You know three ‘n’ three is six
Three threes is nine
You give me some of yours,
I may sell you some of mine. – Billie Pierce, “I’m in the Racket”
It’s time for another collection of hooker songs! If you have a suggestion for a future column, check the Musicography page to make sure I haven’t featured it already, and if I haven’t please share it in a comment below. Our first selection today was suggested by Grim Ghost; though it is of the moralistic variety, it’s actually quite catchy so it gets a pass. In the 1920s popular songs were often recorded by a number of artists, and this one is no exception; this recording is by Ruth Etting, best remembered today for “Shine On Harvest Moon”.
Glad Rag Doll (Jack Yellen and Dan Dougherty, music by Milton Ager)
Little painted lady,
With your lovely clothes,
Where are you bound for, may I ask?
What your diamonds cost you,
Ev’rybody knows,
All the world can see behind your mask.
All dolled up in glad rags,
Tomorrow may turn to sad rags,
They call you Glad Rag Doll!
Admired,
Desired,
By lovers who soon grow tired,
Poor little Glad Rag Doll!
You’re just a pretty toy
They like to play with,
You’re not the kind they choose
To grow old and gray with!
Don’t make this the end, dear,
It’s never too late to ‘mend, dear,
Poor little Glad Rag Doll!
Oh, you’re all dolled up in your glad rags,
And tomorrow, they may turn to sad rags,
They call you poor little Glad Rag Doll!
You’re admired,
And you’re desired,
By lots of lovers, but they soon grow tired,
Poor little Glad Rag Doll!
You’re just a pretty toy
They like to play with,
But you’re not the kind they choose
To, to grow old and gray with!
Don’t make this the end, dear,
It’s never, never too late to ‘mend, dear,
Poor little Glad Rag Doll!
When I was previewing this video on YouTube, I noticed another appropriate Ruth Etting selection among the suggestions. It is ostensibly about a taxi dancer, but as we’ve seen previously with “Private Dancer” and “Hey, Big Spender”, that’s practically always code for a whore:
Ten Cents a Dance (Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rogers)
I work at the palace ballroom,
But gee, that palace is cheap!
When I get back to my chilly hall-room,
I’m much too tired to sleep.
I’m one of those lady teachers,
A beautiful hostess, you know
The kind the palace features
At exactly a dime a throw.
(refrain 1) Ten cents a dance,
That’s what they pay me
Gosh, how they weigh me down.
Ten cents a dance,
Pansies and rough guys,
Tough guys who tear my gown!
(refrain 2) Seven to midnight I hear drums,
Loudly the saxophone blows,
Trumpets are breaking my ear drums,
Customers crush my toes!
(refrain 3) Sometimes I think I’ve found my hero,
But it’s a queer romance
All that you need is a ticket
Come on, big boy,
Ten cents a dance!
Fighters and sailors and bow-legged tailors
Can pay for a ticket and rent me
Butchers and barbers and rats from the harbors
Are sweethearts my good luck has sent me.
Though I’ve a chorus of elderly beaus,
Stockings are porous with holes in the toes.
I’m there till closing time,
Dance and be merry, it’s only a dime!
(refrain 1, 2, 3)
Another means of encoding harlotry is by singing about a related type of “fallen woman”; both Joni Mitchell and Mary Coughlan portrayed the narrators of their respective songs as girls condemned to the Magdalene laundries for merely being pretty, and though it is true that there were such cases the laundries were first established for prostitutes and largely populated by unwed mothers, promiscuous girls and even incest or rape victims. Coughlan’s song was suggested by several readers after I featured Mitchell’s:
Magdalene Laundry (Mary Coughlan)
For 17 years I’ve been scrubbin’ this washboard,
Ever since the fellas started in after me.
My mother, poor soul, didn’t know what to do;
The canon said, “Child, there’s a place for you.”
Now I’m servin’ my time at the Magdalene laundry.
I’m toein’ the line at the Magdalene laundry.
There’s girls from the country, girls from the town,
Their bony white elbows goin’ up and down.
And the Reverend Mother, as she glides through the place,
A tight little smile on the side of her face,
She’s runnin’ the show at the Magdalene laundry.
I’ve got no place to go but the Magdalene laundry.
(refrain) Oh, Lord, won’t you let me, don’t you let me
Won’t you let me wash away the stains?
Oh, Lord, won’t you let me wash away the stains?
