Elvis' Lawdy Miss Clawdy lyrics.

[dingleboy4444]

Gentleman, since I was a Brazilian teen-ager, I know this Lloyd Price song(Lawdy Miss Clawdy) sung by Elvis and many others. Since the end of sixties decade, even the American people who live in Brazil did not a correct translation to the word "LAWDY". They didn't know the meaning of LAWDY and "don´t be silly!".
So, I and closiest friends following the lyrics of LAWDY MISS CLAWDY, we recognized LAWDY just like an OUTLAW GIRL or a BAD GIRL or something like that. She wasn't a hooker but she likes money a lot. We know in South of USA that LAWDY coul be considered a slang of LORD with poor pronunciation by the slaves of Cottom Farms.
So it will be possible to get us in English terms or words, the real meaning of LAWDY?
I woul appreciate any help from you in this translation case!
Best regards,
DingleBoy4444.

[localoid]

... We know in South of USA that LAWDY coul be considered a slang of LORD with poor pronunciation by the slaves of Cottom Farms. ...

Lawdy = Lordy, a euphemism for Lord. It expresses surprise, wonder, etc., just like "good golly" = "good god" in the song "Good Golly Miss Molly".

I've heard many different folks, both white and black, who grew up in the south that pronounce the expression as "lawdy". It's just an expression, and not necessarily "poor pronunciation".

[LynnW]

Gentleman, since I was a Brazilian teen-ager, I know this Lloyd Price song(Lawdy Miss Clawdy) sung by Elvis and many others. Since the end of sixties decade, even the American people who live in Brazil did not a correct translation to the word "LAWDY". They didn't know the meaning of LAWDY and "don´t be silly!".
So, I and closiest friends following the lyrics of LAWDY MISS CLAWDY, we recognized LAWDY just like an OUTLAW GIRL or a BAD GIRL or something like that. She wasn't a hooker but she likes money a lot. We know in South of USA that LAWDY coul be considered a slang of LORD with poor pronunciation by the slaves of Cottom Farms.
So it will be possible to get us in English terms or words, the real meaning of LAWDY?
I woul appreciate any help from you in this translation case!
Best regards,
DingleBoy4444.


Lawdy is an intentional mispelling of the word lordy. The mispelling is intended to represent the pronunciation of the word by people of the southern US, particularly African-Americans. Lordy is frequently used by those communities to express surprise or similar emotions. It is more polite to say lordy than some stronger words such as damn or even more vulgar words.

[dingleboy4444]

Lawdy = Lordy, a euphemism for Lord. It expresses surprise, wonder, etc., just like "good golly" = "good god" in the song "Good Golly Miss Molly".

I've heard many different folks, both white and black, who grew up in the south that pronounce the expression as "lawdy". It's just an expression, and not necessarily "poor pronunciation".

Thank you Localoid.
Excuse me for "poor pronunciation", I've got from wikipedia.
DingleBoy.

[localoid]

Thank you Localoid.
Excuse me for "poor pronunciation", I've got from wikipedia.
DingleBoy.

No apology necessary! :)

And I agree with what LynnW said, i.e. "It is more polite to say lordy than some stronger words..."

[dingleboy4444]

Lawdy is an intentional mispelling of the word lordy. The mispelling is intended to represent the pronunciation of the word by people of the southern US, particularly African-Americans. Lordy is frequently used by those communities to express surprise or similar emotions. It is more polite to say lordy than some stronger words such as damn or even more vulgar words.

LynnW,

I´m not familiar with the tools of the forum. I even don't know yet to send a thanks reply in a place different from this. Do you confirm that we were wrong considering LAWDY as an "easy girl who wants to do things for the money"? Please explain to me: CLAWDY woud be a person female name such as Mary Ann, Barbara, Cindy, etc?
Thank you once more,
DingleBoy4444.

[LynnW]

Clawdie or Claudie is a nickname for Claudette or Claudine in the same way that Cindy is short for Cynthia or Kathy is the short form of Katherine or Kathleen.

Claudie does not refer to an easy girl

BTW, Roy Orbison's song "Claudette" was written about his first wife. She was killed in a motorcycle accident about 10 years later.

I'm pleased to be able to answer your questions.

[dingleboy4444]

LynnW,
I completely understood your explanation about names envolving Clawdy and so on. I would like to explain to you that I didn't have many contacts with Americans who live in the South of USA, a lot of them from the East Coast.
The songs I prefer are in the range of fifties and earlier sixties and I'm always tunning in OLDIES internet radios when I use the PC.
I knew about the Roy Orbison's wife song Claudette, but "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"(the best Elvis' song for me with that incredible Shorty Longo piano) sounds his words strange for us. Your explanation was very clear, again.
Have a warmful Sunday. Thanks,
DingleBoy.