Rabbit Foot Blues
Blind Lemon Jefferson Lyrics


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Blues jumped a rabbit, run him one solid mile
Blues jumped a rabbit, run him one solid mile
That rabbit set down, cried like a natural child

Well it seem like you’re hungry, honey come and lunch with me
Seem like you’re hungry, honey come and lunch with me
I’m gonna stop these nice-lookin’ women from worryin’ me
I have Uneeda biscuits gal and a half a pint o’ gin
Some Uneeda biscuits gal and a half a pint o’ gin
The gin is mighty fine but them biscuits are a little too thin

Baby tell me something ’bout the meatless and wheatless days
I wanna know about the meatless and wheatless days
This not being my home, I don’t think I could stay

Guitar break

That dried corn flour, indeed I declare it was strong
Well that dried corn flour, indeed I declare it was strong
People feedin’ me cornbread, I just can’t stick around long

Got an airplane, baby, now we’re gonna get us a submarine
An airplane, now we’re gonna get us a submarine
Gonna get that Kaiser and we’ll be seldom seen

Mmmm-mmm, hitch me to your buggy, mama, drive me like a mule




Hitch me to your buggy and drive me like a mule
The reason I’m goin’ home with you sugar, I ain’t [much hard to be fooled]

Overall Meaning

In Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Rabbit Foot Blues," the blues are personified as a rabbit that runs for a mile. When the rabbit sits down, it cries "like a natural child," showing that even the blues can feel pain and sadness. The song then transitions to the singer asking a hungry woman to join him for lunch, where he offers her Uneeda biscuits and gin. He then asks her about the "meatless and wheatless days," referencing the food shortages during World War I. The singer expresses his discomfort with his current living situation and suggests leaving on an airplane and submarine to escape. Finally, he asks the woman to take him home, comparing himself to a mule.


The lyrics of "Rabbit Foot Blues" can be interpreted as a reflection of the struggles faced by African Americans in the early 20th century. The blues, which are often sung to express feelings of pain and loss, are portrayed as a natural part of life, much like the rabbit in the song. The mention of the food shortages during World War I highlights the economic struggles faced by many African Americans during this time. The singer's desire to escape and find a better life through an airplane and submarine also speaks to the limited opportunities available to African Americans at the time.


Line by Line Meaning

Blues jumped a rabbit, run him one solid mile
The blues is chasing the rabbit at a high speed and for a long distance.


That rabbit set down, cried like a natural child
The rabbit was extremely tired after running so far, and he looked like a helpless and innocent child that needed protection.


Seem like you’re hungry, honey come and lunch with me
It looks like you haven't had anything to eat, and I want to share my food with you.


I’m gonna stop these nice-lookin’ women from worryin’ me
I want to avoid the attention of these attractive women because I have other priorities.


Some Uneeda biscuits gal and a half a pint o’ gin
I have some thin biscuits and a little gin to share.


The gin is mighty fine but them biscuits are a little too thin
The gin is good, but the biscuits are not very filling and need improvement.


I wanna know about the meatless and wheatless days
I want to learn about the times when people didn't have enough food, especially meat and wheat.


This not being my home, I don’t think I could stay
Since I am not from here, I don't think I could survive under these food conditions.


That dried corn flour, indeed I declare it was strong
The corn flour was of low quality and not very appetizing.


People feedin’ me cornbread, I just can’t stick around long
Since people are only feeding me cornbread, I cannot stay in this place for very long.


An airplane, now we’re gonna get us a submarine
We will go to great lengths to find and defeat the enemy in any way possible.


Gonna get that Kaiser and we’ll be seldom seen
We will eliminate the enemy and become harder to find as a result.


Hitch me to your buggy and drive me like a mule
Take me with you and use me as a helper, just like you would use a mule.


The reason I’m goin’ home with you sugar, I ain’t [much hard to be fooled]
I will go home with you because I am an easygoing person and can easily be convinced to do so.




Contributed by Isaac N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Ronnie Bishop

God bless you seeing in heaven now Lemon.

Ronnie Bishop

God bless you seeing in heaven now Lemon.

Eduardo Carrochio

i can hear that walking bass and guitar style in Leadbelly later on, i see where he got it

Sr Estroncio

I love his accent

Rushlan Murshed

Came to this reading B.B. King's autobiography, Blues All Around Me.

Thanks for the upload.

Rushlan
(from Bangladesh)

Mayhem5150

Thanks Joe Bob Briggs.

Ronnie Bishop

Say Rabbit foot Opal!

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