I put a spell on you

Posted by Henry on October 04, 2004

In Reply to: Not just Lena posted by Bob on October 04, 2004

: : : : : : : : Lena Horne uses the line "I'm broke, That's oak" in her version of "That's Why the Lady is a Tramp".

: : : : : : : : Is to say something is oak a real expression or poetic license?

: : : : : : : I'm broke, that's oke (okay).

: : : : : : Intersting.

: : : : : Are you skptical of my interprtation? Well, why not? SS

: : : :
: : : : I'm utterly sincere and not skeptical at all. I'd have never thought to interpret it that way. But it wouldn't be the first time spelling has led me astray. I was guessing "oak", possibly as in solid or for sure, but I'd never heard the expression. Did you find the lyric somewhere?

: : : Nah.

: :
: : It is (or was) presumably a new coining because something had to be found which rhymed with 'broke'.

: : DFG

: Those are the lyrics as written.

I imagine that the spelling is to avoid any doubt about the pronunciation. The song is intended to be performed - when you hear a song, you can't tell how the words are spelled!

• Oakey/Dokey SR 05/October/04
  • Oakey/Dokey Word Camel 05/October/04
    • Oakey/Dokey SR 05/October/04
      • Still OK/ Mary Martin SR 05/October/04
        • Still OK/ Mary Martin Word Camel 06/October/04