song "Constipation blues" (Jalacy J. Hawkins)

• BMI work number: 241573
• Songwriter/Composer: Jalacy J. Hawkins (BMI #13616808)
• Publishers: Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI #55032802)

Dave Rosencran of KCMU in Seattle obtained the details from Screamin' Jay himself:

"I never before had been constipated in my life and it didn't dawn on me until I was five hours on the stool in the hospital that nothin' was gonna happen. I had doctors give me enemas and still nothin' happened. I had tears in my eyes, and I noticed this beautiful roll of toilet paper and I took out a pencil and, at the bottom of the toilet paper, I started writin' the song backwards, from the bottom up. The more I rolled out the toilet paper, the more I got into the song. I wrote exactly as I felt, each movement, each sound, each pain..."

Cover versions

1969 Screamin' Jay Hawkins Production: Milan Melvin Recording: 23-24 June 1969 North Hollywood, Club Amigo
1969 Screamin' Jay Hawkins	LP WHAT THAT IS!	Mercury
1988 Screamin' Jay Hawkins	2LP FEAST OF THE MAU
1990 Screamin' Jay Hawkins	2CD SPELLBOUND! 1955-1974	DE: Bear Family CD15530
1983 Screamin' Jay Hawkins Production: Larry Martin Recording: April - May 1983 Paris, Annagramme Studio
1983 Screamin' Jay Hawkins	LP REAL LIFE	FR: Zeta

Lyrics

1969 Screamin' Jay Hawkins   Ladies and gentlemen, most people record songs about love, heartbreak, loneliness, being broke... Nobody's actually went out and recorded a song about real pain. The band and I have just returned from the General Hospital where we caught a man in the right position. We name this song: "Constipation blues".   UMM-UMMMH, aeoh UMM-UOOMH OOH! OH! UH UH Aaah UOH, aah Let it go! Let it go! Let it go! Let it go! I don't believe I can take much more Let it go Aah Got a pain down inside Won't be denied Yeah, every time I try I can't be satisfied Let it go! WOAH, UMMH Let it, let it go! OH! WAAAAOOOH! This pain down inside Just won't let me be satisfied Let it go!   SPLASH!!! SPSHHH.... Feel, ah, I feel alright Yeah, I feel alright SPLASH!!! Shpsh... Yeah I feel alright SPLASH! Flush   Phew Phew Phew... Feel alright

1983 Screamin' Jay Hawkins             UMM-MMMMH OUUH BOOAAH UMM-UOOMH Let go UM OOH OH! WOAOH! Let it go! Let it go! Let it go, let it go! I don't think I can take much more Let it go AH! WHOA OI got a pain down inside It won't be denied Every time I try I can't be satisfied Let it go! PFFRR oh oh Let it, let it go! MMMH AAH OH! This pain it ain't no thrill It keep messin' with my will Let it go! OH - PFFRT   [piano solo]   PFFFR FFRRRT OUH! Oh my! Maybe I'm gonna be all right OUH O O OH Yes! I think I gonna be all right UM OH OH UMMM WHOA UMH AH! A HUH HUH HA PLOP PLOP WHOA BOAH! AH! OUUUH AAH HUMMH PFRRT GROAN WOOOH! WHOAAAAAAAAA-AAAAH

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