In a lot of old blues songs, food has a double meaning.


STEW MEAT BLUES
As recorded by Lucille Bogan, 1935.

A man say I had something looked like new.
He wanted me to credit him for some o' my stew.
Say he's goin' up the river, tryin' to sell his sack.
He would pay me for my stuff when the boat get back.
Now you can go on up the river, man, and sell your sack.
You can pay me for my stew when the boat get back.

I got good stew and it's got to be sold.
The price ain't high, I want to get you told.
Go on up the river, man, and sell your sack.
There'll be stew-meat here, baby, when the boat get back.

Now look here, man: what you want me to do?
Give you my stew-meat and credit you too?
You go on up the river, try an' sell your sack,
'Cause I'll have my stew-meat here when that boat gets back.

I credit one man; it was to my sorrow.
It's cash today, credit tomorrow.
So hurry up the river, baby, an' try to sell your sack.
It's gonna be meat here, when that boat get back.

Now it's ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
You try my stuff one time, you can't get enough.
So go on up the river, man, and sell your sack,
'Cause the stuff'll be here, baby when the boat get back.