Roll 'em Girls

My bro-in-law, Willy, sent this link to a recording of the infamous song.

And this fellow with his wine bottle up, drinking, having a big time, he said, "Just a minute. All you all, listen to me. Turn your radios on now." The vulgar, dirty, filthy things that's permitted, uncensored programs... When did it start? Look back through the history. It started back there in the days of Clara Bow. And with this scheming, ungodly Texan, went out there and made these women's underneath clothes that made them look sexy... And this begin the first vulgar song, they let pass, was about the ladies rolling down their stockings and showing their pretty knees. They've got by with that. And now it's uncensored: they can say and do what they want to. The devil's took the thing without firing a shot. That's right. What do you think them Hollywood prostitutes in hell today would do if they could return? They'd make it different. But their influence upon the world, has set the world in a flame of corruption.
- William Branham

I took a few minutes to transcribe the lyrics, which I think you'll find quite surprising. But first, some historical perspective.

In 1925 Tennessee schoolteacher John Scopes was arrested for violating state law by teaching the theory of evolution. William Jennings Bryan, an attorney for the state, famously defended the Bible on the stand, but was targeted by the media (in particular by writer H.L. Mencken) as an example of Southern ignorance and stupidity. Five days after the trial Bryan died in his sleep.

American History in Song has this to say about the trial...

During the trial, young women arrived at the courthouse with a new slogan and a song, called Roll 'Em Down, Girls, Roll 'Em. The women rolled their hose down below their knees in defiance of old-fashioned ideas. The song by Bobby Heath, Micky Marr, and Archie Fletcher had some bold lyrics.

And here are those lyrics (as best I could tell)...

Listen girls, listen girls
I've a word for you
Just because you're up to date
And do the things you do
Don't let anyone tell you
That you don't act nice
For you're as sweet as grandma was
So take my advice

Roll 'em girls, roll 'em
Go ahead and roll 'em
Roll 'em down and show your pretty knees.
Roll 'em girls, roll 'em, everybody roll 'em
Roll 'em high or low just as you please.

Don't let people tell you that it's shocking 
Paint your own Sweetie's picture
On your stocking
Laugh at ma, laugh at pa,
Give them all the haha.
Roll 'em girlies, roll 'em, roll your own!

Roll 'em girls, roll 'em
Go ahead and roll 'em
Roll 'em down and please the traffic cop.
Roll 'em girls, roll 'em, everybody roll 'em
When you cross the street the traffic stops.
Even grouchy traffic cops get jolly
When they see you step into a trolly.
Red lights on, red lights off,
Cops are only human.
Roll 'em girlies, roll 'em, roll your own.

Listen girls, listen girls, when you bobbed your hair,
You were criticized a lot, but still you didn't care!
When you shortened your dresses,
You gave us some shocks,
But we never thought that soon,
you'd be wearing socks!

Roll 'em girls, roll 'em
Go ahead and roll 'em
In the winter, summer, spring or fall.
Roll 'em girls, roll 'em, everybody roll 'em
Anywhere or time or place at all.
Young girls, old girls, sweethearts, wives and mothers,
Young maids, old maids, even our grandmothers.
High or low, rain or snow,
Girlies must be stylish.
Roll 'em girlies, roll 'em, roll your own.

Roll 'em girls, roll 'em
Go ahead and roll 'em
Roll 'em where you think they look the best.
Roll 'em girls, roll 'em, everybody roll 'em
Roll 'em north and south and east and west!
Nowadays you girlies have your freedom
Don't wear things if you don't think ya need 'em.
Laugh at ma, laugh at pa,
Give them all the haha.
Roll 'em girlies, roll 'em, roll your own.