Hot Dogs
Blind Lemon Jefferson Lyrics
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Give me my box, and let me try 'em again
Told you my feets gonna dance
These are the hot dogs
I mean red hot
Now listen to me. My feets never failed on me but once
That was last Saturday night, down at that booger rooger
On June the Fourth
That law come in
I was... I was fairly choked
He broke up that party
Everybody got away but me
My old feets failed on me then
But you oughta see 'em now
Hmm, a rabbit wouldn't have a chance
Not a ghost of a show
Hey, hey... watch what I'm usin' everybody
Lemon's hot dogs movin' all the time
Ha ha! Don't wear no crutches now
Throwed 'em 'way last night
Me and my feets is never late
Me and my feet just won't wait
These not no weary dogs, they are the hottest kind of dogs
I mean they're steamin' puppies
Now on my feet's The Gypsy Hound
You oughta see me do the Black Bottom now
Oh, darn my feets, my feets have went bad on me now
All right folks, turn over the record
Let me tell you all about these weary dogs of mine
The song "Hot Dogs" by Blind Lemon Jefferson is a rhythmic blues number that showcases his signature guitar playing and impressive vocal range. The first verse reveals that the singer has just returned from the doctor and is excited to try out his "hot dogs" again, which he claims are really energetic and fiery. He then recounts a past experience where his dancing feets failed him at a party due to the presence of the law, but now his feets are back to form and he feels unstoppable on the dance floor.
As the song progresses, he continues to boast about his remarkable feet which he calls "steamin' puppies" and confidently proclaims that he doesn't need any crutches anymore. He proudly informs his audience that he and his feet are never late and that they just won't wait. He even reveals the name of his latest dance move, "The Gypsy Hound," and challenges the listeners to watch him perform the Black Bottom.
However, towards the end of the song, the singer suddenly laments that his feets have gone bad on him, which seems to be a complete contradiction to his earlier claims of being an unstoppable dancer. This adds an interesting layer of irony to the song and makes the singer's character more complex.
Overall, "Hot Dogs" is a light and entertaining blues number that showcases Blind Lemon Jefferson's impressive vocals and guitar skills while also adding some humor and irony to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Feets all right, just now from the doctor
After getting treatment from the doctor, my feet are feeling fine
Give me my box, and let me try 'em again
Please hand me my musical instrument and let me play again
Told you my feets gonna dance
I have already informed you that my feet are going to dance
These are the hot dogs
I am referring to my feet when I say 'hot dogs', they are in perfect shape
I mean red hot
I emphasize that my feet are in the best possible condition
Now listen to me. My feets never failed on me but once
My feet have only failed me once before
That was last Saturday night, down at that booger rooger
It happened at a place called 'booger rooger' on Saturday night
On June the Fourth
The date of this incident was June the Fourth
That law come in
The police arrived at the scene
I was... I was fairly choked
I was very choked up and distressed
He broke up that party
The police officer dispersed the party
Everybody got away but me
All the party-goers escaped except for me
My old feets failed on me then
At that moment, my feet were unable to move
But you oughta see 'em now
However, you should now take a look at my feet
Hmm, a rabbit wouldn't have a chance
My feet are now so quick that even a rabbit wouldn't be able to keep up
Not a ghost of a show
There is no chance that anyone else will be able to out-dance me
Hey, hey... watch what I'm usin' everybody
Please pay attention to the words that I'm using in my song
Lemon's hot dogs movin' all the time
This line repeats that my feet are in constant motion
Ha ha! Don't wear no crutches now
I've thrown away my crutches because I don't need them anymore
Throwed 'em 'way last night
I discarded them the previous night
Me and my feets is never late
My feet and I are always punctual
Me and my feet just won't wait
We don't like to be kept waiting
These not no weary dogs, they are the hottest kind of dogs
I'm saying that my feet are not worn out but instead they are the best around
I mean they're steamin' puppies
I am emphasizing that my feet are incredibly energetic and lively
Now on my feet's The Gypsy Hound
I am now performing a dance which is known as The Gypsy Hound
You oughta see me do the Black Bottom now
If you haven't already, I recommend watching me perform the dance called the Black Bottom
Oh, darn my feets, my feets have went bad on me now
My feet are failing me again and I am upset about it
All right folks, turn over the record
This line signals listeners to flip the vinyl record over to side B
Let me tell you all about these weary dogs of mine
In the following song, I plan to talk more about my feet and their troubles
Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@EddySunMusicProbe
Thank you for this exceptional upload... Nice to hear music from the early times! Cheers, Eddy.
@Caudalfishing
Ohh my darn feet old folks turn over
@haloskater24
“A rabbit wouldn’t have a chance” 😂
@palhacinho1985
Leadbelly influence
@victimedelamode1
''My own feet failed on me...''
@haloskater24
“My ol feet fell on me”
@haloskater24
That good ol southern drawl
@Dicedude
The Flamenco influence (that he picked up from Mexican workers) is really obvious in his playing.
@hombrequemiralaluna
That's an interesting theory, but I hear absolutely nothing of Flamenco guitar in him. Mexicans don't play Flamenco; by the time of the Mexican Independence (1821), Flamenco was very much relegated to Romani communities in southern Spain. It was during the second half of the 19th century that it gradually began to rise in popularity and extend beyond those roots. It could be argued that there's some Flamenco influence in Cuban son, for instance (they got their independence in 1898), but definitely not in Mexico.
@johnbevan4684
I agree with Eduardo. Yes, there were many people of different nationalities in the Western part of the Americas but I'm not sure that Spaniards were part of them. Blind Lemon may have learned some techniques from Mexican workers (as you claim), but Flamenco style wouldn't be part of that. And obviously, Lemon didn't go to Spain as far as we know. He was just a very good guitar player and had a great ear for music. He absorbed all of it. I'm sure he played a sort of Ragtime as it was huge when he was younger. If you listen to "Low Down Mojo Blues" you'll see how good his technique was.