Ella Mae Morse was born in Mansfield, Texas, United States. She was hired by Jimmy Dorsey when she was 14 years old. Dorsey believed she was 19, and when he was informed by the school board that he was now responsible for her care, he fired her. In 1942, at the age of 17, she joined Freddie Slack's band, with whom in the same year she recorded "Cow Cow Boogie", Capitol Records' first gold single. "Mr. Five by Five" was also recorded by Morse with Slack, and they had a hit recording with the song in 1942 (Capitol 115). She also originated the wartime hit "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet", which was later popularized by Nancy Walker in the film, Broadway Rhythm.
In 1943, Morse began to record solo. She reached #1 in the R&B chart with "Shoo-Shoo Baby" in December for two weeks. In the same year she performed "Cow Cow Boogie" in the film Reveille with Beverly and starred in Universal's South of Dixie and The Ghost Catchers with Olsen and Johnson and How Do You Dooo? with radio's Mad Russian, Bert Gordon. She sang in a wide variety of styles, and she had hits on both the U.S. pop and rhythm and blues charts. However, she never received the popularity of a major star because her versatility prevented her from being placed into any one category of music.
The song "Love Me or Leave Me" as recorded by Morse was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1922, with the flip side "Blacksmith Blues," which became her biggest hit.
In 1946, "House of Blue Lights" by Freddie Slack and Morse, (written by Slack and Raye) saw them perform what was one of many of Raye's songs picked up by black R&B artists. Her biggest solo success was "Blacksmith Blues" in 1952, which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The same year her version of "Down the Road a Piece" appeared on Capitol with Slack again on piano accompaniment. Morse also recorded a version of "Oakie Boogie" for Capitol which reached #23 in 1952. Her version was one of the first songs arranged by Nelson Riddle.
Morse ceased recording in 1957, but continued performing until the early 1990s at such clubs as Michael's Pub in New York, Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's Cinegrill and the Vine St. Bar and Grill. She appeared regularly at Disneyland for several years with the Ray McKinley Orchestra, and did a successful tour of Australia shortly before her final illness.
Her music career was profiled in Nick Tosches' 1984 book, The Unsung Heroes of Rock 'N' Roll: The Birth of Rock in the Wild Years Before Elvis. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1724 Vine Street. Her entire recorded body of work was issued in a deluxe box set by Bear Family Records.
As Morse's musical style blended jazz, blues, and country, she has sometimes been called the first rock 'n' roll singer. A good example is her 1942 recording of the song "Get On Board, Little Chillun", which, with strong gospel, blues, boogie, and jive sounds as a genuine precursor to the later rockabilly/ rock 'n roll songs. Her records sold well to both Caucasian and African-American audiences. As she was not well known at the time of her first solo hits, many people assumed she was African-American because of her 'hip' vocal style and choice of material.
Morse had six children from two marriages, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and an estranged sister named Flo Handy, who was also a singer.
In 1999 Morse died of respiratory failure in Bullhead City, Arizona, aged 75.
Cow Cow Boogie
Ella Mae Morse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
And as he jogged along I heard him singing
A most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty he learned in the city
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip little doggies
And he trucked them on down the old fairway
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Singin' his cowboy song, he's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent with a Harlem touch
He was raised on local weed
He's what you call a swing half breed
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Get along little doggie
Better be on your way, your way
Get along little doggie
And he trucked them on down the old fairway
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Yip yip, singing his cowboy songs
Yip yip, as he was joggling along
Yip yip, he sings with a Harlem touch
Yip yip, that cat is just too much
Singing his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yi yi yi yeah
The lyrics of Ella Mae Morse's song Cow Cow Boogie tell the story of meeting a cowboy in the fields of Santa Fe and hearing him sing a peculiar cowboy song. The song that the cowboy was singing was a mixture of western and swing music, which made it unique and different from the traditional cowboy songs. The cowboy's accent was also different as he had a Harlem touch to it, which added to the uniqueness of the song. The song talks about getting along and being on your way, which could be interpreted as advice for the little doggies or for the listener themselves.
The lyrics of Cow Cow Boogie are cleverly written with playful words such as "doggies" and "comma ti yi yi yeah" to make the song enjoyable to listen to. The song also tells the story of a cowboy who is familiar with different kinds of music and cultures as he was raised on local weed, which could be interpreted as him being raised in a diverse society. The song captures the essence of the cowboy lifestyle and the cowboy culture, while also adding its own unique spin to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the plains down near Santa Fe
One day while I was on the plains near Santa Fe.
I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
I encountered a cowboy who was riding along peacefully.
And as he jogged along I heard him singing
While he was trotting ahead, I could hear him singing a tune.
A most peculiar cowboy song
It was an unusual and striking cowboy song.
It was a ditty he learned in the city
He picked up the song in the city.
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Get along, get hip little doggies
Come on, move ahead, little dogs, and get into the rhythm.
Get along, better be on your way
Start going and not stop because you need to find the old fairway.
Get along, get hip little doggies
Move forward and keep jigging, little dogs.
And he trucked them on down the old fairway
He carried on and lead them towards the old fairway.
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
He was singing his strange and amusing cow cow boogie.
Singin' his cowboy song, he's just too much
Singing his song with his western accent and Harlem touch was just amazing.
He's got a knocked out western accent with a Harlem touch
He has a southern accent with a Harlem twist.
