Chattanooga Sugar Babe
Johnny Cash Lyrics


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There ain't no money to buy cocaine, sugar babe
There ain't no money to buy cocaine, sugar babe
There ain't no money to buy cocaine
Burn your nose and rot your brain, sugar babe
Sugar babe

I woke up this morning blues all around, sugar babe
I woke up this morning blues all around, sugar babe
I woke up this morning blues all around
Threw on my rags and walked 'round town

Standing on a corner don't you see, sugar babe
Standing on a corner don't you see, sugar babe
Standing on a corner don't you see
They hauled me away for vagrancy, sugar babe

Leave that red whiskey alone, sugar babe
Leave that red whiskey alone, sugar babe
Gives you paulsey in your bones, sugar babe, sugar babe

Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out, sugar babe
Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out, sugar babe
Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out
standing on the corner mouth and a pout, sugar babe
Aw, sugar babe

Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe
Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe
Chattanooga is a fine old town
You get a little crazy then burn your house down
Sugar babe, sugar babe

I said Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe
Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe
Chattanooga is a fine old town




You get a little crazy then burn your house down
Sugar babe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Cash’s “Chattanooga Sugar Babe” reflect the struggles of poverty and addiction in America during the 1930s. The opening lines, “There ain't no money to buy cocaine, sugar babe,” demonstrate the harsh reality of addiction and its financial burden. Cash warns the listener that the consequences of substance abuse are dangerous, “Burn your nose and rot your brain, sugar babe,” highlighting the devastating consequences of drug addiction.


Next, Cash sings about his own depression, “I woke up this morning blues all around,” conveying the feeling of hopelessness and despair that often accompanies poverty and addiction. The verse where Cash is “standing on a corner” and gets arrested for “vagrancy” illustrates the criminalization of poverty and the criminal justice system's harsh treatment of the poor. The refrain, “sugar babe,” is used throughout the song, perhaps as a term of endearment, or maybe to illustrate the sweet, but ultimately toxic, nature of addiction.


Overall, the song is a haunting portrayal of the devastating effects of poverty and addiction in American society, compelling the listener to reflect on the difficult choices and circumstances that can befall someone trapped in those situations.


Line by Line Meaning

There ain't no money to buy cocaine, sugar babe
I don't have enough money to buy cocaine, which will harm me, sugar babe


Burn your nose and rot your brain, sugar babe
Cocaine will damage my nose and brain, sugar babe


I woke up this morning blues all around, sugar babe
I woke up feeling sad today, sugar babe


Threw on my rags and walked 'round town
I put on some old clothes and walked around town, sugar babe


Standing on a corner don't you see, sugar babe
I was standing on a corner, sugar babe


They hauled me away for vagrancy, sugar babe
They arrested me for having no permanent address, sugar babe


Leave that red whiskey alone, sugar babe
Don't drink that dangerous whiskey, sugar babe


Gives you paulsey in your bones, sugar babe, sugar babe
Drinking too much whiskey will give you palsy, sugar babe


Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out, sugar babe
What will you do when you no longer have anything to eat, sugar babe


standing on the corner mouth and a pout, sugar babe
I will be standing on the corner with nothing to eat and a sad expression, sugar babe


Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe
Chattanooga is a great place to be, sugar babe


You get a little crazy then burn your house down
But beware, if you're not careful you may get crazy and burn your own house down, sugar babe




Contributed by Keira O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Peter Allcorn

I love that banjo! Great song!

Keith Baker

John is the grandfather of rock country and folk I love him as much as Neil and Bob and Hank Williams

Nathan Mester

11,000+ views and no one is going to compliment the GREAT Johnny Cash.

Smitty

legends need no words. I love johnny

59witbrowneyez

Truth💯 #FACTS

Khayam Steffens

O sapinho saiu pra passear ahammm

Kai Martin

Chattanooga raised here.

Jonthan Hoffman

Get a little crazy sugar man

Dragon beast

Why would he even buy cocaine in the first place lol

Julian Angon

Because its a hell of a drug😜

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