Sims was the cousin of another Texas blues musician, Lightnin' Hopkins, and he worked with several other prominent blues musicians, including Texas Alexander, T-Bone Walker, King Curtis and Albert Collins. Sims is regarded as one of the important figures in post-war Texas country blues.
Frankie Lee Sims was born on April 30, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Henry Sims and Virginia Summuel. He claimed he was born on February 29, 1906, but 1906 was not a leap year and April 30, 1917 is generally accepted as his birth date. He was the nephew of Texas blues singer Texas Alexander, and the cousin of Texan guitarist Lightnin' Hopkins. Both Sims's parents were "accomplished guitarists". His family moved to Marshall, Texas in the late 1920s, and at the age of 12 he learnt to play guitar from Texas blues musician Little Hat Jones and ran away from home to work as a musician. In the late 1930s Sims had a duel career of a teacher in Palestine, Texas on weekdays and a guitarist at local dances and parties on weekends. When the US entered the Second World War at the end of 1941, Sims enlisted, becoming a Marine for three years. After the war Sims made Dallas his home where he pursued a full-time career in music.
In Dallas Sims encountered, and performed with, Texas blues guitarists T-Bone Walker and Smokey Hogg in local clubs. In 1948 Sims recorded two singles for Blue Bonnet Records, but his first success came in 1953 when he recorded his song, "Lucy Mae Blues" for Art Rupe's Specialty Records, which went on to become a regional hit. The Encyclopedia of the Blues called "Lucy Mae Blues" a "masterpiece of rhythm and good humor". Sims continued recording songs for Specialty through the mid-1950s, many of them not released at the time. In 1957 he moved to Johnny Vincent's Ace Records and recorded several songs, including "Walking with Frankie" and "She Likes to Boogie Real Low", which Allmusic called "mighty rockers". Sims also recorded with other blues musicians, including his cousin Hopkins, and appears on several of their records. In the early 1960s Hopkins "cashed in" on the folk-blues revival, but Sims faded into obscurity.
In 1969 blues historian Chris Strachwitz tracked Sims down to record him on his Arhoolie label, but Sims died soon after on May 10, 1970 in Dallas at the age of 53. The cause of death was pneumonia brought on by his poor health.[4] At the time of his death he was reported to have had a drinking problem and was under investigation regarding a "shooting incident". Soon after his death, Specialty Records released a compilation album of Sim's recordings with the label, Lucy Mae Blues. In 1985 Krazy Kat released Walkin' With Frankie, an album of unreleased songs he had recorded for the label in 1960.
Along with Lightnin' Hopkins and Lil' Son Jackson, Sims is regarded as "one of the great names in post-war Texas country blues". According to the Encyclopedia of the Blues, his was a "considerable" influence on other musicians in Dallas. T-Bone Walker acknowledged Sims's effect on his style of playing, and Hopkins got some of his ideas from him. Sims also guided several musicians at the start of their careers, including King Curtis and Albert Collins.
Sims's style of guitar playing was to produce rhythmical patterns over and over, but with a slight change in each repetition, giving his music an "irresistible dance beat". He produced a "twangy, ringing" sound on his electric guitar that was "irresistible on fast numbers and stung hard on the downbeat stuff".
She Likes to Boogie Real Low
Frankie Lee Sims Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh what a party, she really blowed her top
And then she
She likes to boogie real low
I'm takin' my baby out to the picture shov
But my baby don't wanna go there
She couldn't
She likes to boogie real low
Now tell me baby what are you gonna do
Yes I love you because you're nice and true
And you can
She likes to boogie real low
But I love my baby, I love her all myself
I wouldn't mistreat her, not even for no one else
You know she
She likes to boogie real low
She likes to boogie real low
She likes to boogie real low
Frankie Lee Sims's She Likes to Boogie Real Low is a playful and flirty song about a girl who loves to dance the boogie. The story revolves around the singer taking his girlfriend to a party where she absolutely loses herself in the music and dances until she can't anymore. The singer tries to take her to the pictures, but she refuses and opts to dance instead. He loves her and doesn't mind that she likes to dance "real low." Even though the lyrics are simple and repetitive, they capture the spirit of a fun-loving couple who enjoy each other's company and have a mutual appreciation for music and dancing.
The song's upbeat tempo and rhythm reflect Sims's signature Texas blues style. The boogie is a popular style of dancing that originated in the late 1800s and early 1900s, according to the African American Registry. It started in the southern United States and is characterized by a bouncing motion and syncopated rhythm. The song's lyrics also reflect the cultural and social attitudes of its time, where dancing was a popular pastime and a way for young couples to connect physically and emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
We went to a party but all we did was rock
We attended a party, but all we danced to was rock music
Oh what a party, she really blowed her top
The party was amazing, it made her feel ecstatic
And then she
And later on, she
She likes to boogie real low
She enjoys dancing really close to the ground
I'm takin' my baby out to the picture shov
I'm bringing my girlfriend to the movie theater
But my baby don't wanna go there
But my girlfriend doesn't want to go there
She couldn't
She was unable
She likes to boogie real low
She prefers dancing close to the floor
Now tell me baby what are you gonna do
Now, please share with me your plan, dear
Yes I love you because you're nice and true
Yes, I love you because you're kind and honest
And you can
And you have the ability to
She likes to boogie real low
She enjoys dancing close to the ground
But I love my baby, I love her all myself
But I love my girlfriend, I love her entirely
I wouldn't mistreat her, not even for no one else
I wouldn't treat her poorly, not even for someone else
You know she
You already know that she
She likes to boogie real low
She enjoys dancing close to the ground
She likes to boogie real low
She prefers dancing close to the floor
She likes to boogie real low
She enjoys dancing close to the ground
Writer(s): Frankie Lee Sims
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@slicksnewonenow
Even in the Eighties down in Houston, there was a joint down in the Wards, called Etta's Lounge... Where ya could go and STILL hear great Blues and Boogie, just like this.
It was too kool, because when you paid your $2 admission at the door, they'd give you two old fashioned red tickets... Because there'd be two drawings during the course of the night.
One for a Schlitz Tallboy and the other for a can of Spam!
I used to go there and listen to the great Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters all the time... What great memories!
@flamencoprof
As a child (Cough) of the Sixties Blues-inspired generation, I am in awe of this from when I was literally a child. Approximately 6yo. Much respect for an older generation is due.
@MrJoebupkis
Can't help but think that Billy Gibbons and the Vaughn bros. grew up listening to Frankie Lee Sims. This rocks!
@nancycanson
awesome. Frankie Lee Sims grew up in Marshall, Texas, the Birthplace of Boogie Woogie. thanks for posting - love it.
@woodwired1
We Texas guitar players love playing this song. Thanks for posting. Carl Wyatt and Johnny Winter also have a great version of this song on YT.
@jimthecurator1746
Fantastic. Love the guitar work.
@joemariano7151
Still rocking in 2022!!!!
@bluesboytom
A real classic Blues Take
@johnfisher3862
great track from frankie lee sims.thanks for posting.
@100proofboogie
Yeah Man! Saw Jim Colegrove do it with the Juke Jumpers back in the 80s.