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He's In The Ring
Memphis Minnie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, y'all peoples going out tonight, let's go and see Joe Louis fight
And if you ain't got no money, try to go tomorrow night
'Cause he in the ring doing the same old thing

Well, he even carries a mean left (you know he do) and he carry a mean right
And if he hit you with either one, send the charge from a dynamite
He in the ring, boys, doing the same old thing

I'm a-tell all of you prize fighters, don't play Joe for no fool
After he hits you with that left duke, same as a kick from a Texas mule
He in the ring, boys, doing the same old thing

Joe Louis is a two-fist fighter and he stands six feet tall
And the bigger they come, he says, the harder they fall
He's in the ring, oh, doing the same old thing (I'd chance my money with him)

Boys, I only had ten-hundred dollars and I laid up on my shelf
I bet everybody past my house, in one round, Joe would knock him out
He in the ring, mmm, doing the same old thing

I wouldn't even pay my house rent, I wouldn't buy me nothing to eat
Joe Louis says, ""Take a chance with me, I'm gonna put shoes on your feet""
Joe in the ring, he's still fighting, doing the same old thing

Overall Meaning

The song "He's in the Ring" by Memphis Minnie is an ode to Joe Louis, the American heavyweight boxing champion of the 1930s and 1940s. The lyrics speak of Louis' power and skill in the ring, describing his mean left and right punches that are compared to dynamite and a kick from a Texas mule. The song urges fellow prizefighters not to underestimate Louis and his six-foot-tall frame, warning that the bigger they come, the harder they fall.


The song also highlights the cultural significance of Joe Louis and his popularity among African Americans during a time of racial segregation and discrimination. Boxing was one of the few avenues available to African American men to gain fame, fortune, and respect, and Louis was a symbol of black excellence and resilience. The lyrics call on people to come out and see Louis fight, even if they don't have the money to do so, as he continues to do the same old thing, winning matches and earning accolades.


Overall, "He's in the Ring" is a celebration of Joe Louis' talent, grit, and spirit, and a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, y'all peoples going out tonight, let's go and see Joe Louis fight
Come on everyone, let's go watch Joe Louis fight tonight


And if you ain't got no money, try to go tomorrow night
If you don't have any money, try to go watch him fight tomorrow night


'Cause he in the ring doing the same old thing
Because he's in the ring doing what he always does


Well, he even carries a mean left (you know he do) and he carry a mean right
Joe Louis has a strong left and right punch


And if he hit you with either one, send the charge from a dynamite
If he punches you with either hand, it feels like a powerful explosive


He in the ring, boys, doing the same old thing
Joe Louis is fighting as he always does


I'm a-tell all of you prize fighters, don't play Joe for no fool
To all the other boxers, don't underestimate Joe Louis


After he hits you with that left duke, same as a kick from a Texas mule
When Joe punches with his left hand, it feels like getting kicked by a mule from Texas


He in the ring, boys, doing the same old thing
Joe Louis is doing his usual routine in the ring


Joe Louis is a two-fist fighter and he stands six feet tall
Joe Louis is a boxer who punches with both hands and is six feet tall


And the bigger they come, he says, the harder they fall
Joe Louis believes that the bigger the opponent, the harder they'll fall


He's in the ring, oh, doing the same old thing (I'd chance my money with him)
Joe Louis is in the ring, fighting as usual, and I would bet on him to win


Boys, I only had ten-hundred dollars and I laid up on my shelf
I only have one thousand dollars and I stored it on my shelf


I bet everybody past my house, in one round, Joe would knock him out
I bet that Joe Louis could knock out anyone who passes by my house in just one round


He in the ring, mmm, doing the same old thing
Joe Louis is still in the ring, fighting as usual


I wouldn't even pay my house rent, I wouldn't buy me nothing to eat
I would rather bet my money on Joe Louis than pay my rent or buy food


Joe Louis says, "Take a chance with me, I'm gonna put shoes on your feet"
Joe Louis invites people to bet on him, promising to help them financially if he wins


Joe in the ring, he's still fighting, doing the same old thing
Joe Louis is still fighting in the ring, following his usual routine




Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: LAWLERS, MINNIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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