Yellow Dog Rag

by W. C. Handy

Sheet music cover

E'er since Miss Susan Johnson lost her Jockey, Lee W. C. Handy W. C. Handy YellowDogRagCover.jpeg

[Verse]

E'er since Miss Susan Johnson lost her Jockey, Lee,

There has been much excitement, more to be;

You can hear her moaning night and morn.

"Wonder where my Easy Rider's gone?"

Cablegrams come of sympathy,

Telegrams go of inquiry,

Letters come from down in "Bam",

And ev'ry where that Uncle Sam

Has even a rural delivery.

All day the phone rings, but it's not for me,

At last good tidings fill our hearts with glee,

This message comes from Tennessee:

[Chorus]

Dear Sue, your Easy Rider struck his burg today

On a southboun' rattler sidedoor Pullman car.

Seen him here an' he was on the hog.

(spoken) The smoke was broke, no joke, not a jitney on him.

Easy Riders got a stay way,

So he had to vamp it but the hike aint far.

He's gone where the Southern cross' the Yellow Dog.

[Verse]

I know the Yellow Dog District like a book,

Indeed I know the route that Rider took;

Ev'ry crosstie, bayou, burg and bog.

Way down where the Southern cross' the Dog,

Money don't zactly grow on trees,

On cotton stalks it grows wid ease;

No racehorse, racetrack no grandstand

Is like Old Beck and Buckshot land,

Down where the Southern cross' the Dog.

Every kitchen there is a cabaret,

Down there the boll wevil works while the darkies glee,

This Yellow Dog Rag the livelong day.

(chorus)

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