We’re washin’ altar linen, cassocks and stoles,
And we’re scrubbin’ long johns for the holy joes.
But we know where they’ve been when they’re not savin’ souls;
What the red wine spilt, the smooth hand pours.
We’re squeezin’ it out at the Magdalene laundry.
We’re scrubbin’ it down at the Magdalene laundry.
(refrain)
Sunday afternoon, the Lord’s at rest,
It’s off to the prom, watch the waves roll by.
We’re chewin’ on our toffees, hear the seagulls squawk,
“There go the maggies,” the children talk,
Through our faces they stare at the Magdalene laundry.
In our eyes see the glare of the Magdalene laundry.
(refrain)
(refrain)
(refrain)
While white songwriters and singers often portray the whore as a tragic figure, black musicians (especially those of the jazz era) generally portrayed her as smart, independent and tough, as in this one from Street Walker Blues:
State Street Blues (Thompson and Williams)
Goin’ down on State Street, that’s where I long to be
Goin’ down on State Street, that’s where I long to be
But those State Street gals make a fool out of me.
Goin’ down on State Street, stop at 3409
Goin’ down on State Street, stop at 3409
Get some bad whiskey and have a wild good time.
I don’t see how you State Street women sleep
I don’t see how you State Street women sleep
Walk the streets all night like Big Six on his beat.
These State Street hustlers sure do think they’re cute
These State Street hustlers sure do think they’re cute
‘Cause they get lucky and get a payback suit [?]
These State Street women sure do have some time
These State Street women sure do have some time
They clown all night, don’t give their man a dime.
These State Street hustlers sure better buy some shoes
These State Street hustlers sure better buy some shoes
‘Cause them old easy walkers won’t give their ankles the blues.
The “State Street” mentioned here is the famous Chicago thoroughfare; presumably the address was the (fictionalized) one of a speakeasy. I’m not sure of the last phrase in the fourth verse; if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know. Our last selection portrays Ray Charles’ narrator as the victim of a rather sophisticated cash and dash:
Greenbacks (Ray Charles)
As I was walking down the street last night,
A pretty little girl came into sight.
I bowed and smiled and asked her name,
She said, “Hold it bud, I don’t play that game.”
I reached in my pocket, and to her big surprise
There was Lincoln staring her dead in the eyes
(refrain) On a greenback, greenback dollar bill
Just a little piece of paper, coated with chlorophyll.
She looked at me with that familiar desire,
Her eyes lit up like they were on fire.
She said, “My name’s Flo, and you’re on the right track,
But look here, daddy, I wear furs on my back,
So if you want to have fun in this man’s land,
Let Lincoln and Jackson start shaking hands”
(refrain)
I didn’t know what I was getting into,
But I popped Lincoln and Jackson, too.
I didn’t mind seeing them fade out of sight,
I just knew I’d have some fun last night.
Whenever you in town and looking for a thrill,
If Lincoln can’t get it, Jackson sure will
(refrain)
(bridge)
We went to a nightspot where the lights were low,
Dined and danced, and I was ready to go.
I got out of my seat, and when Flo arose,
She said, “Hold it daddy, while I powder my nose.”
I sat back down with a smiling face,
While she went down to the powder place
With my greenback, greenback dollar bill
Just a little piece of paper, coated with chlorophyll.
The music stopped and the lights came on,
I looked around and saw I was all alone.
I didn’t know how long Flo had been gone,
But a nose powder sure didn’t take that long.
I left the place with tears in my eyes,
As I waved Lincoln and Jackson a last goodbye
(refrain)
I must have heard “10 cents a dance” about a million times (it’s in one of my video games).
One of my favorite scenes is in season one of Boardwalk Empire (episode “Family Limitation”), in which a naked hooker is singing “Japanese Sandman” and playing the ukulele.
I loved the hookers in Boardwalk Empire! I thought Jimmy’s girlfriend was played and presented awesomely! Game of Thrones is another series with a lot of whores – and they tend to be pretty savvy too and also, a couple are heroines in the series.
Jimmy’s Mom is smart…and terrifying… herself. It’s my wife’s favorite show, but she was furious about the finale of Season 2, though she bounced back later. (How could anyone not fall in love with Gyp Rosetti?)
Everyone keeps praising Game of Thrones, work seems to be slowing down for me soon, so it’ll be time to see what everyone is raving about.
By the way – Boardwalk Empire is an excellent portrayal of the realities and futility of prohibitionist laws.
