Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley buy his baby a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take the ring from me

Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat

Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone
And take my baby away from home
Ugly that mojo, where's he been?
Up to your house and gone again

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, have you heard?
My pretty baby said she wants a bird

I walk 47 miles of barbed wire,
I use a cobra-snake for a necktie,
I got a brand new house on the roadside,
Made from rattlesnake hide,
I got a brand new chimney made on top,
Made out of a human skull,
Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene,
And tell me, who do you love?

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

I've got a tombstone hand and a graveyard mine,
Just 22 and I don't mind dying.

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

I rode around the town, use a rattlesnake whip,
Take it easy Arlene, don't give me no lip,

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Night was dark, but the sky was blue,
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew,
Heard a bump, and somebody screamed,
You should have heard just what I seen.

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

I'm the baddest man that you ever seen
I'm an old woman's wish
and a young woman's dream
Um, who do you love?

Bo Diddley buy his baby a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take the ring from me

Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat

Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone
And take my baby away from home
Ugly that mojo, where's he been?
Up to your house and gone again

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, have you heard?
My pretty baby said she wants a bird

now when i was a little boy
at the age of five
i had 'sumpin' in my pocket
keep a lot of folks alive
now i'm a man
made twenty-one
you know baby
we can have a lot of fun
i'm a man
i spelled m-a-n
man, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
all you pretty women
stand in line
i can make love to ya baby
in a hours time
i'm a man
spelled m-a-n
man
instrumental
i'm goin' back down
to kansas too
bring back the second cousin
little john the concheroe
i'm a man
spelled m-a-n
man, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
the line i shoot
will never miss
they way i make love to 'em
they can't resist
i'm a man
i spell m-a-n
man
fades-
ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...oooh

Bo Diddley buy his baby a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take the ring from me

Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat

Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone
And take my baby away from home
Ugly that mojo, where's he been?
Up to your house and gone again

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, have you heard?
My pretty baby said she wants a bird

I don't want no Cadillac
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
One I got, I'm gonna take it back
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Come out the house, early in the mornin'
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Both flat tires, didn't give me no warnin'
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Ooh, ooh, Cadillac

Looked in the trunk, there wasn't no jack
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
You know I'm gonna take this Cadillac back
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Willie an-a Lillie come a-walkin' up the street
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Doin' a little wiggle, makin' fun of me
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Ooh, ooh, Cadillac

(Yeah)

(Instrumental & tenor sax)

Come to the car but the car wouldn't start
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Cadillac is breakin' my heart
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Got it started, pulled in empty on drive
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Keys to believe in natural lies.
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
(Ooh, ooh) Cadillac

(Yeah-ay)

Dearest darling,
Dearest darling,
Dearest darling.

Don't you know,
The Lord above,
Created you,
Just for me to love,
Picked you out,
From all the rest,
Because He knew I loved you best.

Dearest darling,
Dearest darling,
Dearest darling, take my hand, take my hand

I once had a heart,
So trill and true,
But now it's gone,
From me to you,
Take care of it,
Like I have done,
For you have two hearts,
And I have none.

Dearest darling,
Dearest darling,
Dearest darling.

If I get to heaven,
Before you do,
I'll try to make a hole,
And pull you thru.

Dearest...dearest...dearest.

If I go to heaven,
And you not there,
I'm gonna write your name,
On the heavenly stair,
If you aren't there,
By turn of day,
Then I know baby,
You know the way.

Dearest...dearest...dearest,
O sweet baby, o sweet baby...

(Ellas McDaniel/Harvey Fuqua) 1956

Diddley Diddley daddy,
Diddley Diddley daddy.

I got a baby that's oh so pretty,
I found her right here in the Windy City,
Somebody kissed my baby last night,
My pretty baby cried, you know it wasn't right.

Diddley Diddley daddy,
Diddley Diddley daddy.

My baby started to cry in vain,
Say Bo Diddley, you know you're a natural born man,
I say I love you baby with all my heart,
Please don't never say we'll part.

