tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post7964835917458769729..comments2024-03-28T07:58:41.643-04:00Comments on pancocojams: Eiizabeth Cotten - "Shake Sugaree" (sound file, lyrics, & meanings)Azizi Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-47053702879208330252024-01-20T14:28:12.733-05:002024-01-20T14:28:12.733-05:00Greetings, Anonymous. Thanks for your comment and...Greetings, Anonymous. Thanks for your comment and your explanation of "down in pawn". You (and others) have convinced me that Elizabeth Cotten sung in "down in pawn" "Shake Sugaree". I'll make that correction in my transcription with a note that I originally had transcribed those words as "done and pawned".<br />Thanks again.<br />Best wishes!Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-14194226503192130952024-01-20T11:56:27.674-05:002024-01-20T11:56:27.674-05:00I'm enamored with this song. The refrain sound...I'm enamored with this song. The refrain sounds to me like "down in pawn." That's a phrase I've heard old timers use fairly frequently. Although I could easily see "done and pawned" also being correct, that's just not what I'm hearing on the record. When you sell your items to a pawn shop, some people say you've pawn them, but truly, if you've pawned your items, they remain "in pawn" until you go and get them back, or they're sold by the shop after an agreed deadline. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-3569393458688748152023-09-17T13:19:22.261-04:002023-09-17T13:19:22.261-04:00Greetings, Todd S. Hyatt, thank you for correcting...Greetings, Todd S. Hyatt, thank you for correcting that error.<br /><br />My goodness! It's been more than ten years and I didn't realize I had made that mistake! <br /><br />I've corrected the name of that wonderful musician and songwriter in this post's title and in this post itself.<br /><br />Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-79094017323126573132023-09-17T11:44:55.558-04:002023-09-17T11:44:55.558-04:00Forgive me. I seldom post and don't publish m...Forgive me. I seldom post and don't publish my comments anywhere without identifying myself. I make no attempt to hide behind anonymity, which would be useless in any case. The omission was an oversight resulting from undue haste.<br /><br />The remarks above, shared on Sunday, September 17, 2023, regarding the proper spelling of musician and songwriter "Elizabeth Cotten," are mine: <br /><br />Todd S. Hyatt <br />Sheridan, the Republic of Wyoming <br /><br />Thanks to Azizi and to all at pancocojams for your consideration. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-89055228392710983682023-09-17T11:27:13.838-04:002023-09-17T11:27:13.838-04:00Thank you, Azizi Powell and interlocutors at panco...Thank you, Azizi Powell and interlocutors at pancocojams, for this fascinating and immensely helpful discussion of a beautiful and melancholy song. I love this recording by the songwriter, Elizabeth ("Libba") Cotten, and her 12-year-old granddaughter Brenda Joyce Evans. It goes straight to the heart and breaks it, yet at the same time uplifts my spirit and helps me get through the day.<br /><br />As we say out here in the northern Rocky Mountains, that's Big Medicine. <br /><br />There is one small matter that, with your indulgence, Azizi, I'd like to bring to your attention. Out of respect for the artist, a remarkable woman, and in the interest of historical accuracy, may I ask you to correct all renderings of "Cotton" to "Cotten." Some sources claim that "Elizabeth Cotton" is simply a "variation" of "Elizabeth Cotten," but I don't see how that holds up. "Cotton," it seems to me, is a mistake. Considering the clear and sincere desire of all participants in this exploration to understand "Shake Sugaree," I believe that we shouldn't encourage a perpetuation of this common error.<br /><br />The American treasure is "Elizabeth Cotten," not "Elizabeth Cotton."<br /><br />Incidentally: the finest, most beautiful, most exciting, most gracious, most vivacious, sweetest, coolest, godliest woman whom I've ever known is a descendant of Gullah islanders. I refer to her, a native of Georgetown, South Carolina, as the "sloe-eyed lady of the Lowcountry." Her name is always on my lips and permanently inscribed on my heart.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the "sloe-eyed lady of the Lowcountry" is much younger than I am and way out of my league. But I love her all the same. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-33443775851916130562022-11-30T17:22:29.202-05:002022-11-30T17:22:29.202-05:00Anonymous, thanks for your comment.
