Shake Sugaree
Rhiannon Giddens Lyrics

Rhiannon Giddens's "Shake Sugaree" is a poignant and somber song that addresses the hardships of life and the sacrifices one has to make to survive. The song is set to a simple melody and is sung with a raw and unfiltered voice that adds to the emotional weight of the lyrics. The song starts with the singer singing about an unnamed song that they have that won't take long to sing once or twice. Then they reflect on their life and how they have had to pawn everything they own, including their watch, chain, and even their tobacco and bike. They sing "Everything I got is done and pawned" after each stanza, emphasizing how they have lost everything.

The singer's desperation is palpable as they continue to sing about pawning their chair and bed and having nowhere to lay their head. The line "Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree?" is particularly striking and has been interpreted in many different ways. Some have suggested that "sugaree" could be a reference to a dance or a type of music, and "shake" could refer to the singer's ability to dance or move to the music. Others believe that "sugaree" could be a euphemism for money, and the line means that the singer has done everything they could to make money but still lost everything.

The final stanza of the song is particularly moving as the singer reveals a little secret that they are not going to tell anyone. They sing, "I'm goin' to Heaven in a brown pea shell," suggesting that they have accepted their fate and have found peace in the face of hardship. This song is a powerful testament to the struggles of life and the need to sometimes let go of everything to find redemption.