Bobby Womack - Harry Hippie (United Artist Records 1972)

• Report rights infringement
• published: 28 Jun 2014
• views: 6630

"Harry Hippie" is a 1972 song written by Jim Ford, who wrote it for singer Bobby Womack as a dedication to his brother, bass guitarist Harry Womack, that became a top ten R&B; hit for Womack when issued as a single in 1973 reaching number eight on the chart. The song was loosely based on Bobby's brother's carefree behavior and was originally recorded as a funny tribute to his brother, that turned tragic when Harry Womack was killed by his girlfriend during a fight in 1974. Ever since, Bobby Womack has sung the song as a dedication to his fallen late brother. Womack explains the story behind the song and its aftermath: "Harry was the bass player and tenor for the brothers when we were the Valentinos. He lived a very carefree life. As a child he always said he wanted to live on an Indian reservation. We used to joke about it, but when we got older he was the same way. He always thought I wanted the materialistic things and I said, 'I just want to do my music. My music put me into that comfortable territory.' He didn't want the pressure. We used to laugh and joke about the song when I'd sing it. When he was brutally killed in my home, it was by a jealous girlfriend who he'd lived with for five years. She fought a lot, violence. And in our home it was considered to be worth less than a man to fight a woman, so he didn't fight back and she stabbed him to death. At the time I was in Seattle doing a gig and he was going to join me when we got back. Previously I had hired a new bass player because I felt it would help Harry's relationship with his spouse if he wasn't on the road. And that turned out to be very sour. He ended up losing his life behind it. At that time, "Harry Hippie" wasn't a joke anymore; I had lost a brother. I still do that song in his honor today." —Bobby Womack The song became Womack's second top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number thirty-one on the chart. Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack (March 4, 1944 − June 27, 2014) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s, when he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group the Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career spanned more than 50 years and spanned a repertoire in the styles of R&B;, soul, rock and roll, doo-wop, gospel, and country. Womack wrote and originally recorded The Rolling Stones' first UK No. 1 hit, "It's All Over Now" and New Birth's "I Can Understand It" among other songs. As a singer he is most notable for the hits "Lookin' For a Love", "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", "Woman's Gotta Have It", "Harry Hippie", "Across 110th Street" and his 1980s hit "If You Think You're Lonely Now". In 2009, Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Womack died on June 27, 2014 at age 70. Though the cause of death is currently unknown, he had a number of health issues including diabetes, prostate cancer, heart trouble, colon cancer and pneumonia. Everybody claims that they want the best things outta life Ha, but not everyone, not everyone wanna got through the toils and strifes Like this particular fellah, walks around all day long singin' this song Sha na lah dah dah lah dah dah dah dah Harry Hippie, lies asleep in the shade Life don't bug him cause he thinks he's got it made He never worry about nothin' in particular Oh, he might even sell free press on Sunset I'd like to help a man when he's down but I can't help him much when he's sleepin' on the ground He's like a bottle in water Harry just floats through life Walks around all day long singin' this song Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh yeah Mary Hippie, she's Harry's lady Panhandles money just to feed Harry's baby She can lie down a story so incredible Man, you wanna help her take the food home and put it on the table I'd like to help a man when he's down But I can't help ya, Harry If you wanna sleep on the ground. Sorry Harry, you're too much weight to carry around But he still walks around all day singin' this song Sha dah dah dah sha nah nah nah nah nah Nah sha lah lah lah lah dah dah dah Street child, street child Tell me where will you be goin' When old man winter gets his horn and starts blowin' Will you hang around LA Or hitch a ride on a freeway Meet an old familiar face in a new place I'd like to help a man when he's down But how can I help him if he's somewhere outta town Sorry Harry, think I'm gonna put you down Sha dah dah dah sha dah dah dah dah Sha lah lah lah lah dah dah dah Everybody help me sing this song, oh yeah