Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is occasionally referred to as Delores Williams because of an early marriage to Eugene Williams; in the late 1940s she was identified in RCA Victor record company files as "D. L. McMurley." She was the niece of blues singer Merline Johnson and was also related to Memphis Minnie.
She began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper, and first recorded under that name in 1949. She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951, and then became LaVern Baker when singing with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.
In 1953 she signed for Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedlee Dee" reaching #4 on the R&B chart and #14 on the national US pop charts. Georgia Gibbs' note-for-note cover of Baker's "Tweedle Dee" reached #1; subsequently Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations.
Baker had a succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple of years with her backing group The Gliders, including "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" (#3 R&B), "Play It Fair" (#2 R&B), and "Still" (#4 R&B). At the end of 1956 she had another smash hit with "Jim Dandy" (#1 R&B, #17 pop). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Further hits followed for Atlantic, including the follow-up "Jim Dandy Got Married" (#7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (#2 R&B, #6 pop in 1959), "I Waited Too Long" (#5 R&B, #3 pop, written by Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (#17 R&B, written by Leiber and Stoller), and "See See Rider" (#9 R&B in 1963).
In addition to singing, Baker also did some work with Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded a Bessie Smith tribute album, before leaving Atlantic and joining Brunswick Records, where she recorded the album "Let Me Belong to You".
In 1966, Baker recorded a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song, "Think Twice", featured raunchy lyrics that were not considered appropriate for airplay at that time or even today. Three versions were recorded, one of which is the X-rated version with the raunchy lyrics.
In the late 1960s, Baker became seriously ill after a trip to Vietnam to entertain American soldiers. While recovering at the US Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, her husband, Slappy White filed for a divorce. A friend recommended that she stay on as the entertainment director at the Marine Corps Staff NCO club there, and she remained there for 22 years.
In 1988 she returned to perform at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary. She then worked on the soundtracks to films such as Shag, (1989), Dick Tracy, (1990) and A Rage in Harlem (1991), which were all issued on CD.
In 1990, she made her Broadway debut replacing Ruth Brown as star of the hit musical Black and Blue. In 1991, Rhino Records released a new album Live in Hollywood recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill, as well as a compilation of her greatest Atlantic hits entitled Soul on Fire. In 1992, she recorded a well-received studio album, Woke Up This Morning, for DRG Records. She continued performing after having both legs amputated from diabetes complications in 1994 and made her last recording, "Jump Into the Fire," for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD, For the Love of Harry on the Music Masters label.
She received the 1990 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Baker became the second female solo artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following Aretha Franklin in 1987. Her song "Jim Dandy" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
LaVern Baker died from cardiovascular disease on March 10, 1997, at the age of 67. Originally buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, her grave received a headstone on May 4, 2008, after a fundraiser was held by local historians.
Tweedle Dee
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as happy as can be
Jimminy cricket jimminy jack
You make my heart go clickety-clack
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dee
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dot
How you gonna keep that honey you got
I'm gonna see my honey tonight
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dot
Tweedlee dee tweedlee dee
Give it up give it up
Give your love to me
Tweedlee dot tweedlee dot
Gimme gimme gimme gimme
Gimme all the love you got
Hump-be-ump-bump-bump
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedle doe
I'm a lucky so-and-so
Hubba hubba honey dew
I'm gonna keep my eyes on you
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee doe
Tweedlee doe tweedlee doe
Give that kiss to me before you go
Tweedlee dumb tweedlee dumb
Lookie lookie lookie lookie
Look at that sugar plum
Hump-be-ump-bump-bump
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dumb
You're as sweet as bubble gum
Mercy mercy pudding pie
You've got something that money can't buy
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dumb
Ow, tweedlee tweedlee dumb
Ow, tweedlee tweedlee dumb
Ow, tweedlee tweedlee dumb
Ow, tweedlee tweedlee dumb
Ow
LaVern Baker's song "Tweedle Dee" is a cheerful, upbeat song that celebrates the joy of falling in love. The song's repetitive structure and simple, playful lyrics are perfectly suited to the early days of rock and roll, and the catchy melody and rhythm are sure to get listeners tapping their feet.
The song opens with the repeated phrase "Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dee," which is immediately followed by the exclamation "I'm as happy as can be." This sets the tone for the entire song, which is a celebration of the happiness that comes with new love. The next verse introduces the idea of a honey that the singer wants to keep, and the line "Hunkies hunkies fishes bite" implies that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her love. The next verse is a plea for the listener to "give it up" and give their love to the singer, and the final verse once again emphasizes the sweetness of the singer's love interest.
Overall, the lyrics of "Tweedle Dee" are simple and joyful, and the song is a perfect example of the early rock and roll style.
Line by Line Meaning
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dee
I am feeling really happy and excited.
Jimminy cricket jimminy jack
You make my heart beat really fast (like the sound of a cricket).
You make my heart go clickety-clack
Your presence gives me butterflies in my stomach, and I am thrilled to be around you.
Tweedlee tweedlee tweedlee dot
How are you going to hold onto the person you love?
Hunkies hunkies fishes bite
I will do whatever it takes, even if it's scary (like catching fish), to see my lover tonight.
Tweedlee dee tweedlee dee
Please give me your love, I want it more than anything else.
Tweedlee dot tweedlee dot
Please keep giving me your love, I want all of it.
Hump-be-ump-bump-bump
I am so excited and can hardly contain my enthusiasm.
I'm a lucky so-and-so
I am grateful and fortunate to have the person I love in my life.
Hubba hubba honey dew
You are incredibly attractive and desirable to me.
I'm gonna keep my eyes on you
I will always pay attention to you and cherish our time together.
Give that kiss to me before you go
Please give me a final kiss before you leave.
Tweedlee dumb tweedlee dumb
Wow, look at that amazing thing over there!
Lookie lookie lookie lookie
Pay attention to this amazing thing I see!
You're as sweet as bubble gum
You are incredibly sweet and delightful to be around.
Mercy mercy pudding pie
You have something incredibly special and valuable that cannot be bought with money.
Ow, tweedlee tweedlee dumb
I am so enamored with the object of my affection that I am nearly speechless.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Winfield Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulkersey1007
Honestly, it's because of Uncle Buck that I know this song. She is amazing!
R.I.P LaVern Baker and thank you.
@dannythomas417
Don't forget The Candy Man.
@pessimystica
Also don't forget La Bamba!
@Windinhisface
RIP John Candy 😢❤
@candacetyndall6142
Ray Charles "Mess Aroynd".
" Planes, Trains & Automobiles".
@candacetyndall6142
*Mess Around"
@dominickc.
In1954 I was walking to school a car passed me playing loud tweedle Dee I never heard that kind of music And im77 now and still amazed by it!!Thank you Laverne
@halloweensoul
Uncle Buck - 80s Classic Family Movie ❤️❤️
@Doobie1975
Great song that I've discovered off of the movie "Uncle Buck" when he is making breakfast for the kids, definitely a classic scene!
@robertturner402
Me Too!😍😍😍🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