Hats Off to (Roy) Harper Lyrics
Mmm, a, mmm, a, mmm, a mmm, a mmm, a come on down
[Verse 1]
When I done quit hollering, baby
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Get my babe, won't be late
You know by that I mean ah, seconds late
Ah, must I holler?
Must I shake 'em on down?
[Chorus]
Well, I've done quit hollerin', baby
I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Shake 'em
Aaahhh
[Verse 2]
Well, I ain't no monkey
I can't climb no tree
No brown-skin woman gonna make no monkey out of me
Yeah, I ain't no monkey
Sure can't climb no tree
[Chorus]
I been mistreated, babe, I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Well, I've been mistreated, babe, I believe I'll shake 'em on down
Mmm, ha ha
Ha ha haha, ha ha haha, ha ha haha, ha ha hahaaaaaaa.....
Listen, mama, put on your mornin' gown
Put on your nightshirt, mama
We going to shake them down, yeah
Must I holler?
Must I, must I, must I shake them on down?
[Chorus]
Ooh, I've done been mistreated, babe, I believe I'll shake 'em on down
[Outro]
Gave my baby a twenty-dollar bill
If that don't get her, I'm sure my shot, shot, shot-gun will
Yeah, I gave my baby a twenty-dollar bill
Well, if that don't get that woman, I'm sure my shot-gun will
I'm gonna go shoot her now
About
The song is both a tribute to contemporary folk singer Roy Harper and the influential American blues singer who recorded from the 1930s to the 1970s.
According to Page, during recording sessions for Led Zeppelin III, the band “did a whole set of country blues and traditional blues numbers that Robert [Plant] suggested. But ["Hats Off to (Roy) Harper”] was the only one we put on the record."
An alternative studio outtake of the track in the same style and similar instrumentation is available on some Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings. Likely from the same recording session as the official release, it features lyrics from the songs “I Feel so Bad” (recorded by Otis Rush and Elvis Presley), Robert Johnson’s “Traveling Riverside Blues” & “32-20 Blues”, Sleepy John Estes' “Diving Duck Blues”, Bukka White’s “Fixin' to Die”, and Arthur Crudup’s “That’s Alright Mama”. These songs were frequently performed in medley by the band at Led Zeppelin concerts during “How Many More Times” and, later, “Whole Lotta Love”. Thus, this outtake perhaps gives insight into the inspiration for the track, a desire to lay down an acoustic, studio take of a staple of their live performances. However, Led Zeppelin never performed “Hats Off to (Roy) Harper” live in concert
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning