"Dirty Shame, A" Soundtrack Lyrics

"A Dirty Shame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" Soundtrack Description

Overview

How do you score a concussion-led sex revival in suburban Baltimore? John Waters leans into twang, rockabilly, and novelty sides—then lets George S. Clinton’s cheeky original theme, “Let’s Go Sexin’,” glue it all together. The official album collects vintage jukebox cuts (Slim Harpo; Johnny Burnette) alongside kitsch staples (“The Pussy Cat Song”) and ironic sunshine (“Open Up Your Heart”). Trusted source: WaterTower Music album page.

Clinton’s brief score riffs on Southern roots and biker-bar swagger while the licensed songs act like punchlines with backbeat. Music supervision (Tracy McKnight) keeps the tone knowingly trashy but precise; it’s Waters: bad taste with good crate-digging. Trusted sources: BMI feature; IMDb soundtrack/credits.

Questions & Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. A Dirty Shame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) released September 14, 2004; various artists plus George S. Clinton’s theme. Trusted source: WaterTower Music; AllMusic.

Who composed the score?

George S. Clinton composed the score and wrote the film’s theme “Let’s Go Sexin’.” Trusted source: BMI; Wikipedia (film credits).

Who handled music supervision?

Tracy McKnight is credited as music supervisor on the project. Trusted source: BMI news item (studio photo/credits).

Where can I stream the album?

Streaming editions mirror the 14-track CD (e.g., Spotify/Apple Music). Trusted source: Spotify album page.

What kind of songs did Waters license?

1950s–60s rockabilly/R&B (“Red Hot,” “Eager Beaver Baby”), novelty cuts (“Itchy Twitchy Spot”), big-band classic (“Sylvia”), and a children’s singalong used ironically.

Was a separate score album released?

No separate commercial score album is widely listed; the retail release focuses on licensed songs plus the theme.

Notes & Trivia

• Album date: September 14, 2004; distributor imprint today sits under WaterTower Music’s catalog.
• George S. Clinton wrote/recorded “Let’s Go Sexin’” specifically for Waters; he describes it as a rockabilly-flavored theme.
• IMDb’s cue sheet confirms deep-cut choices like David Raksin’s “Sylvia.”
• Waters released the film NC-17 in U.S. theaters; music helps keep the tone playful rather than grim.

Genres & Themes

Rockabilly & early rock ’n’ roll → lust with a wink; bar fights, biker dives, and Ray-Ray’s swagger (“Red Hot,” “Eager Beaver Baby”).

R&B/blues novelties → body humor as hook (“Baby Scratch My Back,” “Itchy Twitchy Spot”).

Kitsch/nostalgia → the joke inside the joke (“The Pussy Cat Song”; “Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)”).

Orchestral pops → mock-classy counterpoint (Raksin’s “Sylvia”).

Tracks & Scenes

“Let’s Go Sexin’” — George S. Clinton
Where it plays: Theme usage across promo/film cues; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Clinton’s rockabilly manifesto frames the movie’s gleeful indecency (composer confirms design).

“I Need Your Lovin’” — Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford
Where it plays: Early momentum cue around Stickles-family routines; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Call-and-response desire that previews Sylvia’s coming switch-flip.

“The Pussy Cat Song” — Connie Vannett
Where it plays: Comic set-piece underscoring; non-diegetic/source-style.
Why it matters: Double-entendre masterclass—pure Waters.

“Baby Scratch My Back” — Slim Harpo
Where it plays: Club/party montage energy; diegetic in bar spaces.
Why it matters: Lazy-groove innuendo that sells the film’s “itch you can’t ignore.”

“Moanin’” — Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Where it plays: Transitional mischief between head-bonk conversions; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: A carnival barker for the sex-saint gospel.

“Sylvia” — David Raksin Orchestra
Where it plays: Ironic classy veneer over not-so-classy visuals; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Old-Hollywood gloss turns raunch into farce.

“Black Tarantula” — Jody Reynolds
Where it plays: Ray-Ray myth-making beats; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Spooky-twang seduction in two minutes.

“Red Hot” — Billy Lee Riley
Where it plays: Biker-bar mayhem at the Holiday House; diegetic.
Why it matters: Classic Sun-style sizzle for a crowd-work scene.

“Eager Beaver Baby” — Johnny Burnette
Where it plays: Stickles neighborhood gone wild, quick-cut montage; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Juvenile title, precision placement—that’s the Waters blend.

“Itchy Twitchy Spot” — Run C&W
Where it plays: Gag-driven interlude; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Bluegrass pastiche proves any genre can be dirty with the right rhyme.

“Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)” — Cowboy Church Sunday School
Where it plays: Ironically set against puritan vs. libertine showdown; non-diegetic/source-style.
Why it matters: Weaponized innocence—perfectly perverse counterpoint.

Music–Story Links

Every conversion in the film is part sermon, part sock-hop. Rockabilly gives Ray-Ray’s “sex saint” myth a rebel halo; novelty songs make the bawdy ideas ridiculous enough to land without malice. When Waters drops a spotless children’s chorus, he’s not subtle: moral panic sells better than morality.

How It Was Made

Composer. George S. Clinton returned to Southern/rockabilly colors for Waters and penned the theme “Let’s Go Sexin’.” Trusted source: BMI interview/feature.

Supervision & clearances. Tracy McKnight supervised; licensed cuts were compiled for the retail album (WaterTower/Warner catalog). Trusted sources: BMI; WaterTower Music.

Reception & Quotes

Reviews were mixed but consistent on the intent: lewd, loud, and proudly immature—exactly the lane.

“Waters draws deeply upon comedy’s liberating power.” Los Angeles Times (Kevin Thomas)

“Monotonous, repetitive… We expect to laugh.” Roger Ebert

Album availability: digital streaming mirrors the 14-track CD; physical CD issued in 2004.

Additional Info

• Official track roster includes: James Intveld; Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford; Connie Vannett; Slim Harpo; Screamin’ Jay Hawkins; David Raksin Orchestra; Jody Reynolds; Billy Lee Riley; Johnny Burnette; Run C&W; Cowboy Church Sunday School.
• IMDb’s soundtrack page lists further period and novelty cues beyond the retail CD.
• Waters premiered the film at TIFF 2004; U.S. release carried an NC-17 rating.
• Streaming runtimes hover ~35–36 minutes for the album program.

Technical Info

• Title: A Dirty Shame
• Year: 2004
• Type: Feature film — satirical sex comedy
• Director: John Waters
• Score: George S. Clinton
• Music Supervision: Tracy McKnight
• Album/Label: A Dirty Shame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) — WaterTower/Warner catalog (2004)
• Selected placements: “Let’s Go Sexin’”; “I Need Your Lovin’”; “The Pussy Cat Song”; “Baby Scratch My Back”; “Moanin’”; “Sylvia”; “Red Hot”; “Eager Beaver Baby”; “Itchy Twitchy Spot”; “Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)”

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: WaterTower Music; BMI; AllMusic; Spotify; IMDb (Soundtracks & credits); Wikipedia (film entry).

November, 09th 2025