Which Universities' Marcning Bands Are The Best -HBCUs or PWIs? (2025 Showtime YouTube Video & Comments)

 
Sh0wTime, Dec 8, 2025

Keep God first. Love you guys.

🎥: JSU Bands, Ocean of Soul Media, Human Jukebox Media, Norfolk State University Spartan Legion, The Marching 100, Marching Hornet Media, Freshness Media, BGMM Media, ShowtimeWeb, A1Media Bands, Smash Time Productions, Aristocrat of Bands, The University of Texas Longhorn Band, Michigan Marching Band, Auburn Bands, The Ohio State University Marching Band, UGARedcoatBand, The Penn State Blue Band

[...]

AI-generated video summary

"Sh0wTime dives deep into the HBCU vs. PWI band rivalry. Explore the distinct musical styles, traditions, and showmanship of each. Discover the history and cultural impact of these iconic marching bands."
-snip-
Statistics as of March 6, 2026 at *:34 AM EST

total # of views -101,539

total # of comments - 643

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a December 2025 Showtime video about the differences between HBCU marching bands and PWI marching bands.

This post also presents a few selected comments from that video's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Showtime for producing and publishing this video. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
HBCU= Historically Black Colleges and Universities

PWI= Predominately White Institutions
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/08/two-comedic-re-enactments-comparing.html for the 2024 pancocojams post "Two Videos Of Black Stand Up Comics Comparing The Marching Styles Of Historically Black Universities And Non-Historically Black University Bands (with information & comments)."

****
SELECTED COMMENTS
(Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uIHGNVcZQw

January 2026

1. @BoatsandHeauxs
"I couldn’t even get 12 secs into the video. I’d rather read the comments because we ALL know the answer."

**
Reply
2.@J4Eddy208
"2:29 “You could accidentally play a wrong and terrible sound” as one of the greatest hbcu trumpet players ever is on the screen is crazy work"

**
Reply
3.@Sh0wTime_101
"lol, yeah Ik he goes crazy I just used this clip as more of a b roll film cuz I couldn’t find anything else 💀

**
4.@kryptism
"The difference is when HBCU bands hit the field, nobody leaves their seats! But when PWl bands hit the field, everyone go for a bathroom break & a beer run!😉"

** 

Reply
5.@l0af_o
"Also at PWI they feel free to cut through the band when theyre marching. Blew my mind when I saw that"

**
Reply
6.@katieinvalpo
" @l0af_o  Not at Purdue. That does not happen"

**
Reply
7.@Dlo2tuff
"I would agree but you got schools like auburn Bama lsu and Ohio state"

**
Reply
8.@kryptism
"And who they learned that from?​ @Dlo2tuff !🤔"

**
Reply
9. @n4nao
" @kryptism what does this even mean they learned from having a good college band program that arranged halftime shows well😭"

**
Reply
10.@sierragurth7322
"​ @kryptism  Ohio State literally set the standard for Core Style Marching Bands across the US."

**
11.@crmurray04
"Both are good when they stick to their style of entertainment. That's why I always roll my eyes when PWIs play Neck, Swag Surf, and anything that is culturally ours. We did it for so long and then it's like one Fall, two SEC bands went to an HBCU and took a handful of stadium songs. The reactions are not the same in any context and it always shows."

**
12.@pearlyouniverse8553
"There is no versus. HBCUs are the standard, the rule, the goal for marching bands."

**
Reply
13. @kRod200, Feb. 2026
"The standard and goal for marching bands is drum corps, every marching musician’s dream is to go to the Blue Devils or Santa Clara Vanguard or Boston Crusaders only the very best get in."

**
Reply
14. @pearlyouniverse8553, Feb. 2026
"​@kRod200 Best is subjective, and certainly, the standards have been influenced greatly by the Black American drum corps and HBCUs.

They absolutely set the precedent and created a culture of competitive drum major elites."

***
Reply
15. @AkashaDreamsDotCom
"Wouldn't the standard be the first marching bands? Were they black? No."

**
Reply
16. @pearlyouniverse8553
"​@AkashaDreamsDotCom STANDARD - Noun

1. a level of quality or attainment.

