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I have exhausted my search capabilities for lyrics to this great Herbie Hancock tune. I remember back in the early sixties (yes I said 1960’s) some cat sat in with us and sang a lyric to this tune. I can vaguely remember some of the lyric he sang but I do remember it was something like this:
Ohhhh, watermelon man
Ohhhh, watermelon man
I would buy one each and every day
If he’d only come my way
Watermelon man
I have a special request for this tune at a gig I will be playing this Friday so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
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Could these be the lyrics you're after? Watermelon man - Herbie Hancock
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Wow.
There's lyrics to it?
Shut up an' play yer guitar...
--Mac
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Thanks Mike, not excatly what I remembered but hey that was a long time ago.
Later,
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Quote:
Wow.
There's lyrics to it?
Shut up an' play yer guitar...
--Mac
Thanks smart ass . . . I love it.  Believe it or not I got that same advice once from another horn man after he called a tune then said he wanted it in "five flats". I was a much younger guitarist then so I answered, you want it in what key? His response, the same as yours.
Later,
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.
The idea of the song is that a guy is walking through the neighborhood with a load of watermelons to sell. He repeats a simple chant, announcing his presence and his wares to the housewives as he passes by.
I lived in Puerto Rico as a kid, and we had these hawkers passing through all day long. They made up the words as needed. They melodies were usually catchy and oh, did they have beautiful voices!
A similar tradition was that local musicians would gather on the corner and sing about the news of the neighborhood. This developed into the styles known as _Bomba_ and _Plena_. When these guys got transplanted to New York City in the 70s, it evolved into salsa and rap.
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You are correct flatfoot, in New Orleans we also had the Ice Man and the Rag Man as I recall.
Later,
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Apprentice
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Didn't Mel Torme sing it?
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.
>>>>...in New Orleans we also had the Ice Man...>>>>
That was my thought...that the composer wrote the song based on what he heard on the streets of NO.
.
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Marv,
I can't find any record that Mel did sing it, but I can't find anything that says he didn't either. However, I did find a vocal version by Julie London, on her Wild, Cool & Swingin' album, remastered in 1999.
So, I'm thinking there must be several lyrics to it. Danny, the version you have is the same one Julie London is singing, so if you have a Napster account, you can go there and listen to it.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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I did a Mel Torme/Watermelon man search and came up with many hits, just no definitive link as of yet. But I am thinking "where there's smoke" there surely must have been a recording.
Later,
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Apprentice
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Quote:
Didn't Mel Torme sing it?
Come to think of it, I was thinking of "I'm Coming Home"...originally an instrumental by jazz flautist Herbie Mann.
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Vox Continental
w/o Leslie
Ah, those were the daze...
Anybuddy got da words ta Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida next?
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Expert
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Quote:
Wow.
There's lyrics to it?
Shut up an' play yer guitar...
--Mac
Man, it I had a nickel for everytime I've been told that............. 
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Quote:
Quote:
Wow.
There's lyrics to it?
Shut up an' play yer guitar...
--Mac
This is one that blew me away, who knew there were lyrics to Take Five?? And what incredible lyrics this guy came up with!
Take Five
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Wow.
There's lyrics to it?
Shut up an' play yer guitar...
--Mac
This is one that blew me away, who knew there were lyrics to Take Five?? And what incredible lyrics this guy came up with!
Take Five
Whew! This man has mastered his instrument. Thanks for sharing!
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Journeyman
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I went to High School with Al Jarreau -- he was a year ahead of me, in Milwaukee, Lincoln High School, now closed.
He was the captain of the football team, basketball team, all-state in both, big time choir soloist, actor. In short, a miracle man, brilliant.
This performance is simply Al, all the way.
Also, for the record, Mel Torme did in fact record "Dat Dere." Maybe that was the source of someone's confusion -- they sort of sound "the same."
Brad
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Um, sharp and flat in the same key...
How about Bb to Ab, 'K?
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Quote:
60's group Manfred Mann singing Watermelon Man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQQ5AisiSY
Thanks Josie,
With that instrumentation I can see why they only did the vocal rendition.
Later,
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