Sweet Georgia Brown
Waters Ethel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She just got here yesterday,
Things are hot here now, they say;
There's a big change in town.
Gals are jealous, there's no doubt;

Still, the fellows rave about
Sweet, sweet Georgia Brown!
And ever since she came,
The colored folks all claim, "Say,"

No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown,
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Has Sweet Georgia Brown!
They all sigh, and want to die,

For Sweet Georgia Brown!
I'll tell you just why,
You know I don't lie, not much:
It's been said

She knocks 'em dead,
When she lands in town!
Since she came,
Why it's a shame,

How she cools them down!
Fellows she can't get
Are fellows she ain't met!
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her,

Sweet Georgia Brown!
No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown,
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Has Sweet Georgia Brown!

They all sigh, and want to die,
For Sweet Georgia Brown!
I'll tell you just why,
You know I don't lie; not much:

All those gifts some courters give,
To Sweet Georgia Brown,
They buy clothes at fashion shows,
With one dollar down,

Oh, boy! Tip your hat!
Oh, joy! She's the cat!
Who's that, Mister?
'Tain't a sister!





Sweet Georgia Brown

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Waters Ethel's song Sweet Georgia Brown describe the arrival of a woman named Georgia Brown and the impact she has on the town. The opening lines suggest that Georgia is new in town and has already caused a stir among the locals. The men are fascinated by her and sing her praises, while the women are jealous of her attention. The lyrics suggest that Georgia is a beautiful and talented woman, for whom no other woman can compare.


The chorus repeats the idea that Georgia is unmatched in her beauty and charm, with the line "No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown." The lyrics describe her as having "two left feet, oh, so neat," suggesting that she is a skilled dancer. The men are drawn to her, wanting to be near her and impress her. The lyrics suggest that Georgia has a way of making men feel special, with lines like "Fellows she can't get are fellows she ain't met!"


The closing lines of the song emphasize Georgia's allure, with the repetition of her name and the line "Sweet Georgia Brown" used as a kind of refrain. The lyrics suggest that Georgia is a woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it, with lines like "They buy clothes at fashion shows, with one dollar down." Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is beautiful, talented, and confident, with a magnetic personality that draws people to her.


Line by Line Meaning

She just got here yesterday,
Sweet Georgia Brown is new in town and her arrival has caused quite a stir. People are excited to see what she will bring and how she will shake things up.


Things are hot here now, they say;
The word on the street is that the town is buzzing with excitement and anticipation now that Sweet Georgia Brown has arrived. She has everyone talking and wondering what she will do next.


There's a big change in town.
Sweet Georgia Brown's arrival has brought a wave of change to the town. People are eager to see what she will do and how she will affect the community around her.


Gals are jealous, there's no doubt;
The women in town are envious of Sweet Georgia Brown's beauty and charm. They feel threatened by her arrival and the attention she is receiving from the men in town.


Still, the fellows rave about
Despite the jealousy from some of the women in town, the men cannot stop talking about Sweet Georgia Brown. They are smitten with her and can't get enough of her.


Sweet, sweet Georgia Brown!
The name 'Sweet Georgia Brown' is on everyone's lips. She has become the talk of the town and a subject of fascination and desire for many of the people who live there.


And ever since she came,
From the moment that Sweet Georgia Brown arrived in town, she has captured the attention of everyone around her. Her arrival has marked a significant turning point in the life of the town as a whole.


The colored folks all claim, 'Say,'
The African American community in town has taken a special interest in Sweet Georgia Brown. They recognize her as a person of importance, and are interested in what she will bring to the town and how she will change things around there.


No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown,
Sweet Georgia Brown is unique and special. There is no one quite like her, and she stands out from all the other women who live in the town. She is something truly special.


Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Sweet Georgia Brown has an idiosyncratic way of dancing that is both clumsy and elegant at the same time. It is something that draws people to her and makes her all the more endearing and charming.


Has Sweet Georgia Brown!
At the heart of it all, Sweet Georgia Brown is a person who is filled with grace, charm, and beauty. She has a special spark within her that makes people want to be around her and get to know her better.


They all sigh, and want to die,
Sweet Georgia Brown has a profound effect on everyone around her. People are enamored with her beauty and grace, and it makes them feel deeply and profoundly. They are filled with longing and desire when they are near her.


For Sweet Georgia Brown!
No matter how hard they try, people can't help but be drawn to Sweet Georgia Brown. She has become an object of desire and longing for many people who live in the town, and they can't resist her charm.


I'll tell you just why,
There is a reason why Sweet Georgia Brown has captured the hearts and minds of so many people in the town. She has a special quality about her that makes people want to be around her and get to know her better.


You know I don't lie, not much:
The singer is trustworthy when it comes to their feelings about Sweet Georgia Brown. They are sincere in their admiration for her and are not exaggerating the effect that she has on people.


