip, little doggies
He trucked 'em on down that old fairway
Singin' his Cow-Cow Boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi, yeah
Comma ti yippity yi, yeah

Now singin' his cowboy songs
He's just too much
He's got a knocked-out Western accent with a Dixie touch
He was raised on local ways
He's what you call a swingin' half-breed
Singin' his Cow-Cow Boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi, yeah
Comma ti yippity yi, yeah

Now singin' his cowboy songs
He's just too much
He's got a knocked-out Western accent with a Dixie touch
He was raised on local ways
He's what you call a swingin' half-breed
Singin' his Cow-Cow Boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi, yeah
Comma ti yippity yi, yeah

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Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", was an American jazz and song vocalist. With a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6), she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. more »

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Written by: BENNY CARTER, DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL

Lyrics © THE HUB MUSIC COMPANY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Origin
"Cow-Cow Boogie" was originally composed in 1942 for the Abbott & Costello's movie "Ride 'Em Cowboy."
Initial release
The song was first recorded by Freddie Slack & His Orchestra, featuring Ella Mae Morse.
Crossover success
Ella Mae Morse's version of "Cow-Cow Boogie" reached number one on the Billboard chart and sold over a million copies. It became the first crossover hit selling one million copies.
Ella Fitzgerald's rendition
While Ella Mae Morse was the first to record the song, a young Ella Fitzgerald also recorded the track a year later in 1943.
Benny Carter
The Benny Carter's version of "Cow-Cow Boogie" is another well-known recording. Carter was a renowned jazz musician, and his take on the song emphasizes the jazz elements in the composition.
Unique Lyrics
The song is known for its unique blending of cowboy-themed lyrics and boogie-woogie style rhythm, which added to its popularity and uniqueness in the 1940s.
Cultural influence
"Cow-Cow Boogie" is notable for pioneering the "country-boogie" style, which would eventually lead to the development of rockabilly and rock and roll music.
Revivals
Over the years, the song has been covered by many artists, attesting to its enduring popularity and influence in music.
Connection to Military History
The song was presented to the public during World War II and became particularly popular with servicemen and women overseas.
Other notable recordings
Apart from Benny Carter, Ella Mae Morse, and Ella Fitzgerald, "Cow-Cow Boogie" has been recorded by other notable artists including Patsy Montana and Janet Klein.

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