Expert: Mel Priddle - 5/28/2008

Question
MY FATHER IN LAW REMEMBERS A SONG THAT HE HEARD EVERYDAY WHILE HE WAS A KID. BUT CAN ONLY REMEMBER TWO LINES. "SLAP HER DOWN AGAIN PAW" "SHE'S GOT A HOLE IN HER NIGHT LIGHT GOWN". IF ANYONE CAN HELP BE MUCH APPRECIATED. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYED ON THE RADIO MANY TIMES BETWEEN 59-65...

Answer
Hello Chel,

This song was very popular in 1948. During that year their were versions by:

Esmereldy & Her Novelty Band
Arthur Godfrey & The Too Fat Trio
Rex Allen & His Arizona Wranglers
Patsy Montana

Below is a transcription of the Arthur Godfrey recording that I made a couple of years back for the lyric site www.lyricsplayground.com


SLAP 'ER DOWN AGIN, PAW
(Written by Polly Arnold / Eddie Asherman / Alice Cornett)

Come here gol-durn you
Take that and that and that

(That's right, slap 'er down agin, Paw)
(Slap 'er down agin)
(Make her tell us more, Paw)
(Tell us where she's been)
(We don't want our neighbours)
(Talkin' about our kin)
(Slap 'er down agin, Paw)
(Slap 'er down agin)

Well Paw & Ma were so durn sore
They woke me up one night
There was an awful cussin'
And Ma said Paw was right
They was awaitin' sister Bess
Who never kept her word
The sun came up as Bess came in
And this is what I heard

(Quote)
Slap 'er down agin, Paw
Slap 'er down agin
Make her tell us more, Paw
Tell us where she's been
We don't want our neighbours
Talkin' 'bout our kin
Slap 'er down agin, Paw
Slap 'er down agin
(Unquote)

Now poor old Bess got so durned mad
She ran away one day
To meet that travellin' salesman
With city-skickin' ways
We ran and stood beside the road
With shotguns by our side
Me and Deacon, Paw and Ma
Who yelled as they came by

(Why don't you slap 'er down agin, Paw)
(Slap 'er down agin)
(Yeah, make her tell us more, Paw)
(Tell us where she's been)
(We don't want our neighbours)
(Talkin' 'bout our kin)
(Slap 'er down agin, Paw)
(Slap 'er down agin)

Now Ma and Pa, they planned for Bess
To marry Deacon Brown
And not that travellin' salesman
Who always came around
They made poor Bessie go to church
Her face was mighty red
The Deacon took one look at her
And this is what he said

Oh, slap 'er down agin, Paw
Slap 'er down agin
Make her tell us more, Paw
Tell us where she's been
We don't want our neighbours
Talkin' 'bout our kin
Slap 'er down agin, Paw
Slap 'er down agin
(Unquote)

(Instrumental Interlude)
Do-si-do
Boy, that's hot stuff, ain't it

Well, the moral of this story girls
Is don't stay out too late
Unless you take your shoes off
Outside your Pappy's gate
If Ma don't hear you comin' in
She won't lay down the law
And you won't have to worry
'Cause she won't sing out to Paw

Oh, Slap 'er down agin, Paw
Slap 'er down agin
(Make her tell us more, Paw)
(Tell us where she's been)
(We don't want our neighbours)
(Talkin' about our kin)
(Slap 'er down agin, Paw)
(Slap 'er down agin)

Take that and that and that


Glad to be of help. Cheers.......Mel.