Dear Maggie,
It isn’t a song about hookers per se but “Senior Service” by Steeleye Span, a British Electric Rock group of the ’70s and ’80s, mentions a hooker called Nancy and her sailor clients …
The refrain contains a play on words as it refers to the British Navy (the Senior Armed Service) and a brand of cigarettes, Senior Service, which had the advertising slogan “Senior Service Satisfies”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tVGaOUwT6Mc
Kemp-Prior
Sally’s in the alley and Nancy’s on the game
Emily is pregnant and wondering who to blame.
We raise our port and lemon and toast a reply
That the senior service satisfy.
See the bold man-of-war steaming into port
Guns fully primed, the 24-pounder sort
And down on the deck for a full broadside
Back on the high seas with the rising tide.
Here’s a little steam ship chugging up the channel
Small smoke stack and a red smoking funnel.
He brings the girls presents of stockings and tights,
Comes regular as clockwork every tuesday night.
Sally’s in the alley and Nancy’s on the game
Emily is pregnant and wondering who to blame.
We raise our port and lemon and toast a reply
That the senior service satisfy.
Here come the sailor boys, matthew, luke and john
I like ’em with tattoos, i like ’em young and strong.
Here come the sailor boys a-rousting up the town
Their rigging is up but their sails are down.
-instrumental-
Here’s a skipper of a clipper with a broken bowsprit
Heading for dry dock and a new refit
There’s an oil tanker of the modern kind
A thousand foot length of throbbing steam turbine.
Sally’s in the alley and nancy’s on the game
Emily is pregnant and wondering who to blame.
We raise our port and lemon and toast a reply
That the senior service satisfy.
Here come the sailor boys, George, John and Paul.
I like ’em lithe and lissom, like ’em slim and tall.
Here come the sailor boys whistling up the quay,
Blue peter up the mast where all the girls can see.
Sally’s in the alley and nancy’s on the game
Emily is pregnant and wondering who to blame.
We raise our port and lemon and toast a reply
That the senior service satisfy.
if i remember correctly magdalene laundry is a type of a sweatshop that offered ”honest”work and ”good”living conditions to whores,isnt it?i always wondered why everyone thinks,even today that its better to work 16 hours for a slice of bread than sex work.i dont even find working for multinational companies in good positions a better work,since you never get to enjoy your life,the lifestyle is too hectic with little time for your loved ones.the alienation and stress that modern society experiences,sedentary lifestyles,children grow with babysitters and whose parents wouldnt know if they got involved with drugs and who get showered with gifts to make up for lack of proper attention is not the plague of sex workers.objectification?always a joke to me.capitalist companies see people as nothing but numbers and machines.the ”golden boys”cultivated a work practice that says ”we hire the person who will work the most and cost us the less”.the worker who is in their fifties and reasonably costs more and might be able to work less because of family obligations will get fired in favor of a 25 year old,no matter that a person in their 50s wont be able to find work ever again.the worst part i have found as a pso is that i cant tell my parents,of course,but i dont tell my parents about my bisexuality and relationships with girls,either .that i can see them more often because of the money i have to travel to my hometown more is enouph for me.
the Ray Charles song is the best i think . i love Ray Charles.
In Ireland, girls were condemned to the laundries without formal judicial proceedings, and if they ran away and were caught by the police, they were brought right back. Though a few may have gone voluntarily due to lack of options, the majority were no more than slaves.
“always a joke to me.capitalist companies see people as nothing but numbers and machines.the ‘golden boys’ cultivated a work practice that says ‘we hire the person who will work the most and cost us the less'”
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine got laid off at my company. It was practically a random decision made at an office many states away. He was second guessing himself, like he had done something wrong and I told him, “Don’t take it so hard, you are just a number in some computer at the home office. I mean none of this office furniture that’s being discarded feels bad, and nobody thinks it was doing a bad job. They just did the math and decided they didn’t need this many people any more. The worst thing you can do is take it personally.”
I worked really hard to help him get another job, I still hear from him now and then, but he had to move far away. C’est la vie.
In the U.S. – it’s my belief that the geriatric voting population has skewed things in favor of the elderly. We have laws here concerning equal opportunity and age discrimination. Guess what? The law for age discrimination only protects older workers – apparently it’s perfectly cool to discriminate against a younger worker just because of his or her age.
Happens all the time … you can NOT say … “Well this guy’s too old for this” but you can say … “Well this young guy – he doesn’t have the experience.”
