Shame Shame Shame
Smiley Lewis Lyrics


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Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you've done

You made me sweat and talk till I was skin and bones
You cause your lovers grief oh look at me now

Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you've done

Well, I was offered the dice, I didn't touch the gin
And then the dam broke loose, oh, you was the reason

Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you've done

And now you want me back, well I can tell you plain
You gonna heed my words, down on your knees, girl

Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy




Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you've done

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Smiley Lewis's song "Shame Shame Shame" are a scathing rebuke of a woman named Miss Roxy, who has caused the singer nothing but trouble. The repeated refrain of "shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy" underscores the singer's anger and frustration at her actions. He accuses her of making him "sweat and talk till I was skin and bones," causing grief to her lovers, and ultimately leading him to play dice and drink gin, which he had previously avoided. In short, Miss Roxy has been a bad influence on him and he's not afraid to call her out for it.


The singer's call for Miss Roxy to get down on her knees and heed his words suggests that he's not interested in forgiving her anytime soon. He's been hurt by her actions and wants her to know the extent of the damage she's caused. The lyrics are admittedly somewhat cryptic, and the story being told is open to interpretation. However, the theme of betrayal and anger is clear, and Smiley Lewis delivers it with conviction and verve.


Line by Line Meaning

Shame, shame, shame on you Miss Roxy
Expressing disapproval and disappointment towards Miss Roxy's behavior


Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you've done
Miss Roxy's actions have caused great disappointment and disapproval


You made me sweat and talk till I was skin and bones
Miss Roxy caused the singer great stress and anxiety


You cause your lovers grief oh look at me now
Miss Roxy has a pattern of causing emotional pain to her partners and now the artist is a victim of it


Well, I was offered the dice, I didn't touch the gin
The artist was offered the opportunity to gamble or drink, but they chose not to participate


And then the dam broke loose, oh, you was the reason
After the singer chose not to participate in risky behaviors, Miss Roxy's actions led to negative consequences for the singer


And now you want me back, well I can tell you plain
Miss Roxy is seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with the singer, but the singer has a clear message for her


You gonna heed my words, down on your knees, girl
Miss Roxy needs to listen carefully to the artist and apologize sincerely




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ruby Fissher, Ken Hopkins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Duffy Odum

Smiley is an almost lost and most important note in American musical history! Thanks!!

Dixie Burge

I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, born in 1950. Somehow I missed hearing this record being played on the radio back then, but I heard it for the first time in the 1956 movie Baby Doll a few months ago on Turner Classic Movies, during a tribute to actor Eli Wallach, one of the actors in the movie. This song is so infectious! I don't understand why I never heard it on the radio during the early rock 'n' roll era. It's certainly better than much of the insipid rock'n' roll I did hear in those days, done by pseudo-rock 'n' rollers like Fabian, Connie Francis and Pat Boone! 😝

Norrie Burnett

Great artist, Great Band. Love it!

ballinvillon

anybody that can't feel this is either dead from the waist down or from the neck up or most probably both. it really don't get much better than this....honestly.

big 50s

this song is like a burning rocket ! 50's wild jump jive, I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!

Michael Cullen Murphy

What a killer, just bought this on Imperial 45, it's a really short tune, but buy two and you can have it on quick rotation for the rest of your life.

daniel jazzcat

This is a great tune, I heard first time by Big Joe & the Dynaflows, nice rendition of the tune, too.

hebneh

I'm happy to hear this song clear and strong like this; till now I've only heard it in the "Baby Doll" soundtrack as Karl Malden chases Caroll Baker around their rundown old junk house. In the movie, it gets played repeatedly during the scene, but there's other ambient noise going on, including Baby Doll's shrieks.

Dixie Burge

hebneh--That wasn't Karl Malden that chased Carroll Baker through the house. That was Eli Wallach as the character named Silva Vaccaro.

Phil Cross

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! This was the song in the 1956 movie Baby Doll with Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach and Karl Malden.

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