Origins: Sugarfoot Rag

Subject: RE: Origins: Sugarfoot Rag
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 07 Aug 22 - 11:52 AM

The was a discussion of this song on Mudcat 12 Jan 2010 about 9:58p.m.


Origin: Pretty Little Widow (Skillet Lickers)


Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Origins: Sugarfoot Rag
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 22 - 11:41 AM

SUGARFOOT RAG

Well, I'm gonna get out my sycamore and shine up my shoes
Meet my baby and tell her the news
I bet my bundle on a swayback nag
And I came home winner with a plenty of swag

One foot, two foot slew foot drag
Swing your honey to the sugarfoot rag
Do a little jig and a zig and a zag
And listen to the fiddles as they play that sugarfoot rag

Well, I got a big jug of cinder and a bottle of wine
One's for my honey and the other is mine
Sip on the cider and sip on the wine
They both sip together and a have a good time

One foot, two foot slew foot drag
Swing your honey to the sugarfoot rag
Do a little jig and a zig and a zag
And listen to the steel guitar as they play that sugarfoot rag

I'm gonna spend all my money and a git on a jag
Swing my honey to the sugarfoot rag
Walk right up and stomp on the floor
And swing up the middle with a shoofly four

One foot, two foot slew foot drag
Swing your honey to the sugarfoot rag
Do a little jig and a zig and a zag
And listen to Jerry, he's gonna play you that sugarfoot rag

Do a little jig and a zig and a zag
And that's the way you play that sugarfoot rag


Sincerely,
Gargoyle

They may throw sawdust,or small dance floor wax, even talcum powder, but never ever sugar on a dance floor.

Subject: RE: Origins: Sugarfoot Rag
From: GUEST,steve g
Date: 06 Aug 22 - 03:59 PM

Elizabeth Cotten's song Shake Sugaree, refers to having a party. The singer pawned all his/her belongings to keep the party going forever. I read somewhere that they were known to sprinkle sugar on the wooden floors to make them slippery for dancing, which explains the title of the song; somewhat like using sand on a shuffleboard. My speculation is that originally a sugarfoot could have been a dandy, a dancer and a partier.

Subject: RE: Origins: Sugarfoot Rag
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:40 PM

A cane of course! sycamore/walking stick/wood....... thanks Melissa.
Stew

Subject: RE: Origins: Sugarfoot Rag
From: Melissa
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 01:03 PM

cane/walking stick, maybe?

Subject: Origins: Sugarfoot Rag
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 01:02 PM

The first line of Hank Garland's "Sugarfoot Rag" goes:
'Gonna get out my sycamore and shine up my shoes'. Could any of you oldtimers tell me what sycamore refers to. My guess is a item of clothing? Thanks a plenty.
Stew