- BMI work number: 699321
- Songwriter/Composer: John Brim (CAE/IPI #65713474)
- Publishers: Arc Music Corp. (CAE/IPI #1209646)
Song writer John Brim (1922-2003) was a largely self-taught blues guitarist who had left his home in Kentucky for Chicago in 1945 to pursue his performing and song writing dreams. A frequent side man, Brim also formed his own band which included songwriter, guitarist and singer Jimmy Reed and Brim's wife Grace on drums. His laid back style and easy rhythms in his self written songs like, "Rattlesnake", "Moonlight blues" and "Let me hold you" helped to popularize Brim's name. One of his earliest cover recordings was Big Walter Horton's version of "That ain't right". In later years, Brim's songs were discovered and recorded by artists such as Angela Strehli ("Tough times"), Tom Waits ("Ice cream man", 1973), Van Halen ("Ice cream man", 1978) and, of course, Screamin' Jay Hawkins ("Ice cream man", 1991). In his later years Brim continued to make frequent club appearances where he was still accompanied on drums by Gracie.
Cover versions
1969 John Brim () Recording: 1953
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1973 Tom Waits ()
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1973 Tom Waits |
LP CLOSING TIME |
US:
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1978 Van Halen ()
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1991 Screamin' Jay Hawkins () Production: Robert Duffey Musicians: Screamin' Jay Hawkins (vocals, piano)
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1991 Screamin' Jay Hawkins |
CD BLACK MUSIC FOR WHITE PEOPLE |
US: Bizarre
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Lyrics
- 1991 Screamin' Jay Hawkins
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- Clickin' by your house about two forty-five
- Sidewalk sundae strawberry surprise
- Got a cherry popsicle right on time
- I got a big stick, mamma, that'll blow your mind
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- Cause I'm your ice cream man
- I'm your one-man band
- I'm your ice cream man
- Baby, I'll be good to you
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- You can miss me in the alley, baby, don't you fret
- I'll be comin' back around and don't forget
- When you're tired and you're hungry and you want something cool
- I got something better than a swimming pool
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- I'm your ice cream man
- I'm your one-man band
- I'm your ice cream man
- Baby, I'll be good to you
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- If you see me coming and you ain't got no change
- Don't worry baby, it can be arranged:
- Show me your smile, just for me
- Fix you with a drumstick, I'll do it for free
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- Cause I'm your ice cream man
- I'm your one-man band
- I'm your ice cream man
- Baby, I'll be good to you
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- [guitar solo]
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- If you miss me in the alley, baby, don't you fret
- I'll be comin' back around and don't forget
- When you're tired and you're hungry and you want something cool
- I got something better than a swimming pool
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- I'm your ice cream man
- I'm your one-man band
- I'm your ice cream man
- Baby, I'll be good to you
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- Your ice cream man
- I'm your one-man band
- I'm your ice cream man
- Baby, I'll be good to you
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- I'm your ice cream man - chocolate and vanilla
- I'm your ice cream man - strawberry fella
- I'm your ice cream man - I'm your chocolate man
- And my black walnuts hangin' from the can
- Sweet dreams
- With a Scotch
- Pick on cherry
- Blackberries
- Yeah, blackberries
- I'm your ice cream
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