[78-L] Kansas City Kitty

[Cary Ginell]

For those looking to do more research into this song, here are the lyrics from the original 1929 sheet music, which include the rarely heard verses and a 2nd version of the chorus. I'm guessing that "the Hackensack" means the "brush-off." The song plays on a lot of city names, so maybe there is no real reason for using Hackensack other than that:

VERSE 1
Chicago Charlie was a good time Romeo
He'd love a gal, then whisper "Good-by, cheerio!"
Just like Napoleon, love got Charlie, too,
Here's how Chicago Charlie said he met his Waterloo:

CHORUS 1
I left Frisco Kate swingin' on the Golden Gate
When Kansas City Kitty smiled at me!
I left Ma and Pa, out in Omaha-ha-ha,
When Kansas City Kitty smiled at me!

She comes from Missouri and she showed me,
Like a Texas steer, she buffaloed me;
Ev'ry Jim and Jack got the well-known Hackensack
When Kansas City Kitty smiled at me!

VERSE 2
Chicago Charlie's singing "no more wedding bells,"
He's got a sore throat singing "no more baby yells."
They wake the neighbors, when they start to cry,
And Charlie has to pacify them with this lullaby:

CHORUS 2
I just played the chill, for the famous Diamond Lil,
When Kansas City Kitty smiled at me!
Folks in New Rochelle said "he ain't done right by Nell"
Since Kansas City Kitty smiled at me!

I gave Georgia Brown my watch-case Sunday,
I gave Louisville Lou the "works" on Monday;
I passed up those Queens like you'd pass up Boston Beans,
When Kansas City Kitty smiled at me!


Cary Ginell

> From: saag at telia.com
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:55:23 +0100
> Subject: [78-L] Kansas City Kitty
> 
> What does "the well-known Hackensack" refer to in Walter Donaldson & Edgar 
> Leslie's "Kansas City Kitty" (as recorded by Noble Sissle, Harry Reser, 
> Original Memphis Five etc).
> 
> Ev'ry Jim and Jack
> Got the well known Hackensack
> When Kansas City Kitty smiled at me
> 
> Full lyrics at
> http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=5060
> 
> Kristjan 
> 
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