Shake Sugaree
Elizabeth Cotten and Brenda Evans Lyrics
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Won't take long
Sing it right
Once or twice
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawned my chain
Pawned everything that was in my name
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawned my buggy
Horse and cart
Pawned everything that was on my lot
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawned my chair
Pawned my bed
Ain't got nowhere to lay my head
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawned my tobacco
Pawned my pipe
Pawned everything that was in my sight
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Have a little secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm going to heaven in a brown pea shell
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawned my farm
Pawned my plough
Pawned everything, even pawned my old cow
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawned my hat
Pawned my shoes
Pawned everything that I could use
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
have a little secret,
I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven and I ain't goin' no...
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Chew my tobacco
Spit my juice
Would raise cain but it ain't a bit 'a use
Oh, lordy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
Everything I got is done and pawned
The song "Shake Sugaree" by Elizabeth Cotten and Brenda Evans is a traditional African-American song that speaks of the struggles of poverty and the hardships of life. The lyrics portray a story of someone who has pawned everything they have - their watch, chain, buggy, horse and cart, chair, bed, even their tobacco and pipe - to make ends meet. The singer asks the question "Didn't I shake sugaree?" which may be interpreted as asking whether they have done everything they can to survive, including pawning their possessions, in order to make a living.
The chorus of the song features the line "Oh, lordy me, Everything I got is done and pawned," emphasizing the singer's desperate situation. Despite the hardships, the song ends on a somewhat hopeful note, with the singer sharing a secret that they are going to heaven, and implying that they will leave their struggles behind. The song conveys the themes of poverty, survival, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Have a little song
I have a short song to sing
Won't take long
The song will not be very long
Sing it right
I'd like to sing the song correctly
Once or twice
I'll sing the song once or twice
Oh, lordy me
An expression of surprise and/or dismay
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Did I not experience the ups and downs of life?
Everything I got is done and pawned
Every possession I own has been pawned or sold for money
Pawned my watch
I pawned my watch for money
Pawned my chain
I pawned my chain for money
Pawned everything that was in my name
I pawned everything that belonged to me
Pawned my buggy
I pawned my carriage for money
Horse and cart
I pawned my horse and cart for money
Pawned everything that was on my lot
I pawned everything on my property
Pawned my chair
I pawned my chair for money
Pawned my bed
I pawned my bed for money
Ain't got nowhere to lay my head
I have no place to sleep or rest
Pawned my tobacco
I pawned my tobacco for money
Pawned my pipe
I pawned my pipe for money
Pawned everything that was in my sight
I pawned everything I could see
Have a little secret
I have a personal secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm not going to reveal my secret
I'm going to heaven in a brown pea shell
I'm going to heaven in a certain way
Pawned my farm
I pawned my farm for money
Pawned my plough
I pawned my plough for money
Pawned everything, even pawned my old cow
I pawned everything, including my cow
Pawned my hat
I pawned my hat for money
Pawned my shoes
I pawned my shoes for money
Pawned everything that I could use
I pawned everything I could make use of
Chew my tobacco
I chew tobacco
Spit my juice
I spit out the tobacco juice
Would raise cain but it ain't a bit 'a use
I'm feeling frustrated but it won't make a difference
Everything I got is done and pawned
All my possessions have been pawned or sold for money
Contributed by Juliana G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@karategirl6306
Have a little song.
Won't take long.
Sing it right,
Once or twice.
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.*
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Pawn my watch.
Pawn my chain.
Pawn everything that was in my name.
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Pawn my buggy,
Horse and cart.
Pawn everything that was on my lot.
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned
Pawn my chair.
Pawn my bed.
Ain't got nowhere to lay my head.
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Pawn my tobacco.
Pawn my pipe.
Pawned everything that was in my sight.
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Have a little secret
I ain't gonna tell.
I'm going to heaven in a ground pea shell.**
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Pawn my farm.
Pawn my plough.
Pawned everything, even pawned my old cow.
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Pawn my hat,
Pawn my shoes.
Pawned everything that I could use.
Oh, Lawdy me
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Have a little secret,
I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven and I ain't gonna..."***
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Chew my tobacco.
Spit my juice.
Would raise Cain but it ain't a bit ah use. **
Oh, Lawdy me,
Didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
Everything I got is done and pawned.
@mattc060793
On a long car ride with my wife, this was one of the last songs on a makeshift playlist she put together. I was an instant fan after I heard is. It lifted my mood instantly and gave me the push I needed to get home.
@Paulo-vi7qs
❤️❤️❤️😀
@Paulo-vi7qs
❤️❤️❤️
@dimasa5800
A golden voice....a precious voice....This rendition must be preserved....My heart is warmed by it
@Paulo-vi7qs
SUBLIME VOICE ❤️❤️❤️
@Paulo-vi7qs
Can u send me thé words PLEASE 👍
@pelumaad331
The vocal is just plain precious.
@utetrahemicon
It's her granddaughter singing.
@mitchgawlik1175
This is a song that seems to pop up in my life every few years and it's always welcome.
@generationofbmx
Wow, just wow. This song was absolutely beautiful!