Similar:

quality

level

grade

degree

worth

calibre

merit

excellence

2. Something used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations."

**
Reply
17. @anthonybarnes1903
" @AkashaDreamsDotCom  much of what we see from modern marching bands is strongly influenced by African American military veterans. Even if they weren’t the first ones to do it."

**
18.@registeredtrademark...3852
"in a nutshell the PWI bands are stealing/hijacking poorly everything from HBCU bands, the neck song, the back bend drum major, the head bob, everything PWIs have never done of their own initiative..."

**
Reply
19. @kay-collins
"Exactly!!"

**
Reply
20. @MrGrombie, Feb 2026
"Ehhhh...... By that same argument, where are Trumpets, trombones, clarinets..... in African culture?

When people are putting on a show, don't complain and just enjoy.

Ain't no one stealing......

This is what WE BOTH enjoy. Don't ruin it by having a victim based mindset for no reason.

 

That said, I say the same thing to white people who have the same dumb mentality as you.

So don't think I am in it for the BS.

Art is meant for everyone.

That is what we ALL SHARE. Grow up.

We are all pink on the inside.

And this universe is already dangerous enough without us trying to make enemies where there are none."

****
21. @dragonfang579
"Umm...the difference is PWI bands  weren't doing ANY OF THAT "Funky Stuff" until they SAW the HBCU bands doing it"

**
Reply
22. @Santiago-in1xf
"They saw "Bring It On" and thought, we should do that with bands too."
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bring_It_On_(film)
"Bring It On is a 2000 American teen comedy film directed by Peyton Reed (in his theatrical film directing debut) and written by Jessica Bendinger. …. The plot of the film centers on two high-school cheerleading teams' preparation for a national competition.

Bring It On was released in theaters in North America on August 25, 2000, and became a box office success. The film opened at the number 1 spot in North American theaters and remained in the position for two consecutive weeks, earning a worldwide gross of approximately $90 million. The film received generally positive reviews and has become a cult classic.[3][4][5]

[...]

The film's depiction of cultural appropriation was informed by Bendinger's experiences as a white writer covering hip hop artists at music magazine Spin, a predominantly white publication.[7][8] ....

It is the first of the Bring It On film series and was followed by six direct-to-video sequels, none of which contains any of the original cast members [from 2004 to 2017] and the 2022 TV film.”…
-snip-
Click https://cocojams2.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-influence-of-bring-it-on-movies-on.html for the 2014 cocojams2 post "The Influence Of "Bring It On" Movies On Children's Cheerleading".

cocojams2 is another blog that I voluntarily curate.

**
Reply
23. @oculusdexterx, Feb. 2026
"@Santiago-in1xf  NOPE THEY SAW DRUMLINE!!! LITERARILY TWO YEARS AFER THAT MOVIE PWI STARTED COPYING BLACK MARCHING BAND STYLE. IT HONESTLY PISSES ME OFF. THE ONLY THING LEFT IS STEPPING. GOOD A THING WE STILL DO IT BETTER AND WE INNOVATE"
-snip-
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drumline_(film)
"Drumline is a 2002 American coming-of-age teen comedy-drama film directed by Charles Stone III. The screenplay, which was inspired by the Southwest Dekalb High School Marching Panthers in Decatur, Georgia, was written by Tina Gordon Chism and Shawn Schepps. The film follows a young drummer from New York, played by Nick Cannon, who enters the fictional Atlanta A&T University and bumps heads with the leader of his new school's drum section....

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with most of them praising the musical bands' overall performances. It was a success at the box office, earning over $56 million in the U.S., and almost $1.2 million in foreign markets"...
**
Reply
24. @ShanecaRene, Feb 2026
"​​@oculusdexterx  you know they say imitation is the best form of flattery..if I were them I'd copy the HBCU bands too 😂"

**
Reply
25, @lillybart-s9i
"yes, you saw in the clip he picked--he was using a PWI band doing "Neck" which was invented by HBCU bands.  The PWI bands are now trying to imitate some of the HBCU songs.
-snip-
,24-,34 in this embedded video is of a PWI band playing the African American funk music group Cameo's 1984 hit "Talkin' Out The Side Of Your Neck" (commonly known as "Neck" in HBCU marching band culture.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/03/what-talkin-out-side-of-your-neck-means.html for Part I of this series. Part I provides definitions of the African American Vernacular English saying "talking out the side of your neck" and showcases a YouTube video of Funk group Cameo's 1984 recording of that song. Song lyrics and selected comments from that video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

Click for https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/03/comments-videos-of-marching-band-tune.html for Part II of that series. That post is entitled "Comments & Videos Of The Marching Band Tune "Neck" ("Talkin' Out The Side Of Your Neck")".  

