HE'S IN THE RING (DOIN' THE SAME OLD THING)
As recorded by Memphis Minnie, 1935.

If any o' y'all people's goin' out tonight, let's go an' see Joe Louis fight.
If you ain't got no money, try to go tomorrow night,
'Cause in the ring now, boys, he doin' his same ol' thing.

Boy, you know Joe Louis has a mean left, and he turns a mean right,
And if he hits you with either one, sends a job from a dynamite.
In that ring, now, he's doin' his same ol' thing.

I want tell all o' you prizefighters, don't play Joe Louis for no fool.
After he hit you with that left duke, sends a kick from a Texas mule.
In that ring, boys, doin' his same ol' thing.

'Cause Joe Louis is a two-fist fighter, and he stands six feet tall.
He said he would fight 'em all, if they comes, the harder they fall.
In that ring, aw, he doin' his same ol' thing.

(Tell y'all what I done.)

All I had, ten hundred dollars, I laid upon my shelf.
I bet ev'rybody pass my house, in two rounds Joe would knock him out.
In that ring, aw, he's doin' his same ol' thing.

I wouldn't even pay my house rent; I wouldn't buy me nothin' to eat.
Joe Louis … come and take a chance with me, I'm … put you on your feet.
In that ring now, he's still fightin', doin' his same ol' thing.