Hats Off to Harper
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believe I shake 'em on down
Get my babe won't be late
You know by that I mean seconds late
Ah must I holler
Must I shake 'em on down
Well I've been mistreated babe
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Shake 'em
Well I ain't no monkey
I can't climb no tree
No brown skin woman gonna make No monkey out of me
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've been mistreated babe
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Listen mama, Put on your mornin' gown'
Put in your nightshirt Mama we gonna shake 'em down yeah, yeah?
Must I holler
Must I, must I, must I shake 'em on down?
Well I've been mistreated babe
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Gave my baby a twenty dollar bill
If that don't get her
Sure my shot, shot, shot-gun will
Yeah, I gave my baby a twenty dollar bill
If that don't get that woman
I'm sure my shot-gun will
Gonna go shoot her now
The song “Hats Off To Harper” is a bluesy and upbeat track by the British band Led Zeppelin. The song is about a man who has been mistreated by his lover, and the only way he feels he can get back at her is by shaking her down by means of making her late or shooting her. The first verse he repeats a few times, indicating his frustration with his situation. He feels strongly enough in his desire to get his retribution that he compares himself to a monkey and insists that no woman can make a monkey out of him.
When he addresses his “mama,” he seems to be referring to his lover, and he tells her to put on her morning gown, presumably so they can get down to the business of shaking down together. He repeats that he’s been mistreated and insists that he’ll shake them down, meaning that he’ll take action or take back some power to alleviate his situation. He references his shotgun, indicating that his approach may be violent, which seems consistent with his strong emotions.
Some interpret the song to be about racial tensions, referencing the line where the singer insists he’s not a monkey and a “brown skinned woman” couldn’t make one out of him. Others argue that the song is just a classic blues song about frustration in a romantic relationship. At its core, the song is about taking action to remedy a frustrating and unacceptable situation.
Line by Line Meaning
When I done quit hollerin' baby
Once I stop yelling, baby
I believe I shake 'em on down
I can make things happen
Get my babe won't be late
I'll pick up my girl on time
You know by that I mean seconds late
I won't tolerate being even slightly late
Ah must I holler
Do I really have to yell?
Must I shake 'em on down
Do I have to make things happen?
Well I've been mistreated babe
I've been treated unfairly, baby
I ain't no monkey
I am not foolish or easily manipulated
I can't climb no tree
I cannot be swayed or easily controlled
No brown skin woman gonna make No monkey out of me
I won't let any woman control me, no matter her skin color
Listen mama, Put on your mornin' gown'
Hey lady, get dressed
Put in your nightshirt Mama we gonna shake 'em down yeah, yeah?
Get comfortable, we're going to have some fun
Gave my baby a twenty dollar bill,
I gave my girl some money
If that don't get her,
If she isn't swayed by money,
Sure my shot, shot, shot-gun will,
I'll use my shotgun if I have to
Yeah, I gave my baby a twenty dollar bill,
I already gave her some money
If that don't get that woman,
If that doesn't work on her,
I'm sure my shot-gun will
I'll resort to violence
Gonna go shoot her now
I'm going to commit an act of violence
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES OBSCURE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LotofacilLogica
Hats Off To (Roy) Harper ( Lyrics 100% accurate)
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
Ahh-hah, must I holler-a, must I shake 'em on down
When I done quit hollerin', babe
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Shake 'em, ah-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, yay, must I-ha, must I, must I, must I shake 'em on down
Ah-ah-ah
Ooh, well, I done been mistreated baby
I believe I'll shake 'em on down-ow-own
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 babe 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
@markm734
I was raised on Zeppelin, but it wasn't until I discovered the blues in my late twenties that I realized how much of a blues band Led Zeppelin was.
@Bigboibeven
I went to a thrift store to try to find some records after Christmas this year because I received a record player. I saw they had a copy of "Street Survivors" by Lynrd Skynrd, so I bought it for $1.38 and was very happy with my find. When I got home to play it, I pulled it out of the sleeve and realized that it was not Street Survivors but was in fact an original 1970 pressing of Led Zeppelin III... this was the best mistake that ever happened to me
@charlesseagraves6210
Score! 👍
@chatab1982
🧢
@bishlap
worst shit Skynyrd (great band) ever produced...commercial crap that could be used to sell hotdogs on TV.
@thomasjoseph2050
Hey that’s mine! I remember putting my Zeppelin record in that sleeve!
@bishlap
@@thomasjoseph2050 HA !!!! Was it Zeppelin II, if so, that was MINE!!
@CliveofEngland
Unusual tribute to Roy Harper, the tremendously idiosyncratic, uncompromising and influential folk and rock artist whose albums in the 70s especially should be as celebrated as Led Zep's. Hats off to Roy!
@Blade247
Jimmy plays some serious badass blues here... His mastery of any style separates him from the ordinary guitar player and demonstrate that he is in fact a virtuoso !
@jamesaron1967
Yeah, sound like he's playing slide guitar. He is indeed a virtuoso.