I agree that ...Anonymous, thanks for your comment.<br /><br />I agree that your interpretation of this song could be accurate - that the person has a serious drug habit. However, I don't think it's the only possible reason that someone would pawn all their belongings.<br /><br />Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-60774366099124573772022-11-29T21:15:55.042-05:002022-11-29T21:15:55.042-05:00If a person is pawning everything they own they ha...If a person is pawning everything they own they have a serious habit to support. Unbelievable that all the "guessing" as to the "meaning" of the song overlooks this obvious point...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-73093095977429093532022-08-08T19:01:33.177-04:002022-08-08T19:01:33.177-04:00Thanks, Anonymous for sharing that information.
I ...Thanks, Anonymous for sharing that information.<br />I added a note about your comment in the post itself.<br />Best wishes!<br /> Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-15217662992066862982022-08-08T01:50:22.569-04:002022-08-08T01:50:22.569-04:00A "ground pea shell" is right since a &q...A "ground pea shell" is right since a "ground pea" was a common alternative name for a peanut. The peanut had a number of alternate names and that was one of them. Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-60524438651553307152022-06-26T07:54:57.345-04:002022-06-26T07:54:57.345-04:00Thanks Anonymous for sharing your comments about t...Thanks Anonymous for sharing your comments about this song. I appreciate it.Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-66539121221931027022022-06-26T00:49:54.656-04:002022-06-26T00:49:54.656-04:00A lot of Elizabeth Cotten's songs are about dy...A lot of Elizabeth Cotten's songs are about dying, so I wouldn't dismiss the theory that this is one of them. To me, the song seems to be saying, "I lived a good and fulfilling life. Now I'm dying, so you can pawn all my things because I don't need them anymore." The lines about going to heaven reinforce this, as well as the mention that raising Cain won't be any use (i.e. there's no reason to fuss over her things being sold because she'll be dead).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-14155602665195228942022-04-08T08:53:24.357-04:002022-04-08T08:53:24.357-04:00Thanks for your comment, Unknown.
Here's a li...Thanks for your comment, Unknown.<br /><br />Here's a link to a YouTube video of Rhiannon Giddens performing "Shake Sugaree": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIEIbuh71o" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIEIbuh71o</a>.Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-47818221373452594552022-04-08T07:00:43.945-04:002022-04-08T07:00:43.945-04:00Check out the excellent version by Rhiannon Gidden...Check out the excellent version by Rhiannon Giddens!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787520506318600101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-2555099228026229402022-01-21T18:00:43.853-05:002022-01-21T18:00:43.853-05:00Thanks Miles for your comments. (Thanks also to Un...Thanks Miles for your comments. (Thanks also to Unknown whose comment I'm just reading).<br /><br />I appreciate your thoughts about this song, but I stand by my belief that I shared in this post: "Although "Shake Sugaree" was originally sung by a twelve year old, I believe that its lyrics are written in the voice of an older person who is looking back on her or his life, reminiscing about the hardships of that life, but still saying "I had some real good times"." Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-25308310165981553492022-01-21T15:58:26.450-05:002022-01-21T15:58:26.450-05:00Upon further reflection, my second interpretation ...Upon further reflection, my second interpretation doesn't make sense. If the narrator's intention was renunciation in preparation of dying, there wouldn't be any reason to pawn the items. My new thought is that the song could be about pawning things in order to become free from debt, to "shake sugaree". Maybe?Mileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05164359456325552849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-21227080952706331002022-01-21T15:54:19.718-05:002022-01-21T15:54:19.718-05:00I had that impression too before I had any context...I had that impression too before I had any context about the writing of the song. It's fascinating to me that this was written by children!<br /><br />Though I have to say I'm surprised that none of the above interpretations take into account the verses of the songs, which are alternately all about pawning one's belongings and "goin' to heaven"! From that context, in lieu of the drug interpretation, I would think that the song could be either about recklessly pawning all of one's possessions for money in order to have a good time or about pawning one's possessions in an act of spiritual renunciation at the end of life before "goin' to heaven." I could be totally off, though. Mileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05164359456325552849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-30582723995397560092021-04-08T20:34:37.482-04:002021-04-08T20:34:37.482-04:00When I first heard that tune, I thought sugaree wa...When I first heard that tune, I thought sugaree was a nickname for cocaine. My sense is that the song was about a coke addiction. It was something most difficult to shake. Everything was pawned because of it. While it was joyous, it was also sad and Iife-wrecking. This is why it was a secret. However, the other interpretations are most fascinating.<br />Sounds like I’m completely off-base.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03399446446679360232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-41139222945418644002019-07-26T13:46:18.786-04:002019-07-26T13:46:18.786-04:00You're welcome, Katie.
