Beale St. Sheiks - It's a Good Thing - Early Rap

Memphis Blues and Minstrel Performer Frank Stokes talking very quickly about violence and misogyny... remind you of something?

Rough Lyrics Transcription:

When I was a young 'un, God, 'n in my prime
had Sixteen diff'rent women all the time
Had a woman, God, her name was Lou
Can't godamighty tell what the woman would do
Another woman, God, her name Henrietta
Talked to 16 men, says she (knew?) no better
Another woman, God, her name was Jenny
Talk to white folks, black folks, wouldn't 'cuse any
Another woman, God, her name was Matty
She's a slippin' and a dodgin' in some dark alley
Another woman, God, her name was May
(A fresh man on her), God, every day.
I knocked May down, stomped in her face
Had some trouble 'mong the police raid.
(Went to?) the workhouse, work out my time
Had the same doggone woman on my mind.
Time I got out, Lord, I stumbled in sin,
I tore right back to May's house again.
Time I come to her house she ready to have a little fun
(??), I got more than one.

Let me tell ya little somethin', don't you raise no fuss
Most these young women won't do to trust
(??) from the ankle plumb to the knee
Full of down devilment as they can be
While you out, man, tryin' to study some plan
She's winkin' and blinkin' at another man
You get outta sight, she peepin' through the crack,
"I wonder how long 'fore the old man gets back?"
Her man gets back, he ready to have a little fun,
Before he get out of sight she got more than one.

Now I'm gettin' old Lord my hair gettin gray
I'm not bowlegged but I walk that a-way
Claim to be the oldest rat of the barn
I known about the women long before I got grown.
Some in the daytime, some at night,
How in the world can you treat a lab'rin' man right?
The time you get out you're ready to primp your head,
Turn around, slippin' there, jumpin' in your bed,
Jump in your bed, goin' to have a little fun,
Next thing they wanna know, got a little lunch done?
A little lunch done, from three or four
(Tonk?) it around before the old man goes.
You may be brownskin, color may be black,
What I say 'bout these women I won't take it back,
I get drunk, love to have my fun,
Most all the women got more than one.

...One woman won't never do

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Frank
• Stokes
• Dan
• Sane
• Memphis
• Country
• Blues
• Minstrel
• Jug
• Band
• Dual
• Guitar
• Early
• Hip
• Hop
• MC

[althazarr]

Great song!!! Another new favorite! Is this from the late 20's?

[busessuck1]

@althazarr Glad you liked it,

it's from 1928 or '29, he supposedy recorded again sometime in the '50s but I can't find anything on it

[bananaswag45]

DAMM CUZ SPITTIN DAT FIRE!!!

[3006khz]

If rap would have stayed more like this,,,, I'd like it.

[Spazzy4Twenty]

he was the first rapper