"Little Bitty Pretty One" is a rock and roll song written and originally recorded by Bobby Day, and popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957. Produced by Aladdin Records (located in Los Angeles, CA), and featuring The Sharps on backing vocals, Harris' version reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Best-Sellers chart and No. 2 on the R&B chart. This version was also featured in the film Matilda.
Clyde McPhatter returned the song to the top 40 in the US, when his version peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962. Ten years later, the Jackson 5 covered the song for their album, Lookin' Through the Windows, and took the song to No. 13 on the Hot 100.The Paramounts (later Procol Harum) made a powerful version of the song in 1964. The song was covered by The Doobie Brothers in 2004 on their Live at Wolf Trap album. Checkmates, Ltd. released a version of the song as part of a medley on their 1967 debut album, Live! At Caesar's Palace.
Bryan Thomas writes that the song "has gone on to become one of the best loved oldies of the late '50s."
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Little, bitty, pretty one,
Come on and talk-a to me.
Lovey, dovey, lovey one,
Come sit down on-a my knee.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Tell you a story,
Happened long time ago.
Little, bitty, pretty one,
I've been watchin' you grow.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Little, bitty, pretty one,
Come on and talk-a to me.
Lovey, dovey, lovey one,
Come sit down on-a my knee-he-he-he.
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Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
[Fades.]
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.
Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.