phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Shake my tree

Posted by Baceseras on November 04, 2007

In Reply to: Shake my tree posted by Bob on November 03, 2007

: : : Does anyone know exactly what "shake my tree" means?

: : If you don't want my peaches, don't shake my tree. That's the expression that I've heard. My understand of that phrase is -- if you don't want my opinion (or whatever) don't bother me.

: Steve Miller Band, anybody:

: The Joker

: Verse

: Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah
: Some call me the gangster of love
: Some people call me maurice
: Cause I speak of the pomputis of love
: People talk about me baby,say i'm doing you wrong,doing you wrong
: Well don't you worry baby,don't worry cause
: Cause i'm right here,right here,right here,right,right home

: Chorus

: cause i'm a picker,I'm a grinner
: I'm a lover, i'm a sinner
: I play my music in the sun

: I'm a joker,i'm a smoker,i'm a midnight toker
: I get my lovin' on the run

: (post chorus)
: oooooooo,ooooooo
: Verse 2

: You're the cutest thing that I ever did see
: I really like your peaches, I wanna shake your tree
: lovey dovey,lovey dovey,lovey dovey all the time
: oooooo baby I sure show you a good time

: Chorus

: Cause i'm a picker,i'm a grinner
: I'm a lover,i'm a sinner
: I play my music in the sun

: I'm a joker,i'm a smoker,I'm a midnight toker
: I sure don't want to hurt no one

: (this is sung right after the solo)
: ooooooohhhhh,ooooooohhhh

: Verse 3

: People keep talking 'bout me baby
: Say i'm doing you wrong
: Well don't you worry,don't worry,no don't worry
: Cause i'm right here at home
: You're the cutest thing I ever did see
: I really love your peaches,wanna shake your tree
: lovey dovey,lovey dovey,lovey dovey all the time

I can recall a Bessie Smith recording of the 'peaches' verse, presumably from the 1920s.

Elmore James - from his "Rollin' and Tumblin'" -
Yes love me baby, or please let me be
If you don't like my peaches please don't shake my tree
- recorded in 1959.

Lonnie Johnson - from his "St. Louis Blues" -
If you don't like my peaches, baby, don't you shake my tree.
You just stay outa my bus'ness, let my peaches be.
- recorded in 1960.

According to a current 'wiki' article, a verse in this form -
Don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree
Stay out of my orchard, let my peaches be
- is one of several often added to or substituted for the original verses of "Sitting on Top of the World".
The article makes this claim about the earliest appearance:
"The 'peaches' verse has a long history in popular music. It appears as the chorus of an unpublished song composed by Irving Berlin in May 1914: 'If you don't want my peaches / You'd better stop shaking my tree'."

en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Sitting_on_Top_of_the_World

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