If you can say one – you should be able to say the other because – God Damn I work with more than a few guys who are too old to be doing this job. However – they have the labor unions on their side and now basically you can hire anyone for a physical job because the labor union says 50 pounds is all the company can make you lift!
WTF? The day I can’t lug a 200 pound door down a submarine hatch is the day I will retire from this job.
the thing is they dont outright say ”you are too old for this”.they say”we live in difficult times for businesses,reduction of employees is mandatory.”how can you win a case for insufficient sacking in that case?yes,of course you know that the reason they fired you is because you cost them more and you might work less because of family obligations when you are older,but they will say”there are people who can be more focused on the job”.personally i rarely see newly married women being hired in companies,for the same reason.they think”she will want to have kids soon and i will have an employee that wont work for a while,yet i have to pay her maternity leave and who will want to spend less time working and more caring for her children.you cant really sue them for discrimination for not giving you the position,even if you know this is the reason,but they ll say that ”we found someone else more suitable”.and of course the owners of those companies never lose.when the crisis first appeared all of the companies adapted by firing workers,not by reducing their prices.most notably i remember when Versace announced ”reductions in personnel”.now if they had reduced the price even just a little more women would be inspired to buy,but of course it is never the bosses who lose,its always the worker.they just dont care about people,they view as as pawns.same with politicians,lets not even go to bankers.thats why i never get the whole degradation and objectification thing by people who work for that type of people.
My belief is – if you can’t do the job, you shouldn’t be hired for it. If it’s physical and you move heavy things around – you should be able to do that and when you get too old to – it’s time to downgrade jobs (maybe to WalMart greeter).
The Japanese used to hire young software engineers right out of school for certain projects that they knew would last DECADES – old guys need not apply – I don’t see anything wrong with that.
It’s not the company’s job to take care of me – and I don’t want them taking care of me. That’s probably my biggest peeve about the Navy – they always want to “take care of” people. Ask any Chief Petty Officer what he does … he’ll probably say … “I take care of my Sailors”. LOL. Let’s remember here that every Sailor is a possible candidate for “bullet catcher” … and I can’t think of a more personnel unfriendly organization than one that asks you to lay down your life if necessary – or … LOL – even if it’s NOT necessary!
I’m not standing up here for companies – I know they are all out for profit. My old man used to work 60 plus hours a week for his company because he had a lot of loyalty to the company and believed in the product that he made. That’s the way he raised me but … he’s since told me that’s bullshit – and that he now regrets giving so much to the company. As long as you go into the proposition understanding the “company’s” motives – and understanding that you aren’t going to be their first priority … then you can protect yourself. That may mean taking college courses so you have something else to fall back on.
the case with your job is the same with professional athletes.of course for a physical job you cant keep people when they are too old for it.but i beleive since we are talking about the Navy here,which means that you get involved in war then its the obligation of the country to give you a good pension,when you are unable to do the job anymore because of the service to it.in Greece military officers and police officers retire with good pensions provided by the country itself at 45 years of age.
as for hiring old guys,i havent touched on that at all.of course a middle aged person wont get hired anywhere,im talking about theese people getting fired and having no way to feed their families from then on.this is just not ethical and the governments are inexcusable to tolerate theese kinds of practices.
Glad Rag Doll reminded me of Party Doll. I remember it from the fifties.
Well all I want is a party doll
To come along with me when I’m feelin’ wild
To be everlovin’, true and fair
To run her fingers through my hair
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
I’ll make love to you, to you, I’ll make love to you
Well I saw a gal walkin’ down the street
The kind of a gal I’d love to meet
She had blond hair and eyes of blue
Baby, I wanna have a party with you
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
I’ll make love to you, to you,
I’ll make love to you
Every man has got to have a party doll
To be with him when he’s feelin’ wild
To be everlovin’, true and fair
To run her fingers through his hair
To run her fingers through his hair
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
I’ll make love to you, to you,
I’ll make love to you
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
Come along and be my party doll
I’ll make love to you, to you,
I’ll make love to you
Party Doll is a great song. I’ve always liked it.
Re: State Street Blues
The address given is fictionalized as you pointed out. Geographically speaking, however, it’s not that far away from where the Everleigh Club was located. The part of State Street mentioned in the song is in the area known as Bronzeville. The Everleigh Club was right on the border of Bronzeville.
Looks like you missed Tori Amos’ “Playboy mommy”.