Diddley Diddley daddy,
Diddley Diddley daddy.

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley here's our scene,
I want to know if you do love me.

Diddley Diddley daddy,
Diddley Diddley daddy.

now when i was a little boy
at the age of five
i had 'sumpin' in my pocket
keep a lot of folks alive
now i'm a man
made twenty-one
you know baby
we can have a lot of fun
i'm a man
i spelled m-a-n
man, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
all you pretty women
stand in line
i can make love to ya baby
in a hours time
i'm a man
spelled m-a-n
man
instrumental
i'm goin' back down
to kansas too
bring back the second cousin
little john the concheroe
i'm a man
spelled m-a-n
man, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
the line i shoot
will never miss
they way i make love to 'em
they can't resist
i'm a man
i spell m-a-n
man
fades-
ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...oooh

I'm a road runner honey,
Beep! Beep!
I'm a road runner honey,
And you can't keep up with me,
I'm a road runner honey,
And you can't keep up with me,
Come on, let's race,
Baby baby, you will see,
Here I come,
Beep! Beep!

Move over honey,
Let me by,
Move over baby,
Let this man by,
I'm gonna show you baby, look out your head,
Gonna put some dirt in your eye,
Here I go!
Oh yea, how am I doin?
Beep! Beep!

Take my hand baby,
I'm gonna prove to you that I'm a road running man,
I wanna show you something,
That I'm the fastest in the land,
Now let me by,
Beep! Beep!

Oh yea, you said you's fast,
But it don't look like you gonna last,
Goodbye! I've got to put you down,
I'll see you some day,
Baby, somewhere hangin' around.

(Ellas McDaniel) 1959

(Alternate lines spoken by BO DIDDLEY and Jerome Green):
Say man,
What's that boy?
I want to tell you 'bout your girlfriend,
What about my girl?
Well, you don't look strong enough to take the message,
I'm strong enough,
I might hurt your feelings,
My feelings are already hurt by being here with you,
Well, I was walking down the street with your girl the other day,
Ah-ha,
And the wind was blowin' real hard,
Is that right?
And the wind blew her hair into my face,
Ah-ha,
You know what else happened?
What happened?
The wind blew her hair into her face,
Yeh?
And we went a little further; you wanna hear the rest of it?
I might as well,
The wind blew her hair into the street!
Ok; since you told me about my girl, I'm gonna tell you about yours. I was walking down the street with your girl,
Yes?
I took her home, for a drink, you know,
Took her home?
Yeh, jus' for a drink,
Oh,
But that chick looked so ugly, she had to sneak up on the glass to get a drink of water!
You've got the nerve to call somebody ugly; why you so ugly the stork that brought you in the world oughta be arrested!
That's alright; my momma didn't have to put a sheet on my head so sleep could slip up on me!
Look-a here!
What's that?
Where are you from?
South America,
What's that?
South America,
You don't look like no South American to me,
I'm still from South America,
What part?
South Texas!
Where are your workin' boots at?
I've got 'em on,
Those aren't no boots you got on; those broguettes!
Hey, look-a here!
What's that?
I've bin tryin' to figure out what you is,
I already figured out what YOU is!
What's that?
You that thing I throw peanuts at!
Look-a here!
What's that?
You should be ashamed of yourself,
Why?
Calling people ugly,
I didn't call you ugly,
What you say?
I said you was ruined, that's all!
You know somethin'?
What?
You look like you've bin whooped with a ugly-stick!
Hey! I ain't got nothin' to do with it, but I beat the fellah right...!

I walk 47 miles of barbed wire
I use a cobra-snake for a necktie
I got a brand new house on the roadside
Made from rattlesnake hide

I got a brand new chimney made on top
Made out of a human skull
Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene
And tell me, who do you love?

