Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah)(song)

"Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah)" is a popular song from Tin Pan Alley.

The music was written by Milton Ager, the lyrics by Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow, and Charles Bates. The song was published in 1924 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc..

Hard Hearted Hannah tells in humorous fashion the story of a "vamp" or femme fatale from Savannah, Georgia "the meanest gal in town." Hannah is "a gal who loves to see men suffer."

It had early recordings by vocalists Lucille Hegamin and Dolly Kay, Herb Wiedoeft's band (1924) and by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. A quarter century later Peggy Lee revived "Hannah" very successfully for Capitol Records, and the Ray Charles Singers made a hit version for Decca.

The song has been recorded numerous times by such performers as Patti Austin, Belle Baker, The Buffalo Bills (quartet) The Bronson Singers, Jim Croce, Bobby Darin, Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, Ella Fitzgerald, Stacey Kent, Joyce Moody, Turk Murphy, Nancy Sinatra, Kay Starr, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Temperance Seven, Toni Tennille, Julie London, Mary Testa, Sophie Tucker, and Margaret Whiting.

Memorable television or film performances of the song include those by Carol Burnett, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald (on Pete Kelly's Blues), and Beatrice Arthur on Maude (TV series) and The Golden Girls. The song was performed by vampire Bill Compton (played by Stephen Moyer) in the sixth episode of the second season of the HBO show True Blood, also called Hard-Hearted Hannah; Dolly Kay's recording of the song plays over the final credits.