Lil Johnson (dates and places of birth and death unknown) was an African Am… Read Full Bio ↴Lil Johnson (dates and places of birth and death unknown) was an African American singer who recorded bawdy blues and hokum songs in the 1920s and 1930s.

Her origins and early life are not known. She first recorded in Chicago in 1929, accompanied by pianists Montana Taylor and Charles Avery on five songs including "Rock That Thing". She did not return to the recording studio until 1935, when her more risqué songs included "Get 'Em From The Peanut Man (Hot Nuts)", "Anybody Want To Buy My Cabbage?", and "Press My Button (Ring My Bell)" ("Come on baby, let's have some fun / Just put your hot dog in my bun").

From her second session onwards, she hit up a striking partnership with the ragtime influenced pianist "Black Bob" Hudson, who provided ebullient support to Johnson's increasingly suggestive lyrics. In 1936 and 1937, she recorded over 40 songs, mostly on the Vocalion label, some featuring Big Bill Broonzy on guitar and Lee Collins on trumpet. Her other songs included "Was I Drunk", "My Stove's in Good Condition", "Take Your Hand Off It" and "Buck Naked Blues".

All her songs were sung in a vigorous and sometimes abrasive way, and have been anthologised on many later blues collections. There is no record of what became of Johnson after her recording career ended in 1937.

Take It Easy Greasy
Lil Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough
Take it easy greasy, now baby don't you get so rough
Hug me honey, squeeze me tight
You need not hurry ''cause you got all night, so
Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough (I got to have it)
Love me till I get enough

Take it easy greasy, love me till I get enough

Take it easy greasy, now baby don't you get so rough
I'm going down town to old Butcher Beat
''cause I want to piece of his good old meat, so
Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough (I got to have it)
Love me till I get enough

Take it easy greasy, love me till I get enough
Take it easy greasy, now baby don't you get so rough
I call you this morning about half past two
Now tell me daddy what you going to do, so
Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough (I got to have it)
Love me till I get enough

Take it easy greasy, love me till I get enough
Take it easy greasy, now baby don't you get so rough
Sweet as candy in a candy shop
It's just your sweet sweet lollipop, so
Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough (I got to have it)
Love me till I get enough

Take it easy greasy, love me till I get enough
Take it easy greasy, now baby don't you get so rough
The jaybird say to the pecker wood,
Now I'll let you peck just like a pecker should, but

Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough (I got to have it)
Love me till I get enough

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lil Johnson's blues song “Take It Easy Greasy” depict a sexual conversation between two lovers. The repetition of the phrase “Love me 'til I get enough” implies the woman’s insatiability and her desire to be fulfilled by her partner. The second line of each verse - “now baby don't you get so rough” - seems to be a reminder to go slow and with gentleness, creating the feeling that the singer is in control of the situation.

The third verse mentions going to "old Butcher Beat" for "a piece of his good old meat," which can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically as the woman's desire for sexual satisfaction. The fourth verse implies that the woman has called her partner in the middle of the night and is now waiting for him to fulfill her desires. The final verse features the metaphor of a jaybird and a peckerwood, with the jaybird allowing the pecker to peck as it should, but only if it takes it easy and doesn't get rough.

Overall, the song portrays the woman as sexually confident and assertive, but also in control of her own pleasure.

Line by Line Meaning

Take it easy greasy, love me 'till I get enough
Slow down and take it easy with me, baby, until I am completely satisfied with your love.

Take it easy greasy, now baby don't you get so rough
Don't be too aggressive with me, baby. Be gentle and loving with me.

Hug me honey, squeeze me tight
Hold me tight, baby. Show me how much you love me by your warm embrace.

You need not hurry ''cause you got all night, so
Take your time, honey. We have all night to enjoy each other's company.

I'm going down town to old Butcher Beat, ''cause I want to piece of his good old meat, so
I am going downtown to Butcher Beat because I want to try his delicious meat, baby.

I call you this morning about half past two, now tell me daddy what you going to do, so
I called you this morning around 2:30, darling. What are you going to do for me now?

Sweet as candy in a candy shop, it's just your sweet sweet lollipop, so
You are as sweet as candy, baby. Your love is my favorite treat, my sweet lollipop.

The jaybird say to the pecker wood, now I'll let you peck just like a pecker should, but
The female jaybird tells the male woodpecker that she will let him do what woodpeckers do, but only if he is gentle with her.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LIL JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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