Mr. Five by Five
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mr. Five by Five is a 1944 popular song by Don Raye and Gene DePaul that celebrates the heavyset, large, and plus-sized souls among us. The person of substance highlighted by the song was James Andrew Rushing, "Mr. Five by Five," who was the featured vocalist of Count Basie's Orchestra from 1935 to 1948.
The song was introduced in the motion pictures Behind the Eight Ball and Who Done It?, both of which were 1942 Universal Pictures releases.
Ella Mae Morse with Freddie Slack and His Orchestra [1] had a hit recording with the song in 1942 (Capitol 115), as did Harry James and His Orchestra also issued a best-selling platter on the Columbia label that year.
Also performed by: Harry Parry on "Crazy Rhythm" album , Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet/ The Humphrey Lyttelton Big Band with Jimmy Rushing, Upbeat (URCD174)/ Jimmy Rushing on "Rushing Lullabies" album, Columbia/Legacy 1959/ Andrews Sisters
SONG LYRIC:
"Mr. Five by Five"
Well, twirl my turban, man alive!
Here comes Mister Five by Five
He's one of those big fat bouncing boys
Solid avoirdupois!
Mister Five by Five
He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide
He don't measure no more from head to toe
Than he do from side to side
Mister Five by Five
Got fifty chins and a line of jive
He's a mellow old cat, a real hep fat
He be Mister Five by Five
That man
Can really jump it for a fat man
The only trouble is there's no way of knowin'
Whether he's comin' or ... or goin'
Mister Five by Five
He's slightly plump on his butter side
He don't shake it no more from head to toe
Than he do from side to side
That man [my, my!]
Can really jump it for a fat man [fat man!]
Boys, the trouble is there's no way of knowin'
Whether he's comin' or ... or goin'
Mister Five by Five
He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide
He don't measure no more from head to toe
Than he do ...
From side to side ...
Mister Five by Five
(@ 1942 MCA Inc.)
WEB SITE:
http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/dimtext/kjn/lyrics/mr5x5.htm
