Five-Thousand-Dollar Nigga's and Gummy Mouth Bitches
Don Johnson Lyrics
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The most exquisite African flesh in the state of Tennessee is bred right here on your land
And from the look of these black angels, my sources weren′t wrong
– Oh I got my share of, coal blacks, horse faces, and gummy mouth bitches out in the field
But the lion share of my lady niggers are real show pony's
– Well that's what I′m looking for, a show pony for young Django
– So the only question that remains is
Do you have a nigger here worth five thousand dollars?
– Dr.Schultz, "Five-Thousand-Dollar Nigger" is practically my middle name
The lyrics of Don Johnson's song Five-Thousand-Dollar Nigga's and Gummy Mouth Bitches are controversial and offensive due to the use of racial slurs, but upon closer examination, one can find some deeper meaning in them. The song is taken from Johnson's role in Quentin Tarantino's movie Django Unchained, in which he played the character of Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett, a plantation owner in Tennessee.
In the first verse of the song, Johnson's character is bragging to Dr. Schultz (played by Christoph Waltz) about the quality of African flesh that is bred on his land. He seems to be proud of the physical beauty of his slaves, referring to them as "black angels." This is an example of the objectification of black people that was common during slavery. Even though he is speaking in a complimentary way, he is still treating them as mere commodities.
In the second verse, Johnson's character talks about his different kinds of slaves. He calls some of them "coal blacks" and "horse faces," which shows that he is not even trying to hide his derogatory attitude towards them. However, he also talks about his "show pony's," which refers to his most attractive female slaves that he uses to impress his guests. This line is significant because it highlights how the beauty standards of black women were determined by white slave owners during slavery. The fact that Johnson's character refers to them as "his lady niggers" shows that he feels entitled to them.
The song as a whole is meant to criticize the practice of slavery and the racism that was rampant during that time period. The use of racial slurs is deliberate to show the audience the extent of the bigotry that was normalized during slavery. However, it is important to note that the song represents the views of a fictional character and not Don Johnson himself.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve been told by those who should know
The most exquisite African flesh in the state of Tennessee is bred right here on your land
And from the look of these black angels, my sources weren’t wrong
I have heard from credible sources that the best African women in Tennessee come from your land, and based on what I am seeing, my sources were correct.
Oh I got my share of, coal blacks, horse faces, and gummy mouth bitches out in the field
But the lion share of my lady niggers are real show pony's
While I have some unattractive women working for me, the majority of them are truly beautiful and desirable.
Well that's what I’m looking for, a show pony for young Django
I want to find a beautiful woman to impress and accompany my young friend Django.
So the only question that remains is
Do you have a nigger here worth five thousand dollars?
The only thing left to ask is if you have a woman who is worth the amount of money that I am willing to pay for her.
Dr.Schultz, "Five-Thousand-Dollar Nigger" is practically my middle name
I am known for being willing to pay a high price for a woman of exceptional beauty and quality.
Contributed by Penelope Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.