See Paul Oliver 'Songsters and Saints' pp58-60 for a discussion of this song in his chapter relating to songs from the ragtime era. The original was written in 1900 by Irving Jones. Oliver comments that it may be 'the first by a black writer to make reference to the blues not as a song form but as a condition'. He also writes: 'The Tappahannock barber, William Moore, no doubt entertained his clients with his version of the song, suitably updated, expressing his dreams of owning a new car. He seems to have had some knowledge of 'My Money Never Gives Out' [recorded by Gus Cannon] for certain key lines have been incorporated in the song'.