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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Jim Dixon Lyr Req: Jerking the Load (Rufus & Ben Quillian) (9) Lyr Add: JERKING THE LOAD (Rufus & Ben Quillian) 05 Nov 14


Well, I love a challenge, and this was one. Not only were the acoustics and enunciation less than ideal, but the slang terminology and metaphor were unfamiliar to me. Here's what I think I hear:


JERKING THE LOAD
As recorded by Rufus and Ben Quillian, a.k.a. the Blue Harmony Boys, 1929.
As found on "Hokum, Blues and Rags (1929-1930s)" (Document Records DOCD-5392)

1. ----------------------------
There's no use in stallin'.
Gonna tell you just like it is.
She does some heavy haulin'.
Just got a real small ------
But she can make it bigger.
If you ask her to haul a load,
She starts right in to figure. [pronounced 'figger']

CHORUS: Oh, jerkin' that load,
You got to know how to haul a load.
If you don't know how to do it right,
[They] Just want to see you on Saturday night,
But if you jerk that load
Like a mule on a county road,
They give you lovin'; they give you dough.
They'll never say they can't use you no mo'
Just because you really know
Exactly how to jerk that load.

2. College boys will surely strip.
She charges one whole dollar.
If she charged me over fifty cents,
I'd be sure to holler.
Once I had a heavy load.
There's no sense in puffin'.
Carried her a lot of jive
And she hauled them eggs for nothin'.

3. Old man came from the poultry farm.
All his eggs were rotten.
The time she hauled them eggs for him
Will never be forgotten.
Got them eggs all loaded wrong.
She yelled to him to quit it.
Hadn't gone a dozen blocks
'Fore (s)he had to change [ends? heads?] with him.


4. She hauled a load for a funny gal.
Started callin' her honey.
'Fore that gal had left from there,
She had some egg ----- money.
Man got nothin' from that work.
He started once to [thick? stick?] her.
He soon changed his mind about that.
Decided he would trick her.

- - -
I'm guessing that hauling, or jerking, a load of eggs refers to a sexual act, probably the most ordinary or "vanilla" kind, while the kind the farmer wanted in verse 3 was a bit more unusual. The "funny gal" in verse 4 is probably a lesbian, and the man mentioned in that verse is probably a pimp.

BTW, I had never heard of the Quillians before now, and I thank you for bringing them to my attention. I will listen to more of their songs and possibly do some more transcription if it's feasible.


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