The Chicago Gouge

Lyrics

[Verse] Chicago is the city for stomps and struggles All 'round darktown And everybody's givin' chittlin juggles From the deacon down I've seen 'em rip an' romp To find some house rent stomp I've seen society of the South Side variety Strutting to some strut-in moonshine And for what else but more moonshine, chittlins, bread, an' gin I saw a hungry man eat all of the gut strings on a violin [Chorus] Down at a chittlin rag They played a fiddlin' drag I took my pencil out in all that scrouge And named that music "Gouge" For the landlords, Chicago's gouge And for the swell broads, they really gouge [Bridge] I gouged the beauty from thе blues Poured in some boilin' jazz Stirrеd in a little spirits Not the kind the spiritual has I gouged the lock on ragtime melody With a minor key Stole some pickled beats from Charleston Pat In one flat [Chorus] Down at a chittlin rag They played a fiddlin' drag They did a wicked dance, all in a scrouge I called that dance the gouge Till now they're dancing, Chicago gouge It's so entrancing, the Chicago gouge