Shake 'Em on Down

Bukka White

About Shake 'Em on Down

"Shake 'Em On Down" is a Delta blues song by American musician Bukka White. He recorded it in Chicago in 1937 around the beginning of his incarceration at the infamous Parchman Prison Farm in Mississippi. It was his first recording for producer Lester Melrose and remains his best-known song. Several blues and other artists have adapted the song, often with variations on the lyrics and music.


Year:
1993
3:32
35 
#1

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Baby please don't go, 
Baby please don't go, 
Baby please don't go, 
Down to New Orleans 
You know I love you so, 
Baby please don't go. 

Baby your mind done gone, 
Well your mind done gone, 
Well your mind done gone, 
Left the county farm, 
You had the shackles on. 
Baby please don't go. 

For be a dog, 
For be a dog, 
For be a dog, 
To git you way down here, 
I make you walk the log. 
Baby please don't go. 

Baby please don't go, 
Baby please don't go, 
Baby please don't go, 
Down to New Orleans, 
You know I love you so. 
Baby please don't go. 

For be a dog, 
For be a dog, 
For be a dog, 
Git you way down here, 
Make you walk the log. 
Baby please don't go. 

'now how I feel right now, 
My baby leavin', 
On that midnight train, 
And I'm cryin'. 

Baby please don't go, 
Baby please don't go, 
Baby please don't go, 
Down to New Orleans, 
You know I love you so. 
Baby please don't go. 

For be a dog, 
For be a dog, 
For be a dog, 
To git you way down here. 
I make you walk the log. 
Baby please don't go, yeah. 

Awright

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Bukka White

Booker T. Washington White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977), better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic misspelling of White's given name Booker, by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion). more »

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Written by: Philip Parris Lynott

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Artist Origin
Bukka White was an African-American Delta Blues singer and guitarist, who is most famously known for compositions like "Shake 'Em on Down."
Song Release
The song "Shake 'Em on Down" was released in 1937 and is considered a classic example of delta blues tradition.
Cover versions
Over the years, the song has been covered by several artists including North Mississippi Allstars, Led Zeppelin, and R.L. Burnside.
Remarkable Lyrics
The song is widely recognized for its gritty lyrics that reflect the challenging socio-economic circumstances of African-American communities in the Delta region.
Tuning Style
The song is performed in an open tuning style, which is a characteristic of Delta blues guitar style.
Imprisonment Influence
White recorded "Shake 'Em on Down" after serving prison time at Parchman Farm, a Mississippi State Penitentiary. His experiences during incarceration heavily influenced the themes of his music.
Documentary Feature
The song was used as the main theme for the documentary "Shake 'Em on Down: The Blues According to Fred McDowell" that depicts the life of blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell.
Song Structure
The song's structure, which comprises twelve-bars, is an archetype of most blues songs.
Song's Original Label
The song was originally released under the label "Vocalion," which was an offshoot of the American Record Corporation.
Legacy
The song's legacy continues as different versions by various artists have been used in numerous films and commercials. It remains one of the most enduring pieces of White's discography.
Famous Sample
A sample of "Shake 'Em on Down" was notably used in the Beats Antique song, "Roustabout."
Song Duration
The original track duration of "Shake 'Em on Down" is two minutes and forty-six seconds.
Honoring Bukka White
Bukka White was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1990 as a testament to his lifelong contribution to the blues genre; this includes his exceptional work on "Shake 'Em on Down."

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