It's been said
There is a rumor going around town about Sweet Georgia Brown. People are talking about her and what she has been up to since she arrived.


She knocks 'em dead,
Sweet Georgia Brown has an undeniable charm and charisma that makes people want to be around her. Her presence is electrifying, and she has a powerful effect on the people who are lucky enough to spend time with her.


When she lands in town!
Every time Sweet Georgia Brown arrives in town, people take notice. She is a force to be reckoned with, and people are always eager to see what she will do and how she will change things around there.


Since she came,
Sweet Georgia Brown's arrival has had a profound effect on the town. Everything has changed since she arrived, and people are still figuring out how to adapt to her presence.


Why it's a shame,
Despite all the joy and excitement that Sweet Georgia Brown has brought to the town, there is also a sense of sadness and regret. People feel that things will never be the same after she is gone, and that they will always miss her presence when she leaves.


How she cools them down!
Despite the excitement and energy that is always present when Sweet Georgia Brown is around, there is also a sense of calm and peace that she brings to people's lives. She has a soothing effect on people, and they feel more relaxed and centered when she is near.


Fellows she can't get
Even though Sweet Georgia Brown is very desirable, there are still some people who are not interested in her. These people are often the subject of gossip and speculation in the town, and people wonder why they are immune to her charms.


Are fellows she ain't met!
The people who are not interested in Sweet Georgia Brown are usually people she has not yet had the chance to meet. It is common knowledge in the town that once she meets someone, they are likely to fall for her almost instantly.


Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her,
Sweet Georgia Brown is a person who is closely associated with the state of Georgia. She was born and raised there, and her roots go deep into the history and culture of the region.


Sweet Georgia Brown!
The name 'Sweet Georgia Brown' has become synonymous with everything that is lovely and beautiful about the state of Georgia. It is a name that people use with great affection and warmth when they talk about her.


All those gifts some courters give,
Sweet Georgia Brown is a woman who is often showered with gifts and attention from people who are trying to impress her. She is gracious and courteous to these people, but does not let their gifts influence her opinion of them.


To Sweet Georgia Brown,
Despite all the gifts and attention that people give her, Sweet Georgia Brown remains grounded and level-headed. She is a woman of great integrity and character, and people respect her for that.


They buy clothes at fashion shows,
Some of the gifts that Sweet Georgia Brown receives are very extravagant and expensive. People who are trying to impress her will often buy her high-quality clothing that has been seen on famous catwalks and fashion shows.


With one dollar down,
Despite the high cost of some of the gifts that Sweet Georgia Brown receives, people are always looking for ways to impress her without breaking the bank. They might make small down payments on expensive gifts, or find ways to make her laugh with inexpensive trinkets and treats.


Oh, boy! Tip your hat!
Sweet Georgia Brown is a woman who commands great respect and admiration from the people around her. When she enters a room, people take notice and often tip their hats or nod in recognition of her presence.


Oh, joy! She's the cat!
People feel a great sense of joy and excitement when they are in Sweet Georgia Brown's presence. She has a magnetic energy and a playful spirit that makes everyone around her feel happy and alive.


Who's that, Mister?
Sweet Georgia Brown is a woman who attracts a lot of attention wherever she goes. People are always curious to know more about her and are fascinated by the effect that she has on the people around her.


'Tain't a sister!
Despite the rumors and speculation that often surround Sweet Georgia Brown, she remains a mysterious and enigmatic figure in the town. People are never quite sure what to make of her, and are always eager to learn more about her background and her personality.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MAX LODERBAUER, PAULA SCHOPF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Shirley Ford

Memories were made to this beat.

Politonno

95 years ago. Good music times.
(Only the music and the art, the rest was a torture)

Paul Soms

So now indeed in the public domain.

Politonno

@Paul Soms no lo creo

Paul Soms

@Politonno 95 years after the recording date, sound files enter the public domain, so yeah, anything from 1925 and before that is public domain now.

Politonno

@Paul Soms YESS

osusannaro12

can anyone decipher the lyrics from 2:46 on? They are new to me.

Rachel Sung

All those tips the porter slips to Sweet Georgia Brown
They buy clothes at fashion shows for one dollar down.
Fellas, won'tcha tip your hats. Oh boy, ain't she the cats?
Who's that mister, tain't her sister, It's Sweet Georgia Brown.

Source from here: http://www.perfessorbill.com/lyrics/lyswtgrg.htm

osusannaro12

@Rachel Sung Wow, Thank you, Rachel!

Howie Smith

@Rachel Sung One slight correction...Ethel sings:
"Oh boy, tip your hats,
"Oh, joy, she's the cat's,"
The rest of it was on the money. Maybe Perfessor Bill (great ragtime and early jazz pianists and songwriters website) got his version from the original sheet music, which I've never seen, but Ethel's fits the melody better. BTW, "she's the cat's" is short for "the cat's pajamas," 1920s slang for something really good.

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