Slim Harpo (11 January 1924 – 31 January 1970) was a blues musician.
Read Full Bio ↴Slim Harpo (11 January 1924 – 31 January 1970) was a blues musician.

Born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the foremost proponents of post-war rural blues, he began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim. He later accompanied Lightning Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and in the studio, before commencing his own recording career in 1957.

Named Slim Harpo by producer Jay Miller, the artist's solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love If You Want It". Influenced by Jimmy Reed, he began recording for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among them were "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), "I Love The Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little Queen Bee" (1964). On these hits he was accompanied by understated electric backing from the regular stable of Excello musicians — including Lazy Lester, whom Harpo influenced.

The singer was known as one of the masters of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was a humorous takeoff on "slim harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.

Harpo was the point man of the 1950s Louisiana Swamp/Blues movement. Harpo, along with Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, and a dozen other downhome artists recorded for A&R man J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. The records were then issued on the Excello label, based in Nashville.

Harpo's relaxed, almost lazy, performances set the tone for his subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual metaphor of "I'm A King Bee", which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating "Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's hit "Shake Your Hips" was used in the ZZ Top hit "La Grange," and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album, Exile On Main Street. Harpo enjoyed a notable US Top 20 pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back" (also a number 1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career.

Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s, although he was a popular figure in the late 1960s blues revival, with appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus and the Fillmore East. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.

Te Ni Nee Ni Nu
Slim Harpo Lyrics

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I want you
To be my te-ni-nee-ni-nu
I want you
To be my te-ni-nee-ni-nu
Tell me the truth
Ain't you my te-ni-nee-ni-nu?

Now, will you love me?

Will you hug me?
Will you squeeze me?
Come on, don't tease me
Tell me the truth
Ain't you my te-ni-nee-ni-nu?

Come on, baby
Work yo' shoulder
Philly dog, boog-a-loo
You got the flow

Yeah, ev'rybody's watchin' you
You lookin' good, baby
Ain't that's the truth?

Now when you through
Come be my te-ni-nee-ni-nu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Slim Harpo's "Te-Ni-Nee-Ni-Nu" are a fun and lively expression of the singer's desire for a particular woman ("Te-ni-nee-ni-nu"). He wants her to be his and is confident that she is the one he desires. He poses several questions to her, asking if she will love him, hug him, and squeeze him. He begs her not to tease him, but to tell him the truth and confirm that she is his "te-ni-nee-ni-nu." The song also has a groovy section where he encourages her to dance the Philly dog, boog-a-loo, and work her shoulders.

"Te-Ni-Nee-Ni-Nu" is a song about a man's infatuation with a woman, and his longing for her. The phrase "te-ni-nee-ni-nu" is not explained in the song, but it is a clever and catchy way for the singer to express his affection for her. The song has a playful and lighthearted tone, with Slim Harpo's distinctive bluesy voice and the upbeat horn section adding to the rhythm and feel of the music. The song encourages the woman to dance, which adds to the festive and celebratory mood.

Overall, "Te-Ni-Nee-Ni-Nu" is a fun and catchy song that expresses Slim Harpo's love for a particular woman. The playful tone, catchy phrase and upbeat music make the song a classic blues tune.

Line by Line Meaning

I want you
I desire your companionship

To be my te-ni-nee-ni-nu
To be my significant other

I want you
I am expressing my yearning for you

To be my te-ni-nee-ni-nu
To be my intimate partner

Tell me the truth
I implore you to be honest with me

Ain't you my te-ni-nee-ni-nu?
Aren't you the one I am looking for?

Now, will you love me?
Can you reciprocate my love?

Will you hug me?
Will you embrace me tightly?

Will you squeeze me?
Will you hold me firmly?

Come on, don't tease me
Please don't mislead me

Tell me the truth
I urge you to be straightforward with me