He was raised on local weed
He grew up on the local weed.
He's what you call a swing half breed
He's a mix of a western and a Harlem swing.
Get along little doggie
Keep going, little dog.
Better be on your way, your way
Start moving and look for your path.
Get along little doggie
Get along and move on as if in a dance.
And he trucked them on down the old fairway
And he led them towards the old fairway.
Singing his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
He carried on with his odd cow cow boogie song.
Yip yip, singing his cowboy songs
Yip yip, he kept singing his cowboy songs.
Yip yip, as he was joggling along
Yip yip, as he was moving, dancing and singing.
Yip yip, he sings with a Harlem touch
Yip yip, he's taken the southern-western twist and added some Harlem flair.
Yip yip, that cat is just too much
Yip yip, he's steeped in the music and culture of the west and Harlem.
Singing his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
He keeps singing his strange cow cow boogie song in his own unique style and swing.
Comma ti yi yi yi yi yi yeah
Comma ti yi yi yi yi yi yeah
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Raye, Benny Carter, Gene De Paul
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drivinsouth651
This is an awesome song performed by a great singer!
Out on the plains, down near Santa Fe
I met a cowboy riding the range one day
And as he jogged along, I heard him singing
A most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty he learned in the city
Ah, comma ti, ii, yi, aay, comma ti, yipply, yi, aay
Get along, get hip, little doggies
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip, little doggies
And he trucked 'em on down the old fairway
Singing his cow, cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti, ii, yi, aay, comma ti, yipply, ii, aay
Singing his cowboy songs, he's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent
With a Harlem touch, he was raised on loco weed
He's what you call a swing half-breed
Singing his cow, cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti, ii, yi, aay, comma ti, yipply, ii, aay
Get along, little doggie
Better be on your way, your way
G-get along, little doggie
And he trucked 'em on down the old fairway
Singing his cow, cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti ii-yi aay, comma ti yipply ii aay
Yip yip, singing his cowboy songs
Yip yip as he was juggling along
Yip yip, he sings with a Harlem touch
Yip yip, that cat is just too much
Singing his cow, cow boogie, in the strangest way
Comma ti, ii, ii, ii, ii, aay
Writer(s): Gene de Paul, Don Raye, Benny Carter
@gabriellaricciardi133
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 singing
A most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty, he learned in the city
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Get along, get hip little doggies
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip little doggies
And he trucked them on down the old fairway
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Singin' his cowboy song
He's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent with a Harlem touch
He was raised on local weed
He's what you call a swing half breed
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Get along little doggie, better be on your way, your way,
Get along little doggie
And he trucked them on down the old fairway
Singin' his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah.
Yip yip singing his cowboy song
Yip yip as he was joggling along
Yip yip he sings with a harlem touch
Yip yip that guy is just too much
Singing his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yi yi yi yeah.
@alexanderhughes878
Cow Cow Boogie Lyrics
Artist(Band):Ella Fitzgerald
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'
A 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 DOGIES
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip little DOGIES
AND 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
(Chorus)
Singin' his cowboy songs
He's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent with a HARLEM touch
He was raised on LOCO WEED
He's what you call a swing half breed
Singin' his Cow Cow Booogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
@jazmaan
I met Benny Carter in a dentist's waiting room. He was 98 years old. He was there with his wife. I recognized him. "I know you! You wrote the "Cow Cow Boogie"" I exclaimed. His wife busted out laughing. Probably the last thing he wanted to be remembered for, but he was very nice and told me all about writing it. Although its credited to Raye, De Paul, and Carter, he said it's really just his song.
@lesthebest3171
This song was actually a tribute to Herb Jeffries, the first black singing cowboy of the silver screen, who was known as The Bronze Buckaroo. Jeffries was a mixed race entertainer, who made four b cowboy movies for black audiences between 1937-1939. Because of segregation few whites ever saw these movies which portrayed blacks as the hero instead of the subservient comic relief, which white segregated movie goers preferred at the time. So when Ella Mae Morris’s Cow Cow Boogies hit it big on radio, whites never knew that she was singing about Herb Jeffries, but blacks knew better. The song became a hit on not only Pop but RB radio, long before Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots released their version. Ella Mae Version was so much better, I think, than Ella Fitzgerald’s, even though the song was given to her to record first.
@henrybrowne7248
Wow, thank you for that history. I didn't know that. I like Ella Mae's version too, of all that I listened to, including Ella and the Ink Spots, though many were still very good. I can't help but think Ella Mae, being from TX, sort of had the inside track on a cowboy song like this.
@ryansharpe3564
Do you have sources that state this?
@jonathanpearl5379
My mother saw Freddie Slack with Ella Mae Morse do this at the Apollo Theater. They went over great. The Apollo audiences appreciated talent no matter the skin color.
@6catalina0
Yes, but don't you think that this would have been a great theme song for the Munsters?
@Jshdjdosjdn276
2years late, NO IT WAS NOT. You people are always adding race to everything. This song was made for a movie. The only main black character in it was legendary Ella Fitzgerald.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow-Cow_Boogie
@huseyinerce-nf8ej
To anyone wondering where this performance is from, it's Beverly with Reveille (1943) musical film.
@skipandslide
and i wish i could see it in higher quality!
@johncheney950
This music is before my time, but I love it! Some of the best music is Swing!