"The Panic Is On" Hezekiah & Dorothy Jenkins from Blues & Jazz Obscurities (1923-1931) Hezekiah Jenkins 1930-31 The Panic Is On Blues & Jazz Obscurities
THE PANIC IS ON
What this country is comin' to
I sure would like to know
If they don't do something bye and bye,
The rich will live and the poor will die
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on
Can't get no work, can't draw no pay,
Unemployment getting worser every day
Nothing to eat and no place to sleep,
All night long folks walkin' the street
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on.
Saw a man this morning walkin' down the street
In his BVDs, no shoes on his feet.
You ought to seen the women callin' in the flats
I could hear 'em sayin', 'What kind of man is that?'
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on
All the landlords done raised the rent
Folks that ain't broke is badly bent
Where they get the dough from, goodness knows
But, if they don't produce it, in the street they go
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on
Some play the numbers, some read your mind,
They all got a racket of some kind
Some trimmin' corns off of people's feet,
They got to do something to make ends meet
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on
Some women are sellin' apples, some sellin' pies,
Some sellin' gin and rye
Some sellin' socks to support they man,
In fact, some are sellin' everything they can
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on
I pawned my clothes and everything,
Pawned my jewellery, watch and my ring
Pawned my razor and my gun
So, if luck don't change, there'll be some stealin' done
Dog-gone, I mean the panic is on.
Old prohibition ruined everything,
That's why I'm forced to sing
Here's one thing you all want to hear:
Until they bring back light wine, gin and beer,
Dog-gone, the panic will be on
Author and performer: Hezekiah Jenkins. Original recording 16 January 1931 Columbia 14585-D.
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