I love learning about ...You're welcome, Katie.<br /><br />I love learning about these songs and sharing that information.<br /><br />I'm glad I have the time and wherewithal to do so.<br /><br />Best wishes!Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-32710477769399336212019-07-26T12:32:06.383-04:002019-07-26T12:32:06.383-04:00Thank you, Azizi! This is the best resource I'...Thank you, Azizi! This is the best resource I've found discussing the origins and possible meaning of this song. I so appreciate your dedication to telling these important stories.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15402282425015228319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-37357838080119061512018-08-23T11:36:42.969-04:002018-08-23T11:36:42.969-04:00Aah, thank you Ms. Azizi.:)Aah, thank you Ms. Azizi.:)Skilletlickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177250940136288098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-88787112011001377302018-08-22T20:16:23.168-04:002018-08-22T20:16:23.168-04:00Skilletlicker, thanks for your comments.
I think ...Skilletlicker, thanks for your comments.<br /><br />I think you mean "old worldly" instead of "whirly" :o)Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-11793197715838584782018-08-22T14:15:02.903-04:002018-08-22T14:15:02.903-04:00Admire all the academic and archival research to j...Admire all the academic and archival research to justify various ideas but the one that satisfies me is that it is a refers to shooting craps - unsuccessfully - pawning your stuff to raise another stake - etc.<br /><br />Not saying the venerable Libby Cotten was a gambler mind you, but I don't she started out learning church music, and when she gave them up to please the deacon I doubt she really lost her appreciation for those old whirly(sp?) songs.<br /><br />So I may well be wrong but that's the way I'll always "hear" it.Skilletlickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177250940136288098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-3625272669730963842018-06-04T02:12:46.607-04:002018-06-04T02:12:46.607-04:00Thanks Azizi - One Love!Thanks Azizi - One Love!Richard1https://www.blogger.com/profile/02718739733851527689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-12024210077960627652018-06-03T06:15:29.521-04:002018-06-03T06:15:29.521-04:00Greetings, Richardt.
Thanks for alerting me and o...Greetings, Richardt.<br /><br />Thanks for alerting me and others at pancocojams to those YouTube examples.<br /><br />Here's those hyperlinks:<br /><br /><a href="https://vimeo.com/177880338" rel="nofollow">https://vimeo.com/177880338</a> SanDance! - Rieldansteaser [South African dancers "The 'Trappers won in the ethnic/folk dance category at the 2015 World Dance Championships in Los Angeles."<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVCpPNnXvc&t=36s" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVCpPNnXvc&t=36s</a> Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers [San/Bushman music and dance]<br /><br />and<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIEIbuh71o" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIEIbuh71o</a> Rhiannon Giddens - Shake Sugaree <br /><br />****<br />One Love!Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-27200293682079526152018-06-02T17:13:37.575-04:002018-06-02T17:13:37.575-04:00Hi Azizi & friends. Love the song and versions...Hi Azizi & friends. Love the song and versions; and this great discussion. We have echoes of these kind of folk fusions here in South Africa. I like your theory #4 about a Native American echo; we have echoes of San/Bushman music in contemporary folk fusion here like Rieldans. See: <br />https://vimeo.com/177880338<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVCpPNnXvc&t=36s<br /><br />Love Rhiannon Giddens versions - this is how I got here:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIEIbuh71o<br /><br />(And this song reminds me of someone too dear to me for words...)<br />Richard1https://www.blogger.com/profile/02718739733851527689noreply@blogger.com