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.
Seventeen
Ella Mae Morse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cool and solid seventeen
Young enough to dance and sing
Old enough to get that swing
Past sixteen, done been kissed
Graduated and got that twist
Kind of love I can't resist
Now, sloppy shirt, old blue-jeans
Dirty shoes, by all means
Patch of blonde, peroxide hair
Jukebox baby ain't no square
Seventeen, hot rod queen
Cutest girl you've ever seen
Tell the world I'm really keen
On my hep-cat doll of seventeen
The song Seventeen by Ella Mae Morse is an upbeat track about the teenage years of a young woman, celebrating her life at the age of seventeen. The song starts with the line 'Seventeen, seventeen, cool and solid seventeen' which seems to refer to the confidence and sense of self-assurance that often comes with youth. The lyrics capture the youthful enthusiasm and energy of the teenage years, with the singer highlighting that although she is still young enough to dance and sing, she is also old enough to have developed her sense of style and to understand what appeals to her.
The lyrics also speak to the excitement of first love, with the singer mentioning that she has already been kissed and that she has found a kind of love that she 'can't resist'. The second verse goes on to describe the singer's look in more detail, highlighting her casual style of a sloppy shirt, old blue-jeans, and dirty shoes, but also drawing attention to the patch of blonde, peroxide hair that is indicative of the cultural changes of the era. The song goes on to celebrate the singer's confidence and independence, with her being described as a 'hot rod queen', the 'cutest girl you've ever seen', and a 'hep-cat doll of seventeen'.
Overall, Ella Mae Morse's Seventeen is a joyful celebration of teenage life that captures the essence of the cultural changes that were happening in the 1950s.
Line by Line Meaning
Seventeen, seventeen
The singer is singing about being seventeen years old.
Cool and solid seventeen
The singer feels confident and capable at this age.
Young enough to dance and sing
The singer still has the energy to enjoy life and have fun.
Old enough to get that swing
The singer has enough experience to know how to have a good time and enjoy the music.
Past sixteen, done been kissed
The singer has already experienced romantic relationships and has been kissed before.
Graduated and got that twist
The singer has finished school and has learned how to dance a new style called 'the twist.'
Kind of love I can't resist
The singer is in love with someone who she can't resist.
At seventeen
The singer is reiterating that she is seventeen years old.
Now, sloppy shirt, old blue-jeans
The singer describes her dress in a casual way.
Dirty shoes, by all means
The singer doesn't care if her shoes are dirty.
Patch of blonde, peroxide hair
The singer has bleached blonde hair.
Jukebox baby ain't no square
The singer is a fan of rock and roll music and is not a conformist.
Seventeen, hot rod queen
The singer is describing herself as the queen of hot rod culture at her age.
Cutest girl you've ever seen
The singer feels confident and attractive at her age.
Tell the world I'm really keen
The singer is excited and enthusiastic about her life and her interests.
On my hep-cat doll of seventeen
The singer is referring to her lover or partner as a cool, stylish person who matches her interests and personality.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOYD B BENNETT, JOHN F. JR. YOUNG, CHUCK GORMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
miltsar
I have a great big smile on my face listening to this! It was my favorite song that summer when I was 11 years old. I will always remember the motorcycle club that rented a storefront shop down the street. They played this constantly while they hung around outside the club. Thank You so much for the memories !
brian Adams
why would anyone dislike this? It's jammin'!
brian Adams
JubalCalif lol.
Michael Quebec
A swinin' singer from the Big Band Era, she definitely is Rock n' Roll before Alan Freed appropriated the term to rhythm and blues records. Just goes to show that Big Band, Boogie Woogie, and Rock n' Roll are related.
hebneh
I like these more pop-sounding early rock songs. It's funny that the songs that followed these included references to the earlier hits, mentioning names like Long Tall Sally and Miss Molly - and the hepcat doll of 17, too; the "prettiest girl you've ever seen".
Mike Prescott
Takes me back to my RAF days listening to AFN on the wireless in '55.
eric lewis
me too bought the 78
mrblindfreddy9999
cant believe it i am 64 and never heard of her great voice
flamencoprof
First I saw her name was on some old 16 inch Armed Forces Radio records my grandfather had. I would have lumped her in with that old big band stuff, but now I have looked her up, listened and learned a bit more I am impressed.
AstroSonic1967
Great record by Ella. Like it better than the Fontaine Sisters version.