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Tombstone hand and a graveyard mine
Just 22 and I don't mind dying

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

I rode around the town, use a rattlesnake whip
Take it easy Arlene, don't give me no lip

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Night was dark, but the sky was blue
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew
Heard a bump and somebody screamed
You should have heard just what I seen

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Arlene took me by my hand
She said, "Oohwee Bo, you know I understand."

Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
but you've been talkin' to someone else

I called your mama, 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama, 'bout three or four nights ago
Your mama said, "Son, don't call my daughter no more"

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
but you've been takin' money from someone else

Come on back home, baby; try my love one more time
Come on back home, baby; try my love one more time
You've been gone away so long, I'm just about to lose my mind

I don't want no Cadillac
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
One I got, I'm gonna take it back
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Come out the house, early in the mornin'
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Both flat tires, didn't give me no warnin'
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Ooh, ooh, Cadillac

Looked in the trunk, there wasn't no jack
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
You know I'm gonna take this Cadillac back
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Willie an-a Lillie come a-walkin' up the street
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Doin' a little wiggle, makin' fun of me
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Ooh, ooh, Cadillac

(Yeah)

(Instrumental & tenor sax)

Come to the car but the car wouldn't start
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Cadillac is breakin' my heart
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Got it started, pulled in empty on drive
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
Keys to believe in natural lies.
(C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C)
(Ooh, ooh) Cadillac

(Yeah-ay)

Cheyenne rode all day and all through the night
Getting into trouble and then into a fight
Cheyenne got thrown in a local jail
Good ol' Cheyenne was just as tough as a ten-penny nail

And then?

Cheyenne played poker late one night
Some tinhorn came in to join and tried to start a fight
Cheyenne was so sleepy that he could not see
He said 'why don't someone tell this tinhorn to quit messin' around with me?'

And then?

Cheyenne stopped again to get himself a drink
He stood by a bar and began to think
How he was going to ride out of town
He'd ride off across the prairies and put the tinhorn in the ground

And then?
Ain't no more!
And then?
Wait a minute, you want to hear about his girlfriend?

Cheyenne had a girlfriend that lived on the edge of town
She got shook up inside when she heard Cheyenne was in town
Cheyenne was going out and mess with the tinhorn
She said 'look out baby don't do me because I ain't going to do you no wrong.'

You can't change me, baby
Try to copy my ways
I'm tired of you trying to do what I do
You better do what I say

I went out last night
And I'm going back out again
If you tip out that door
You better beat me in

I get up in the morning
Go out and do my work
You look at me like I'm going crazy
But I ain't nobody's jerk

I'm going out tonight
As soon as I get off
And if you ain't home when I get there
I'm going to show you who's boss

You better do what I say

Ride on Josephine, ride on
Ride on Josephine, ride on
Ride on Josephine, you got a runnin' machine
A-baby, baby, ride on Josephine, baby ride on

Well, Josephine drivin' a hot rod Ford
Twin carburator will eat up the road
Twin exhaust stickin' out the rear
Somethin' that will really take away from here

Ride on Josephine, ride on
Ride on Josephine, ride on
Ride on Josephine, you got a runnin' machine
Baby, baby, ride on a-Josephine, baby ride on

Josephine's Ford begin to run hot
She tried to trade it in at a used car lot
The man couldn't believe his nat'ral eyes
When she pulled it in to his drive

Ride on, Josephine, ride on
Say, Josephine!
(Ride on Josephine, ride on)
Josephine, child yo' tank is leakin' gas!
(Ride on Josephine, ride on)

Say what?
Baby, you better shut up and come on ride wit' me
Ye-aah, you better ride with me

You say I better mind my business?
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
You got business baby, you, you good business!
I just lo-oo-oo-ve good business! (it's sho' good)
(Oh, yeah)
You say, what kind of car I drivin'? (maroon '40 Ford)
Well, I-I'ma

I'm drivin' a '48 Cadillac
With Thunderbird wings
Tellin' you baby, that's a runnin' thing
I got wings that'll open
And get her in the air
I think I can take it away from here

A-ride on Josephine, ride on
Ride on, Josephine, ride on
Ride on Josephine
Child, you got a runnin' machine
A-baby, baby, ride on Josephine, baby ride on

Well, I bl, bl, believe you, baby
'Cause you-a, you-a, you ain't, been flagged
he-he

I'm goin'

Goodbye!

hee-hee.

