Lewis was born in DeQuincy, Louisiana, U.S., with the given name of Overton Amos Lemons.
He began to play music in New Orleans, in his mid-teens. Lewis had hit songs in 1952 with "The Bells Are Ringing", and in 1955 with the original recorded version of "I Hear You Knocking" (written by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King).
Lewis' own song "Blue Monday" was covered by Fats Domino. Whilst Elvis Presley's cover of the Lewis song "One Night" (altering one risque lyric) was #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on UK Singles Chart.
Dave Edmunds' cover of "I Hear You Knocking" also reached number one in the UK. His version of the song lyric actually name checks Lewis (alongside Chuck Berry and Huey Smith).
Lewis' track "Shame, Shame, Shame" appeared on the soundtrack of the film, Baby Doll in 1956, but failed to find entry to the R&B chart.
Lewis died in the autumn of 1966 from stomach cancer. He was all but forgotten outside of his New Orleans home base.
Shame Shame Shame
Smiley Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 '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
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
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.