No Chemise Please!
Gerry Granahan Lyrics
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Up to her door everything seemed right
But to my surprise as I opened the door
I couldn't tell the front from the back
Cause she was wearin a sack dress
Whew what a mess!
The last time I saw her, man what a shape!
And now she's got a shape like an egg!
No chemise, please, not for me, please
Well you can take back the sack, leave it hangin on the rack
And bring a sweater back!
When we arrived at the hop
We started in doin the stroll
I told her I wanted to stop
But she wanted rock and roll
I told her forty times and it really was a crime
I was talkin to the back of her head!
No chemise, please, not for me, please
Well you can take back the sack, leave it hangin on the rack
And bring a sweater back! Yeah
Sure would like to find the creator
Who covered up my baby in this tent
He musta been a woman-hater
I keep wonderin where the wiggle went
So wont you change the fad, have pity on me please
Put er back in her dungarees
No chemise, please, not for me, please
Well you can take back the sack, leave it hangin on the rack
And bring a sweater back!
No chemise, please, not for me, please
Well you can take back the sack, leave it hangin on the rack
Bring a sweater back!
Gerry Granahan’s song “No Chemise Please” is a humorous tale of a young man going on a date with a girl who is wearing an unflattering dress known as a sack dress, which has left him disappointed. The singer is taken aback when he sees his date wearing the sack dress, describing it as a mess and making a quip about how he can’t tell the front from the back. He expresses his dismay at her outfit, which was different from the last time he saw her when she had a nice shape. The girl’s dress doesn't have any appeal for him and he requests that she changes into something else.
The singer's frustration is conveyed through his constant pleas to his date, hoping that she would change her clothes. He mentions how he tried to convince her to change clothes at the dance, but she insisted on staying in her sack dress. The lyrics are filled with humor, showing how the young man is in discomfort due to his date's dress, and ultimately hoping that his date changes into something he would prefer.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted take on the importance of clothing and how it can affect how we’re perceived and attractive to others.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a date for the hop last night
I had a date planned for the dance last night.
Up to her door everything seemed right
As I approached her door, everything appeared to be fine.
But to my surprise as I opened the door
However, when I opened the door, I was taken aback.
I couldn't tell the front from the back
I couldn't differentiate between her front and her back.
Cause she was wearin a sack dress
This was due to her choice to wear a shapeless dress.
Whew what a mess!
This was a regrettable and unsatisfactory situation.
The last time I saw her, man what a shape!
The last time I saw her, she had a great figure.
And now she's got a shape like an egg!
Now, she has a shape that is less desirable, like an egg.
No chemise, please, not for me, please
I don't want her to wear a chemise, please.
Well you can take back the sack, leave it hangin on the rack
You can return the dress and leave it hanging on the rack.
And bring a sweater back!
Instead, bring a sweater for her to wear.
When we arrived at the hop
Upon our arrival at the dance.
We started in doin the stroll
We began dancing the stroll.
I told her I wanted to stop
I informed her I wanted to stop dancing.
But she wanted rock and roll
However, she wanted to keep dancing to rock and roll music.
I told her forty times and it really was a crime
I had to repeat my request 40 times, which seemed outrageous.
I was talkin to the back of her head!
I was not able to make eye contact with her because her back was turned to me.
Sure would like to find the creator
I wish I could locate the person responsible for this fashion trend.
Who covered up my baby in this tent
Who decided to cover up my girlfriend in a shapeless garment like a tent.
He musta been a woman-hater
The person responsible for this must have disliked women.
I keep wonderin where the wiggle went
I wonder where her sensual movements went.
So wont you change the fad, have pity on me please
Please change this trend, have mercy on me.
Put er back in her dungarees
Ask her to wear her old-style dungarees instead.
Bring a sweater back!
And bring a sweater for her to wear.
Contributed by Jordan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@scarletg945
Underrated classic đź‘Ś
@ropatidee5427
I bought this when it came out and haven't heard it since around 1960.
@annecallanan8656
I was five years old when this came out. They’d stand me up on a chair and I would sing “no chemise please!...” i had no idea what I was singing but the grownups thought it was hilarious. It became my signature song lol. Never realized it was pretty funny but also pretty sexist.
@sepastia2766
I just found this in my old 45 collection and laughed my head off.
@lonsworth
This song was actually played on the air in New York City!! Remembered the romantic tag "And bring the SWEATER BACK!!"
@ghostiger3279
I got that record at goodwill and was the first one I’ve ever owned out of many
@williamburnell1701
Toured with these guys,David Henderson like a big brother❤
@BAM-jc7uy
the ricardos of I Love Lucy had an episode of their visit to Europe and lucy did a comedy sketch on the "fashionable" sack/chemise dress with the wine bucket hats.
@Digitalzen
I always liked them.
@davesoucy1086
YOU CAN TAKE BACK THE SACK !! :)