----------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------------
This transcription is the author`s own work and represents his interpre-
tation of the song. It is intended for private study, scholarship and
research purposes only and is not intended for publication or distribution.
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MINNIE THE MOOCHER by Cab Calloway
Tabbed by Dadfad (John M.) 8/13/02 ( Dadfad@dadfad.com or duolian@msn.com )
Printing information: Copy and print w/ Notepad in Courier-New, Number 10 font.
Transcribed from Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, recorded December 18, 1933.
From Cab Calloway and His Orchestra 1932-1934; The Chronogical Classics 544.
(FIRST VERSE)
(Em)Folks, now here`s the story `bout (Am)Minnie the (Em)Moocher,
(Am)She was a red-hot (B7/11 ?)hootchie- (Em)cootcher,
(Em)She was the roughest, (Am) toughest frail,
(B7/9)But Minnie had a heart as big as a (Em)whale.
(SCAT CHORUS)
(Em)Hi-de-hi-de-hi-di-hi! (repeat in Em)
(Am)Ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho! (repeat in Am)
(B7/11)He-de-he-de-he-de-he! (repeat in B7/11)
(Am)Ay-ee-ay-ee-ay-ee(Em)ay!
(END LINE)
(Em)Poor Min, (Am)poor Min, (B7/11)poor.........(Em) Min.
This is a transcription from an orchestrated version that was mainly
comp/vamping through the minor progression. Vocals and a trumpet lead
line made up most of the melody, sang and played in an Em scale. These
chord changes were the ones implied by the scales and common structure
in this style of progression.
The chords: Em = 022000, Am = X02210, B7/11 = X21200
These chords should be played as seen fit around the vocal phrasing.
A bit of information on some of the lyrics: A frail was slang for
woman back then, The King of Sweden was a notorious playboy of the
day, a cokie was...well what do you think it was? (Duh!) Anyway...
On the End Line, the last poor should be extended as long as
practical. I have several versions, on all of them it is extended
and on one version the word po-o-o-o-o-r is held well over forty
seconds in length, the last Min then sang in an exaggerated bass
voice, with a final Em chord wind-up.
MINNIE THE MOOCHER by Cab Calloway
Folks, now here`s the story `bout Minnie the Moocher,
She was a red-hot hootchie-cootcher,
She was the roughest, toughest frail,
But Minnie had a heart as big as a whale.
[Call and response scat chorus differs every time.]
Hi-de-hi-de-hi-di-hi! (Chorus repeats line)
Ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho! (Chorus repeats line)
He-de-he-de-he-de-he! (Chorus repeats line)
Ay-ee-ay-ee-ay--ee-aye!
She messed around with a bloke named Smoky,
She loved him though he was cokie,
He took her down to Chinatown,
And he showed her how to kick the gong around.
She had a dream about the King of Sweden,
He gave her things that she was needin`,
He gave her a home built of gold and steel,
A diamond car with a platinum wheel.
He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses,
Each meal she ate was a dozen courses;
She had a million dollars worth of nickels and dimes,
She sat around and counted them all a million times.
Poor Min, poor Min, poor Min.
