Buffalo Gals
Woody Guthrie Lyrics


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I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
Bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand
I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
And we danced in the light of the moon!

I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin!
And her heel kept a-knockin' and her toes kept a-rockin'
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin'
And we danced by the light of the moon!

I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
Bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand
I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
And we danced in the light of the moon!

I got a gal that lives on the hill!
Lives on the hill, lives on the hill!
Ive got a gal that lives on the hill!
Tell me wont ya come out tonight?!

The bootlegger's daughter and I love her still!
Lover her still, lover her still!
The bootlegger's daughter and I love her still!
Tell me wont ya come out tonight!?

I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
Bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand
I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
And we danced in the light of the moon!

Hurry up go 'n don't go slow!
Here you go 'n don't go slow!
There you go kickin' up snow!
Hurry up go and on you go!

I went up and she went down!
Swing that gal round round!
Right wing up! left wing down!
You just go a-kickin' at the floor!

I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
Bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand




I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
And we danced in the light of the moon!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston’s song β€œBuffalo Gals” are full of imagery and movement. The song opens with the singer dancing all night with a bottle in his hand, emphasizing the joyful spirit and energy of the song. The second verse brings in a new character, a gal with a hole in her stocking, whose lively dancing keeps her heel knocking and her toes rocking. The third verse shifts focus to the singer's own love interest, a girl who lives on the hill and whom he loves despite her connection to a bootlegger. The final verses return to the energetic dancing, with calls to β€œhurry up go” and β€œkickin’ up snow.”


The song is full of references to the lively social scene of the early 20th century, particularly in the United States. The lyrics reference bootlegging, speakeasies, and dancing in the moonlight, evoking the spirit of Prohibition-era rebellion and revelry. The song’s connection to Buffalo, New York also suggests a link to the city’s lively nightlife scene at this time, which was often frequented by the city’s large African American population. Through its vivid imagery and catchy rhythms, β€œBuffalo Gals” captures the energy and spirit of a bygone era of American history.


Line by Line Meaning

I danced all night with a bottle in my hand!
I partied all through the night with a bottle in my hand, enjoying myself to the fullest.


Bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand
I was determined to enjoy myself, and so I held onto that bottle all night long.


And we danced in the light of the moon!
The moonlight gave us the perfect setting to dance and enjoy ourselves, and we made the most of it.


I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin!
I danced with a woman who was not perfectly dressed or appearance-wise, but I didn't care, I danced with her anyways.


And her heel kept a-knockin' and her toes kept a-rockin'
Despite the hole in her stockings, she didn't let it hold her back and danced with rhythm and joy.


I got a gal that lives on the hill!
I have a lady that I hold dear who lives on the hill.


Lives on the hill, lives on the hill!
She lives in a remote or elevated location which implies that it is difficult to get to her or see her but my love for her isn't defined by this.


The bootlegger's daughter and I love her still!
The bootlegger's daughter is someone I have feelings for, but I am still in love with the girl on the hill.


Tell me won't ya come out tonight?!
I'm calling out to my friends or anyone around to come out and have fun with me tonight.


Hurry up go 'n don't go slow!
I encourage everyone to hurry up and not waste any time, but to join in the revelry.


There you go kickin' up snow!
People are gleefully and playfully 'kicking up snow' or having a great time and sharing in each other’s happiness.


I went up and she went down!
We are having a good time in our own ways, even if they may not be the same ways or levels of having fun.


Swing that gal round round!
Taking part in the classic dance move of the swing, we all have a good laugh and a smile on our faces.


You just go a-kickin' at the floor!
We are all having so much fun that we can’t help but kick at the floor and cut loose, letting our spirits rise.




Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Kevin Varney

Best rendition of this song I've heard. I like the lyric changes. "Danced all night with a bottle in my hand" is better than "Buffalo girls won't you come out tonight." He brought it up to date with his own times with reference to the bootlegger's daughter. I liked the dance instructions at the end. Not massive keen on the harmonica though.

Ja deRoi

@mike goldberg agreed!

Thanks for the knowledge. I'll check out the Pickard Family

mike goldberg

@Ja deRoi Yeah, I love the way he mashed the songs together. Maybe the title should reflect that. So many great versions of Buffalo Gal on YouTube, earliest one I know of being by Pickard Family.

Kevin Varney

@Ja deRoi Thanks for the tip.

Ja deRoi

The lyrics are common ones. It's as if he mixed different songs together.

The lyrics are very similar to those used by The Skillet Lickers in "Old Gray Mare", and "Dance All Night With A Bottle In Your Hand"

beachmaster X

I got the Asch Recordings as well and still play the hell out of them all these years later. Thanks for posting them here so I can listen anytime.

ray corral

A real musician πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸͺ•πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸ₯πŸŽΆπŸŽΆπŸŽΆπŸŽΆπŸŽΆπŸŽΆπŸŽΆπŸŽ™πŸŽ™πŸŽ™πŸŽ™

MrSprocket2010

one of my favourite woody songs even though it's not one he composed. he and sonny had some good sound together

BgMsDangerus

Anybody care to square dance? You just gotta love Woody!!

John Jurkewicz

super Great

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