Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues

Subject: Lyrics req: Deep Elm Blues
From:
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 01:11 AM

Anyone have the lyrics to Deep Elm Blues? Thanks!

Terry in San Diego

Subject: Lyr Add: DEEP ELM BLUES
From: Gene Graham
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 03:20 AM

Here's one version. Also have one by the Wilburn Brothers.

DEEP ELM BLUES
version by Jim Greer and the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks

When you go down in Deep Elm just to have a little fun,
Better have fifteen dollars when that policeman runs.

Refrain: Oh, sweet mama, daddy's got them Deep Elm blues
Oh, sweet mama, daddy's got them Deep Elm blues.

When you go down in Deep Elm, put your money in your pants.
Them blood-suckin' women won't give a man a chance. (Refrain)

I used to know a preacher, read the bible through and through.
He come down in Deep Elm, got them Deep Elm blues. (Refrain)

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Deep Elm Blues
From:
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 06:04 PM

Pronounce Elm with two syllables "Deep Ell-um" a section of Downtown Dallas.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Deep Elm Blues
From:
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 11:26 PM

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Deep Elm Blues
From:
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 11:27 PM

Thanks, Gene and Nathan!

Terry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 10:28 AM

I do believe that the 78-rpm recording of this song by the LONE STAR COWBOYS was the very first.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues
From: Mark Clark
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 10:53 AM

Just to make things easier for folks who might wish to visit other threads on this topic, here are the threads with some variation of “Deep Elm” in the subject header.

• Lyr Req: Deep Elm? Blues - any lyrics?
• Lyr Req: Deep Elum
• Lyr Req: Deep Elem Blues (?)
• Lyr Req: Deep Elem Blues

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues
From: Cappuccino
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 02:24 PM

I found myself walking through part of Dallas some years ago, and came across this suburb, and thought 'wow, is this really the place in the song I used to play?' Strange place full of weird little shops - and then I found, of all things, an English pub.

Now, I happened to be there on a business trip from here in Oxfordshire, so I wandered into the English pub and asked politely: 'so, how English is this pub, then?'

With typical English courtesy, the kind we have come to expect here in the cradle of civilisation, the answer came back:

"How ****ing English d'you want it to be?"

Yes, it was authentic...

- Ian B

Subject: Lyr Add: DEEP ELM BLUES
From: masato sakurai
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 12:16 AM

Lone Star Cowboys' version (Victor 23843, Bluebird B-6001; Chicago, 1933) is in Folk Muisic in America, vol. 12: Songs of Local History & Events [LP] (Library of Congress LBC 12, 1978).

DEEP ELM BLUES

Now when you go down to Deep Elm just to have a little fun
You better have your fifteen dollars when the police man comes

Aw sweet mama, Daddy's got them Deep Elm blues

Now when you go down to Deep Elm put your money in your shoe
'Cause the woman in Deep Elm got them Deep Elm blues

Once I had a sweetheart, she meant the world to me
She took a trip to Deep Elm, now she ain't what she used to be

Pick that thing boy, pick it!

Once I knew a preacher, he preached the Bible through and through
He took a trip to Deep Elm, now his preachin' days are through

Aw, work on it!

Now when you go down in Deep Elm put your money in your socks
Or the women in Deep Elm, well they'll put you on the rocks

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 10:20 AM

If you go down to deep elm put your watch in your pocket
'Cause the girls in deep elm will take that watch and hock it

Subject: Deep Elm Blues
From: GUEST,S.
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 09:16 PM

Deep Ellum Blues is also a bar that has live texas style blues in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas. It's a good time!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues
From: Goose Gander
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 10:02 PM

The Dust Bowl version follows other variants more or less:

DEEP ELLUM BLUES

When you go down in Deep Ellum for to have a little fun
You must have fiteen dollars ready when that policeman comes

Oh, sweet mama, daddy's got them Deep Ellum Blues (2x)

Once I knew a preacher, preached the Bible through and through
But he went down in Deep Ellum, now his preaching days are through
(repeat refrain)

Once I had a sweet girl, meant the world to me
But she went down in Deep Ellum now she aint what she used to be
(repeat refrain)

When you go down in Deep Ellum, put some money in your shoe
'Cause the women in Deep Ellum got them Deep Ellum Blues
(repeat refrain)

It's a good example of the overlap between blues and hillbilly, which reflects the relationship between black and white string bands and the black/white hybrid nature of old tymey music

Here's the Ballad Index entry:


Deep Elem Blues
DESCRIPTION: The listener is advised to be prepared when going to (Deep Elem): "If you go down to Deep Elem just to have a little fun, You'd better have your fifteen dollars when the policeman comes." The singer details his experiences with the women there
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (recording, Cofer Brothers)
KEYWORDS: whore money police theft trick sex warning crime humorous clergy
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (2 citations):
BrownIII 501, "Went Down Town"; 502, "Standin' on de Street Doin' No Harm" (2 fragments, consisting of little more than a declaration of innocence and a statement "along came the police and grabbed me by the arm," also found in some versions of this song)
DT, DEEPELM BLCKBTTM
RECORDINGS:
The Cofer Brothers, "The Georgia Black Bottom (Black Bottom Blues)" (Okeh 45111, 1927)
Lone Star Cowboys, "Deep Elm Blues" (Victor 23846, 1933)
Prairie Ramblers, "Deep Elem Blues" (Perfect 5-11-51, 1935)
The Shelton Brothers, "Deep Elem Blues" (Decca 5099, 1935; Decca 46008, 1946)
SAME TUNE:
Shelton Brothers, "Deep Elem Blues - No. 2" (Decca 5198, 1936)
Shelton Brothers, "Deep Elem Blues - No. 3" (Decca 5422, 1937)
Notes: "Deep Elem," according to Michael Cooney, refers to Elm Street, the red light district in Dallas, Texas (for the reputation of this area, see also, e.g., "Take a Whiff On Me"). It's not clear whether the Cofer Brothers' "Black Bottom Blues" or the Shelton Brothers' "Deep Elem Blues" is the older form; the latter seems to have inspired more recordings. - RBW
File: DTdeepel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Deep Elm Blues
From: GUEST,Jimbob
Date: 29 Oct 05 - 12:53 AM

Version I know from Tennesee

When you go down to Deep Ellem,
To have a little fun,
have your 10 dollars ready,
when the policeman comes

Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues
Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues

Once I had a girl,
she meant the world to me,
she went down to deep ellem,
now she aint what she used to be.


Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues
Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues

Once I knew a preacher,
preached the bible pure and true
he went down to deep ellem,
now his preachin' days are through


Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues
Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues

When you go down to deep ellem,
keep your money in your hand,
cause those girls there in deep ellem,
they dont give a man a chance


Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues
Oh, sweet mama, your daddys got them deep ellem blues