—originally Black Bottom Blues by The Georgia Crackers, 1927
When you go down in Deep Elem just to have a little fun
Have your ten dollars ready when that policeman comes
Chorus:
Oh sweet mama Daddy's got them Deep Elem blues
Oh sweet mama Daddy's got them Deep Elem blues
If you go down in Deep Elem put you money in your shoes
Women in Deep Elem got them Deep Elem blues.
When you go down in Deep Elem put you money in your pants
Cause them redheads in Deep Elem never give a man a chance
When you go down to Deep Elem put your money in your socks
Them Deep Elem women they will throw you on the rocks
I used to know a preacher preached the Bible through and through
He went down to Deep Elem now his preachin' days are through.
Now once I had a sweetheart she meant the world to me
She went down to Deep Elem she ain't what she used to be.
Verse:
| I | I | I | I7 |
Chorus:
| IV | IV | I | I |
| V | V | I | I |
Down in Black Bottom, Scrapper Blackwell & Black Bottom MacPhail, 1920's:
Now down in Black Bottom, that is, so they say,
They drink good moonshine and stay drunk all day.
Chorus:
I'm crazy about Black Bottom-m-m-m-m, m-m-m-m-so they say.
That's where they drink good moonshine and stay drunk all day.
Yes, I went down in Black Bottom. I didn't go to lay down the law.
Police brought me out by my right arm.
Goin' back down in Black Bottom-m-m-m-m, m-m-m-m-so they say.
That's where they drink good moonshine and stay drunk all day.
Now if you go down in Black Bottom and you don' know the rules,
Black Bottom women will try to make a fool of you.
If you go down in Black Bottom, put your money in your shoes.
Lord, them Black Bottom women will give your pockets the blues.
Now if you go down in Black Bottom, put your money down in your britches,
'Cause them women's goin' to rob you now, you dirty m-m-m-m.
Now if anybody asks you who com-pose this song,
Tell them some snake bottom buddy's done been here and gone.
He's down in Black Bottomm-m-m-m, so they say.
That's where they drink good moonshine and stay drunk all day.