Ella Fitzgerald, “Get Thee Behind Me Satan”

This is a very weird song. Is Satan the boyfriend? I'm not sure. Gospel music of course deals with this subject matter all the time, but to the tune of a wistful ballad?

Get Thee Behind Me Satan Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Get thee behind me, Satan
I want to resist
But the moon is low and I can't say "No"
Get thee behind me

Get thee behind me, Satan
I mustn't be kissed
But the moon is low and I may let go
Get thee behind me

[Bridge]
Someone I'm mad about
Is waiting in the night for me
Someone that I mustn't see
Satan, get thee behind me

[Verse 2]
He promised to wait
But I won't appear and he may come here
Satan, he's at my gate
Get thee behind me
Stay where you are, it's too late

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Satan, get thee behind me
He promised to wait
But I won't appear and he may come here
Satan, he's at my gate
Get thee behind me
Stay where you are, it's too late

[Outro]
It's too late
It's too late

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 07, 2022
Category: Music | Religion | Love & Romance

Comments

It's an Irving Berlin song from the 1936 film "Follow the Fleet" that starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Its best known song is "Let's Face the Music and Dance." "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" is sung by Harriet Hilliard, who later became known as Ozzie Nelson's wife (and David and Ricky Nelson's mother). In this role, she's a far cry from the wholesome mother she played in "Ozzie and Harriet."

Here's a clip: https://youtu.be/3vWQSShe4tA

Posted by ges on 07/07/22 at 08:44 AM

Yeah, I see it fitting better into heavy metal.

Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 07/07/22 at 09:21 AM

Thanks, GES! Curiously enough, I watched FOLLOW THE FLEET a year or two ago, but forgot about the song's debut there. Caught up with it on a new Ella album.

Posted by Paul on 07/07/22 at 12:16 PM

Virtual--if only Ella had done a Heavy Metal album like Pat Boone did!

Posted by Paul on 07/07/22 at 12:17 PM

Don't know about Ella and Metal, but I know Mr. Cole Won't Rock and Roll.
https://youtu.be/0iV_kCPWOAQ

Posted by ges on 07/07/22 at 07:52 PM

Seems like a pretty obvious sexual reference: "Get thee behind me!" Yes, ma'am!

Posted by Frank P Harris on 07/27/22 at 05:29 PM

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