Gimme a Pigfoot
Bessie Smith Lyrics
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I wouldn't pay twenty-five cents to go in nowhere 'cause listen here
Up in Harlem every Saturday night
When the high-browns get together it's just too tight
They all congregate at an all night strut
And what they do is tut-tut-tut
Old Hannah Brown from 'cross town
Gets full of corn and starts breakin' 'em down
Yes, at the break of day
You can hear old Hannah say
Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me again, I don't care
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down
He's gotta rhythm, yeah, when he stomps his feet
He sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes
I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me 'cause I don't care
Blame me 'cause I don't care
Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me again, I don't care,
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down
He's got rhythm, yeah, when he stomps his feet
He sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
Do the shim-sham-shimmy 'til the rising sun
Give me a reefer and a gang of gin
Play me 'cause I'm in my sin
Blame me 'cause I'm full of gin
In Bessie Smith's song "Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer," she starts by dismissing the idea that she would pay twenty-five cents to go anywhere because she knows how to have a good time. She then describes the lively atmosphere in Harlem on a Saturday night when the elites come together and do the all-night strut. Old Hannah Brown, one of the attendees from across town, drinks lots of corn and starts dancing uncontrollably, and everyone joins in. At daybreak, Hannah just wants a pigfoot and a bottle of beer, and Bessie echoes her sentiment. She doesn't care if she is blamed or judged because she is having a good time and wants to continue having one, even if it means getting drunk.
The song is Bessie Smith's ode to partying and self-expression unequivocally, with the lyrics celebrating the joys of topless parties, drinking, and jazz music. Bessie delivers the lyrics with a carefree attitude, embodying the commonly held idea of what a "party animal" is. The song's message is timeless, transcending race, gender, generation, and other social divides to set out to have fun for the sake, and it still resonates with listeners today. The song's energy, coupled with Bessie's powerful vocals and the upbeat music, make it an enduring classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Twenty-five cents? Ha! No! No!
I refuse to pay such a low entrance fee.
I wouldn't pay twenty-five cents to go in nowhere 'cause listen here
I won't go to any low-class club or party.
Up in Harlem every Saturday night
On every Saturday night, people gather in Harlem for entertainment.
When the high-browns get together it's just too tight
When the upper-class people gather, they are too formal and boring.
They all congregate at an all night strut
They gather at a dance party that lasts all night long.
And what they do is tut-tut-tut
They criticize and judge others for their behavior.
Old Hannah Brown from 'cross town
Talking about a woman named Hannah Brown from another part of town.
Gets full of corn and starts breakin' em down
Hannah Brown gets drunk and starts dancing wildly.
Yes, at the break of day
When the sun rises.
You can hear old Hannah say
She speaks the following lines when drunk.
Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer
I want a pork knuckle and a bottle of beer.
Send me again, I don't care
Bring me more without any hesitation.
I feel just like I wanna clown
I want to act silly and have fun.
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down
I need the piano player to play because I'm bored.
He's gotta rhythm, yeah, when he stomps his feet
He has an infectious rhythm when he plays aggressively.
He sends me right off to sleep
The rhythm makes me so relaxed that I fall asleep.
Check all your razors and your guns
Make sure everyone's armed before we fight.
We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes
We will fight when the police come to arrest us.
I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer
I want a pork knuckle and a bottle of beer.
Send me 'cause I don't care
Bring me more without any hesitation.
Blame me 'cause I don't care
Don't blame me for my actions.
Do the shim-sham-shimmy 'til the rising sun
Dance until the sun rises.
Give me a reefer and a gang of gin
I want some marijuana and a lot of gin.
Play me 'cause I'm in my sin
Play me because I'm feeling sinful.
Blame me 'cause I'm full of gin
Don't blame me for my actions because I'm drunk.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Wesley Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ishaschdv1
lyrics:
(spoken: Twenty-five cents? Ha! No! No! I wouldn't pay twenty-five cents to go in nowhere 'cause listen here)
Up in Harlem ev'ry Saturday night when the high-browns git together it's just too tight
They all congregates at an all night strut
And what they do is tut-tut-tut
Old Hannah Brown from 'cross town gets full of corn and starts breakin' 'em down
Just at the break of day you can hear old Hannah say
"Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer"
Send me gate
I don't care
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringin' me down
He's got rhythm, yeah!
When he stomps his feet, he sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes
I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me 'cause I don't care
Slay me 'cause I don't care
Gimme a reefer and a gang o' gin
Slay me, 'cause I'm in my sin
Slay me 'cause I'm full of gin
Check all your razors and your guns
Do the
Shim-sham shimmy
Till the risin' sun
@Wolfhoundersful
Twenty-five cents? Ha! No! No! I wouldn't pay twenty-five cents to go in nowhere 'cause listen here
Up in Harlem ev'ry Saturday night
When the high-browns git together it's just too tight
They all congregates at an all night strut
And what they do is tut-tut-tut
Old Hannah Brown from 'cross town
Gets full of corn and starts breakin' 'em down
Just at the break of day
You can hear old Hannah say
"Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer"
Send me gate
I don't care
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink
Because he's bringin' me down
He's got rhythm, yeah!
When he stomps his feet, he sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes
I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me 'cause I don't care
Slay me 'cause I don't care
Gimme a reefer and a gang o' gin
Slay me, 'cause I'm in my sin
Slay me 'cause I'm full of gin
Check all your razors and your guns
Do the shim-sham shimmy
Till the risin' sun
@mohamadharake3146
Lyrics:
Twenty-five cents? Ha! No! No!
I wouldn't pay twenty-five cents to go in nowhere 'cause listen here
… Up in Harlem every Saturday night
When the high-browns get together it's just too tight
They all congregate at an all night strut
And what they do is tut-tut-tut
… Old Hannah Brown from 'cross town
Gets full of corn and starts breakin' 'em down
Yes, at the break of day
You can hear old Hannah say
… Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me again, I don't care
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down
… He's gotta rhythm, yeah, when he stomps his feet
He sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes
… I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me 'cause I don't care
Blame me 'cause I don't care
… Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me again, I don't care,
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down
… He's got rhythm, yeah, when he stomps his feet
He sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
Do the shim-sham-shimmy 'til the rising sun
… Give me a reefer and a gang of gin
Play me 'cause I'm in my sin
Blame me 'cause I'm full of gin
@Dsweet93
She never fails to immediately bring a tear to my eye. She belts the blues with her exhaust pipes and I feel every note she hits down to my core.
@pagej8236
Her growl when she says “YEAHH” is too awesome
@davepaterson935
YEAHH she means it!
@IAMAGOD1982
Yes ma’am I never heard it before from anyone yet like Bessie💯💙💙💙
@drak3y
Damn right!!!
@zt5793
My granny had this on wax. She played it for me when I was 14. Get'em up and go was on the other side. At 94(her) and 52(me), we still speak fondly of that day and that record. Sweet memories.
@jonw12
"Give me a reefer and a gang of gin,
Play me 'cause I'm in my sin, Blame me 'cause I'm full of gin" this girl gets me.
@MrCrowebobby
I've always thought it was "Lay me 'cause I don't care." Not arguing, just saying.
@carmens3685
As Black people, we've always been raw. lol
@joyceterrell3969
My Great Aunt Bessie ❤ thanks for keeping her name alive!