Ella Mae Morse (September 12, 1924 – October 16, 1999) was an American popu… Read Full Bio ↴Ella Mae Morse (September 12, 1924 – October 16, 1999) was an American popular singer. Morse blended jazz, country, pop, and rhythm and blues.

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.

Shoo Shoo Baby
Ella Mae Morse Lyrics

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You've seen him up and down the avenue
And now he's wearing the navy blue
She had a tear in the corner of her eye
As he said his last goodbye

Shoo, shoo, baby
Shoo, sh-sh, baby
Bye, bye, bye baby

Your papa's off to the seven seas

Do-on't cry baby
Do-on't sigh baby
Bye, bye, bye baby
When I come back we'll live a life of ease

Seems kinda tough now
To say goodbye this way
But papa's gotta be rough now
So that he can be sweet to you another day

Bye-iy-iy baby
Do-on't cry baby
Shoo, shoo, shoo baby
Your papa's off to the seven seas

Bye bye bye baby
Do-on't cry my baby

Shoo-oo-sh baby
'Cos your papa's off to the seven seas.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ella Mae Morse's song "Shoo Shoo Baby" tell the story of a man going off to the navy, leaving behind his lover with a tear in her eye. The chorus, "Shoo shoo baby," serves as a comforting phrase, almost like a lullaby, as the man assures his lover not to cry or sigh as he departs for his duty. Although it seems tough and harsh, the man explains that he has to be rough now so that he can be sweet to her another day. He promises their life together will be easy when he returns, and despite the sadness of the moment, the song provides reassurance and hope for the couple's future.

Shoo Shoo BabyElla Mae Morse Lyrics

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Shoo Shoo Baby
Ella Mae Morse Lyrics