**
Reply
26. @mylokaf
"PWI bands used to thumb their noses at HBCU bands. But like always, they eventually started adopting some of the same things we were doing. You also see this in white churches, etc.."

**
Reply
27. @vrjanice2
"Now the Koreans are doing it now too."

**
Reply
28. @cameronbelcher5857
"They saw the movie drum line and that's when they started to copy them!"

**
Reply
29. @Geopirate3
"PWI bands changed when Black people started going to them in decent numbers. 2 of the PWI bands he pointed out Auburn and Georgia have Black folks too. It's clearly not the same level as an HBCU, but 30-50 Black folks out of a band of 300 makes a difference."

**
Reply
30. @JG-tr9py
"All they know how to do is bite.  They duplicate, but can NEVER  replicate."

**
Reply
31. @EyeOfTheWatcher
"No one should be surprised by the copying of HBCU bands. I think I like the most about HBCUs bands is that all of them have their own styles that are a reflection of the black people of that area."

**
32. @josebrown5961
"I think that they copy the HBCU bands because their normal music is boring and ordinary."

**
Reply
33. @Ulyseessmith
"@josebrown5961 true for the most part. Their music can be fun but it’s not until a bunch does it. Jackson states arrangement for Applause by Lady Gaga made the song listenable and the dancers killed it too😂"

**
Reply
34. @69TT
"They can copy all they want but the energy, soul & natural physicality required to do what HBCU's do is virtually impossible you can't fake the funk"

**
Reply
35. @cathyrussell6257
"Exactly!"

**
Reply
36. @carameldelight5814
"That part😂😂"

**
Reply
37. @tzompantliblanco
"natural physicality?"

**
Reply
38. @69TT
"@tzompantliblanco  yes those grueling relentless practices while carrying instruments and staying in rhythm while dancing their natural physical strength enables them to pull off flawless performances all of that comes from birth born to endure what would seem painful for some they do it because of their Gods given natural physical strength"

**
Reply
39. @LisaEllis-rt3xh, Feb 2026
"Amen!"

**
Reply
40. @LisaEllis-rt3xh, Feb 2026
"Facts!"

**
41.@therealmccoy2004
"First off "neck" is a HBCU song its not PWI! YOU started this video wrong already!"

**
Reply
42. @RobotRebelCinema
"It was a PWI playing the song. A LOT of  PWI's have been playing Neck for years. And the one you heard in the video was most likely LSU."

**
Reply
43. @googlea2692
"@RobotRebelCinema

Yes but lsu gets the chant from southern a hbcu"

**
Reply
44.@dragonfang579
"​ @RobotRebelCinema no...they have not...PWIs started playing those songs very very recently...check out a game film from those bands pre-1990s-00s they sound like a band from 1776...save a few Movie soundtracks"

**
Reply
45. @dragonfang579
"@RobotRebelCinema ...comparatively..... not long at all"

**
Reply
46. @Spectonimous
"@RobotRebelCinema a decade is not that long"

**
Reply
47. @dragonfang579
"@RobotRebelCinema Neck is a VA-HBCU ANTHEM originally"

**
48. @God_First_6_33
"HBCUs-People come for the musicianship of the band

PWI-People come for the game....My thoughts."

