Phrase: “Peel me a grape.”
Definition: A request to be pampered or to have one’s whims indulged. A sarcastic retort after a trivial request.
Some of you may have noticed that there was no blog post last week. We were out of action because of a pretty intense flu that’s going around all over the place. Having someone around to encourage you to get better is, we believe, 50% of the cure to getting better. Still recuperating this week, but didn’t want to miss another one, so here we are.
When you’re feeling lousy you really don’t feel like doing much of anything except laying around, maybe munching on some non-aggressive snacks, listening to music or flipping the channels mindlessly. This has pretty much been our unintended modus operandi for the past ten days. And, while absent-mindedly pondering this weeks’ post, we got to thinking about fruit. Which got us to thinking about grapes. Which got us to thinking about music. Which, as any natural progression would, led us to thinking about peeling grapes.
The phrase “Peel Me A Grape” made its first recorded appearance in the 1933 film I’m no Angel, delivered by the iconic Mae West as she sauntered across her bedroom, one hand on the hip of her tightly fitted black gown, commanding, "Beulah, peel me a grape."
Following the grape, musically speaking, we fast forward nearly 30 years to 1962. Written by American jazz pianist, songwriter, and vocalist, Dave Frishberg, Peel Me A Grape was his first published tune. Frishberg’s sardonic wit as a lyricist – his songs were hyper-literate and written for adults - and melodic cleverness as a composer placed him in the top echelon of his craft. His niche in the songwriting world of the cabaret smart set, when such a breed still existed, was lofty.
Lyrics
Peel me a grape, crush me some ice
Skin me a peach, save the fuzz for my pillow
Talk to me nice, talk to me nice
You’ve got to wine me and dine me
Don’t try to fool me, bejewel me
Either amuse me or lose me
I’m getting hungry, peel me a grape
Pop me a cork, french me a fry
Crack me a nut, bring a bowl full of bonbons
Chill me some wine, keep standin’ by
Just entertain me, champagne me
Show me you love me, kid glove me
Best way to cheer me, cashmere me
I’m getting hungry, peel me a grape
Here’s how to be an agreeable chap
Love me and leave me in luxury’s lap
Hop when I holler, skip when I snap
When I say “Do it”, jump to it
Send out for scotch, boil me a crab
Cut me a rose, make my tea with the petals
Just hang around to, pick up the tab
Never out think me, just mink me
Polar bear rug me, don’t bug me
New Thunderbird me, you heard me
I’m getting hungry, peel me a grape
Slowly
Here’s how to be an agreeable chap
Love me and leave me in luxury’s lap
Hop when I holler, skip when I snap
When I say “Do it”, jump to it
Send out for scotch, boil me a crab
Cut me a rose, make my tea with the petals
Just hang around, pick up the tab
Never out think me, just mink me
Polar bear rug me, don’t bug me
New Thunderbird me, you heard me
I’m getting hungry, peel me a grape
The first cover of the song, released in August 1962, was by Anita O’Day and Cal Tjader:
Peel Me A Grape has been covered 96 times between 1962 and 2022 by artists from a variety of genres. But, in our opinion, the definitive version was recorded in 1967 by jazz singer and pianist, Blossom Dearie.
A classical piano prodigy, Dearie grew up in the Catskill mountains of New York. After a decade of playing piano and entertaining around New York with the city’s bebop jazz musicians she moved to Paris in 1952 where she came into her own. She had many friends and admirers in the music world including John Lennon. The two wrote songs for each other. Another of her admirers, legendary jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis once famously described her as, "the only white woman who had soul."
Anyway, for us, her light and girlish voice seems to be a perfect juxtaposition to the somewhat adult themes of Peel Me A Grape:
In times of recovery, whether from an illness or the rigors of daily life, we all yearn for a little extra care and attention. “Peel Me A Grape” serves as a whimsical reminder (or plea?) of our desire to be pampered during such moments. As we navigate life’s challenges, let’s not forget to occasionally indulge in a bit of self-care or reach out to loved ones for some well-deserved TLC.
“Somebody, peel me a grape”!
Hope you feel better and you reminded me to get my flu shot! I hate being sick, but I don’t want to be pampered: I want to be left alone.
I actually had a past acquaintance who peeled her grapes before she could eat them. Sadly, those of us with OCD cannot help ourselves. So maybe it’s not about being pampered or snooty, but merely an issue of inability to help ourselves.
Are there any songs about being OCD?
All that said, I hope someone peels your grapes for you.