Well, I work on the railroad
With a sledge in one hand and a pick in the other
Well, I can do more work than my brother
Work don't hurt me
Well, I look over yonder and what I see
The ol' water boy a'comin' up to me
Sometimes he be running
And then again he be jumping
Oh, you oughta hear my sledgehammer pumpin'
Well, I wanna tell you and I'm-a tell you time and again
It was a terrible wind
It was my sledgehammer
I'm a man amongst men
Work for a little bitty pay
Sweat running off every way
Oh, I'm a working man

Bo Diddley buy his baby a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take the ring from me

Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat

Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone
And take my baby away from home
Ugly that mojo, where's he been?
Up to your house and gone again

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, have you heard?
My pretty baby said she wants a bird

Well, every day I work,
Bringing home my pay,
Come to find out baby,
You've bin giving my money away.

Tell me baby,
What you tryin' to do?
You ain't seen me hummin',
Like you used to do.

Tell me mama,
What's wrong with you?
You know pretty baby,
I'm so crazy 'bout you.

All you pretty women,
Bring it to my home,
You don't have to worry,
I won't do you no wrong.

Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.

Look here pretty baby,
This mess I won't stand,
All the other women,
Say you got another man.

Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.

-------------
Lyrics Powered by LyricFind
Written By MCDANIEL, ELLAS
<i>Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing</i>

(Ellas McDaniel) 1956

You pretty thing,
Let me buy you a wedding ring,
Let me hear the choir sing,
Oh you pretty thing.

You pretty thing,
Let me walk you down the aisle,
Darling, it's where our love is found,
Oh you pretty thing.

Let me kiss you gentle,
Squeeze and hold you tight,
Let me give all my love,
The rest of my life.

You pretty thing,
Let me hold you by my side,
And become my blushing bride,
You pretty thing,
Pretty thing,
Let me dedicate my life,
You will always be my wife,
Oh you pretty thing.

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
but you've been talkin' to someone else

I called your mama, 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama, 'bout three or four nights ago
Your mama said, "Son, don't call my daughter no more"

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
but you've been takin' money from someone else

Come on back home, baby; try my love one more time
Come on back home, baby; try my love one more time
You've been gone away so long, I'm just about to lose my mind

Bo Diddley buy his baby a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take the ring from me

Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat

Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone
And take my baby away from home
Ugly that mojo, where's he been?
Up to your house and gone again

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, have you heard?
My pretty baby said she wants a bird

(jerome green) 1956

(bo diddley): well, every day I work,
Bringing home my pay,
Come to find out baby,
You've bin giving my money away.

Tell me baby,
What you tryin' to do?
You ain't seen me hummin',
Like you used to do.

Tell me mama,
What's wrong with you?
You know pretty baby,
I'm so crazy 'bout you.

(jerome green): all you pretty women,


Bring it to my home,
You don't have to worry,
I won't do you no wrong.

Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.

Look here pretty baby,
This mess I won't stand,
All the other women,
Say you got another man.

Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.

(jerome green) 1956

(bo diddley): well, every day I work,
Bringing home my pay,
Come to find out baby,
You've bin giving my money away.

Tell me baby,
What you tryin' to do?
You ain't seen me hummin',
Like you used to do.

Tell me mama,
What's wrong with you?
You know pretty baby,
I'm so crazy 'bout you.

(jerome green): all you pretty women,


Bring it to my home,
You don't have to worry,
I won't do you no wrong.

Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.

Look here pretty baby,
This mess I won't stand,
All the other women,
Say you got another man.

Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome,
Bring it on home,
Bring it to jerome.