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Do Re Mi Lyrics
Lots of folks back East, they say, is leavin home every day,
Beatin the hot old dusty way to the California line.
'Cross the desert sands they roll, gettin out of that old dust bowl,
They think they're goin' to a sugar bowl, but here's what they find
Now, the police at the port of entry say,
"You're number fourteen thousand for today."
Oh, if you ain't got the do re mi, folks, you ain't got the do re mi,
Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee.
California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see
But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot
If you ain't got the do re mi.
You want to buy you a home or a farm, that can't deal nobody harm,
Or take your vacation by the mountains or sea.
Don't swap your old cow for a car,
you better stay right where you are,
Better take this little tip from me.
Cause I look through the want ads every day
But the headlines on the papers always say
If you ain't got the do re mi, boys, you ain't got the do re mi,
Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee.
California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see
But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot
If you ain't got the do re mi.
Do what is the Do-Re-Mi, exactly? any ideas? maybe a play on 'dough'-re-mi, meaning money?
"Do Re Mi" as in solfège (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do), I'm guessing.
Right on the money.
I got this from the Ry Cooder album "The ufo has landed"
"Woody said you better have some money in your shoe if you're going to california"
I am guessing not only do you need money but you need to know how to make best use of it cause you can get ripped off! He makes use of the dough here by creating some fun word play. Interesting song. I havent heard woody's yet, just Ry's.
The song is about how California is a great place if you have money and is not as good if you do not. I guess some things do not change over 70 years.
If you read John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" you'll get the connection. As I recall there's a scene in the book when the Joad family tries to enter California. As they are approaching the State Line, the CA state police have set up a barricade (like a border crossing) because they are trying to limit the number of Okies and other migrant workers entering the state.
Yes and the "Do" in "Do Re Me" does refer to money.