Frank Stokes: "You Shall"
Frank Stokes was one of the original masters of the Memphis Blues. He was a busker, played in a jug band, and worked medicine shows. He recorded this for Paramount Records in 1927. I belive it's a parody of a traditional hymn.
Oh well it's our Father who art in heaven
The preacher owed me ten dollars, he paid me seven
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
If I hadn't took the seven Lord, I wouldn't have got none
Had to fight about it
What he owed me
My money, you shall
Oh well some folks said that a preacher wouldn't steal
I caught about eleven in the watermelon field
Just a-cuttin' and a-slicin' got to tearing up the vine
They's eatin' and talkin' most all the time
They was hungry
Leave the rind, brother, you shall
Save my vines
Don' rob me, you shall
My melons, you shall
Oh well you see that preacher layin behind the log
A hand on the trigger got his eye on the hog
The hog said mmm, the gun said biff
Jumped on the hog with all his grip
He had pork chops, you shall
Had backbone
Had spare ribs, you shall
Now and the good Lord set me free
Now when I first moved to Memphis, Tennessee
I was crazy about the preachers as I could be
I went out on my front porch a-walking about
Invite the preacher over to my house
He washed his face, he combed his head
Next thing he want to do was slip in my bed
I caught him by the head, man kicked him out the door
Don't allow my preacher at my house no more
I dont like em
They will rob you
Steal your daughter
Take your wife from you, you shall
Eat your chicken
Spend your money, you shall
They will rob you
Plantation, you shall
Pray mourner, in the morning, you shall
Feel the spirit
Help me tell it, you shall
Now and the good Lord set me free