Sha Na Na Woodstock

Sha Na Na Woodstock

Sha Na Na Woodstock

There is a story that seems to be true that Woodstock Ventures invited Roy Rogers to close the whole festival by singing his well-known Happy Trails To You.

It would have been fun had it happened. It didn’t, of course, but fun was had nonetheless if not at the actual close of Woodstock, then the morning of.

It came under the category of camp: a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture.

Sha Na Na Woodstock

Sunrise

The sun is up. It is Monday 18 August. 7:30 AM. It has been a long weekend of music and Woodstock will present the penultimate group: Sha Na Na. It take a bit of extra work to set up the band because there are seven vocalists and five players. It’s one or the other.  The group will be on stage about  a half hour.

They will be in the album. They will be in the movie. They will be on the monument. And although it won’t be until 1977, they will be the only group who will get a TV show.

As an old time lover of doo-wop I have to say, as much fun as Sha Na Na’s covers are, one, the band they cover didn’t dress like they did and, two, the originals are better.

Personnel

Sha Na Na Woodstock

Setlist

All the songs were the group’s fun interpretation of the classic doo wop songs in the set.

  • Get A Job
  • Come Go With Me
  • Silhouettes
  • Teen Angel
  • Her Latest Flame
  • Wipe Out
  • (Who Wrote) The Book of Love
  • Little Darling
  • At The Hop
  • Duke Of Earl
  • Get A Job (Reprise)
Sha Na Na Woodstock

The Silhouettes made the song famous. Group member Rick Lewis wrote it. And of course, it’s how the band got its name.

Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Ev’ry morning about this time
She get me out of my bed
A-crying, get a job
After breakfast ev’ry day
She throws the want ads right my way
And never fails to say
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Ah yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
And when I get the paper
I read it through and through
And my girl never fails to say
If there is any work for me
And when I go back to the house
I hear the woman’s mouth
Preaching and a-crying
Tell me that I’m lying
‘Bout a job that I never could find
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na
And when I get the paper
I read it through and through
And my girl never fails to say
If there is any work for me
And when I go back to the house
I hear the woman’s mouth
Preaching and a-crying
Tell me that I’m lying
‘Bout a job that I never could find
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Come Go With Me

Dell Viking‘s band member C E Quick wrote the song.

Dom-dom dom-dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-be-doo-be
Dom woa-woa-woa-woah
Dom-dom dom-dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-be-doo-be
Dom woa-woa-woa-woah
Well I love, love you darlin’
Come and go with me
Come home with me
Way beyond the sea
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Come, come, come, come
Come into my heart
Tell me darlin’
We will never part
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Yes, I need you
Yes, I really need you
Please say you’ll never leave me
Well, say you never
Yes, you really never
You never give me a chance
Come, come, come, come
Come into my heart
Tell me darlin’
We will never part
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
(Yeah)
Yes, I need you
Yes, I really need you
Please say you’ll never leave me
Well, say you never
Yes, you really never
You never give me a chance
Ahhhhh….
Love you darlin’
Come and go with me
Come home with me
Way beyond the sea
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Come on go with me
Come on go with me
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Silhouettes

“Silhouettes” is a song made famous by the the Rays in 1957. Written by Bob Crewe and Frank Slay, Jr.

Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah
Took a walk and passed your house late last night
All the shades were pulled and drawn way down tight
From within, the dim light cast two silhouettes on the shade
Oh, what a lovely couple they made
Put his arms around your waist, held you tight
Kisses I could almost taste in the night
Wondered why I’m not the guy whose silhouette’s on the shade
I couldn’t hide the tears in my eyes
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Lost control and rang your bell, I was sore
Let me in or else I’ll beat down your door
When two strangers who have been two silhouettes on the shade
Said to my shock, “You’re on the wrong block”
La la la la, la la la
Rushed out to your house with wings on my feet
Loved you like I’d never loved you, my sweet
Vowed that you and I would be two silhouettes on the shade
All of our days, two silhouettes on the shade
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Two silhouettes on the shade
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Teen Angel

Written by Jean Dinning and her husband Ray Surrey. Mark Dinning was her brother.

“Teen Angel” and its two predecessors at the Hot 100’s top spot, “El Paso” by Marty Robbins and “Running Bear” by Johnny Preston, continued a string of pop tunes in which someone dies tragically.

Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Just sweet sixteen, and now you’re gone
They’ve taken you away
I’ll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Her Latest Flame

Elvis’s song from 1961. Words and music by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman .

A very old friend came by today
‘Cause he was telling everyone in town
Of the love that he just found
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
He talked and talked and I heard him say
That she had the longest, blackest hair
Prettiest green eyes anywhere
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
Though I smiled the tears inside were burning
Well I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
He was gone but still his words kept returning
What else was there for me to do but cry
Would you believe that yesterday
This girl was in my arms and swore to me
She’d be mine eternally
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
Though I smiled the tears inside were burning
Well I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
He was gone but still his words kept returning
What else was there for me to do but cry
Would you believe that yesterday
This girl was in my arms and swore to me
She’d be mine eternally
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Wipe Out

“Wipe Out” is an instrumental played by The Surfaris and composed by band members Bob BerryhillPat ConnollyJim Fuller and Ron Wilson.

Sha Na Na Woodstock

(Who Wrote) The Book of Love

“The Book of Love” (also titled “(Who Wrote) The Book of Love”) was originally done by The Monotones. It was written by three members of the group, Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick.

I wonder, wonder who, who-oo-ooh, who
(Who wrote the book of love)
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Oh, who wrote the Book Of Love
I’ve got to know the answer
Was it someone from above
(I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the Book Of Love)
I love you darlin’
Baby, you know I do
But I’ve got to see this book of love
Find out why it’s true
(I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the Book Of Love)
(Chapter one says to love her)
(You love her with all your heart)
(Chapter two you tell her you’re)
(Never, never, never, never, never gonna part)
(In chapter three remember the meaning of romance)
(In chapter four you break up)
(But you give her just one more chance)
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, wWho)
(Who wrote the book of love)
Baby, baby, baby
I love you, yes I do
Well it says so in this book of love
Ours is the one that’s true
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the book of love)
(Chapter one says to love her)
(You love her with all your heart)
(Chapter two you tell her you’re)
(Never, never, never, never, never gonna part)
(In chapter three remember the meaning of romance)
(In chapter four you break up)
(But you give her just one more chance)
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, Who)
(Who wrote the book of love)
Baby, baby, baby
I love you, yes I do
Well it says so in this book of love
Ours is the one that’s true
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the book of love)
I wonder who (yeah)
Who wrote the Book Of Love
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Little Darling

 

It was written by Maurice Williams and done by him and The Gladiolas and was a hit in 1957. When done by the Canadian group, The Diamonds, it reached #2.

Ah, ya ya ya ya, ya ya ya ya, ya ya ya ya
Little darling oh little darling
O-oh where a-are you?
My lover I was wronger
To try to love two
Ahh uha uha uha uha
Knowing well that my lover
Was just for you uh only you
My darling I need you
To call my own
And never do wrong
To hold in mine
Your little hand
I’ll know too soon
That I’ll so pray
Please hold my hand
My dear I was wronger
To try to love two
Ahh uha uha uha uha
Knowing well that my lover
Was just for you
Uh only you
Sha Na Na Woodstock

At The Hop

A hit for Danny and the Juniors in 1957. Band members Artie SingerJohn Medora, and David White wrote it.

Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop
Well, you can rock it you can roll it
You can stop and you can stroll it at the hop
When the record starts spinnin’
You dance when you chicken at the hop
Do the dance sensation that is sweepin’ the nation at the hop
Let’s go to the hop
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop
Come on, let’s go to the hop
Well, you can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let’s go!
Let’s go to the hop
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop
Come on, let’s go to the hop
Let’s go!
Well, you can rock it you can roll it
You can stop and you can stroll it at the hop
When the record starts spinnin’
You go dancin’ when you chicken at the hop
Do the dance sensation that is sweepin’ the nation at the hop
You can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let’s go!
Let’s go to the hop
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop
Come on, let’s go to the hop
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Duke Of Earl

Gene ChandlerEarl Edwards, and Bernice Williams wrote the song.

Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
And-a you, you are my girl
And no one can hurt you, oh no
Yes-a, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Come on let me hold you darlin’
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yea yea yeah
And when I hold you
You’ll be my Duchess, Duchess of Earl
We’ll walk through my dukedom
And a paradise we will share
Yes-a, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah
Well, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Get A Job (Reprise)

The next and last act is Jimi Hendrix.