Both musicians were born in Washington D.C., although Cephas was older by some 25 years. They first met at a jam session at the Smithsonian's Festival of American Folklife in 1975 or 1976, and played together in Wilbert "Big Chief" Ellis's band. When Ellis died, they decided to continue as a duo.
In 1980, Cephas & Wiggins were recorded by German archivists Siegfried Christmann and Axel Kustner. These recordings were their first as a duo and they were released the following year on as a part of Living Country Blues USA series on German label L+R. They also appeared around Washington, D.C. with 'the Travelling Blues Workshop', which included John Jackson, Archie Edwards, Flora Molton, and Mother Scott.
In 1986, Cephas & Wiggins released Dog Days of August, their first U.S. release on Flying Fish Records. In 1989, Cephas was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship.
Two more albums followed from Flying Fish. After they left the label, they released one album from New York-based Chesky Records, and four from Alligator Records.
Cephas died of natural causes on March 4, 2009. He was 78. The duo had released Richmond Blues on Folkways Records in 2008.
Black Rat Swing
Bowling Green John Cephas & Harmonica Phil Wiggins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eat up all my bread
Soon as I left home
Start to cuttin′ up in my bed
Yeah he is one black rat
Someday I'll find his trail
Then I′ll hide my shoe
Somewhere near his shirttail
Someday I'll find your trail
Yes you is one black rat
Someday I'll find your trail
Then I′ll hide my shoe
Somewhere near your shirttail
The lyrics of the song "Black Rat Swing" by Bowling Green John Cephas & Harmonica Phil Wiggins depict a scene where a person has a problem with a black rat that sneaks into their kitchen and eats up all their bread. The singer leaves their home and when they return, the rat has cut up their bed. The lyrics suggest that the singer knows they are dealing with a persistent problem and states that they will find the rat's trail and hide their shoe near their shirttail.
The use of the black rat as a symbol in this song can be interpreted in different ways. It may signify a person or situation that causes constant irritation and disruption, or it could represent an unlucky omen that brings misfortune. The line "cuttin' up in my bed" could also suggest a deeper invasion of the singer's personal space by an unwanted entity, possibly a metaphor for a more serious problem such as invasive thoughts or emotions.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of frustration and helplessness in the face of a persistent problem, but at the same time, there is a tone of determination to overcome it. The final lines suggest that the singer is willing to take action to resolve the issue, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you sneak in my kitchen
You come into my kitchen without my knowledge
Eat up all my bread
You consume all of my bread
Soon as I left home
As soon as I step out of my house
Start to cuttin' up in my bed
You begin to cause trouble in my bed
Yeah he is one black rat
You are an untrustworthy person
Someday I'll find his trail
I will investigate your actions and find out what you have been up to
Then I'll hide my shoe
I will take precautions against you
Somewhere near his shirttail
I will place my shoe somewhere close to where you usually hang around
Yes you is one black rat
You are definitely an untrustworthy person
Someday I'll find your trail
I will keep searching for proof of your deceitful actions
Then I'll hide my shoe
I will take necessary precautions to protect myself from you
Somewhere near your shirttail
I will place my shoe close to where you usually spend your time
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Gabriella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.