**
Reply
49. @blaquepearlzchocolatediamndz77, Feb 2026
"We ALWAYS have to put some flava into it 😂"

**
Reply
50. @FunkyBruja,  Feb. 2026
"There is absolutely no comparison."

**
Reply
51. @courtneycuthrell4550< Feb 2026
"Just like all things HBCU's  & black folks have done. We created it they just hate and then  try to duplicate. We are and always wiil be the originals because were just built like that. Love my people. ❤❤❤

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

List Of Chants And Songs From Historically Black Fraternities & Sororities (S - V) Complete Reprint

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is a complete reprint of the sixth page of a seven page alphabetical collection of chants and songs from historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs).

That pancocojams page was originally published on March 17, 2015 and is still available on this blog. However, any other BGLO songs or chants that are published after March 5, 2026 will only be added to this 2026 post.  

This page includes examples whose titles begin with S-V.

Click
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black.html for Numbers to B.

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black_16.html for C-F

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black_17.html for G-J

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black_14.html for K-N

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black_53.html for O-R

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black_65.html for W-Z

****
These chants are from the nine university based, historically Black Greek fraternities and sororities that are informally referred to as "the Divine Nine".
 Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council for information about the fraternities and sororities which are referred to by this term.

Examples in this compilation that are given without attribution are from visitors to my now retired cultural website cocojams.com.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

Thanks to all those organizations whose chants and songs are featured in this collection. Also, thanks to all those who directly contributed examples of these chants & songs to my no longer active cocojams.com website or to this pancocojams blog.

****
DISCLAIMER: This series is not meant to be a complete list of Black Greek letter organization chants and songs.

****
More information about some of these examples and additional selected examples of historically Black Greek organization chants, songs, and culture can be found in other pancocojams posts. 

****
Pancocojams Editor's Note: Historically Black Greek letter fraternity or sorority songs and chants should only be recited or performed by persons who are affiliated with that specific fraternity or sorority.

****
EXAMPLES (S-V)
Examples with the same title or first line are given in relative chronological order based on their posting date, their retrieval online or collection date by me, or the date that I recall learning or hearing the examples.

SAID I WASN'T GOING TO TELL NOBODY
Said I wasn't going to tell nobody
A Phi A A Phi A
But listen people I've got to shout it
A Phi A A Phi A

The Kappas and the Sigmas
They got some soul:
A Phi A A Phi A
But they just can't compare
with the black and gold.

So listen Q's you'd better step aside.
But a lot of Q's didn't and a lot of Q's died.
Oh, A Phi A A Phi A
(Repeat twice)
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection, permission granted to post on Cocojams.com, 3/20/2010
-snip-
The musical inspiration for this Alpha chant is the African American Spiritual "I Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody".

****
SIGMA GAMMA RHO IS THE WAY TO GO
Sigma Gamma Rho is the way to go
We're going to break it down so you know.
We're not the first but that matters least
Because there's three rough drafts before the masterpiece

Sigma Gamma Rho is the way to go
We're going to break it down so you know.
We're not the first but that matters least
Because there's three rough drafts before the masterpiece

Yeeeeeeeeoooooooop!
- 1990s/1999s Black Greek Soundz CD
-snip-
This was reposted on 3/21/2010 with permission from that website's editor

****
SEE THEM GIRLS OVER THERE
See them girls over there...
They lookin at the Nupes
See them girls over there...
They lookin at the Nupes
Whats up
whats down
whats all around
Nupes Nupes my brothers
we here in town
-YeahImNasty; http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=6 Kappa/Stroller chants; 3/31/2011

****
SKEE WEE MY SORORS
S-K-Double E - W Double E
Skee Wee, My Sorors. Skee Wee
Skeeeeee- Weeeeeee!
S-K-Double E - W Double E
Skee Wee, My Sorors. Skee Wee
Skeeeeee- Weeeeeee!
A-L-P-H-A
K-A-P-P-A
A-L-P-H-A
Whooo those AKA's

An Ahhka is what a Delta ain't
What a Zeta couldn't
What a SGRho can't
What the Kappas like
What the Ques loves
What APhiA can't get enough of us

S-K-Double E - W Double E
Skee Wee, My Sorors Skee Wee
Skeeeeee- Weeeeeee!

One plus one is two
Two plus one is three
You better watch you man
Because your man is watching me

Four plus four is eight
One more is nine
If you didn't pledge AKA
Then watch you waste your time

Skee Wee, My Sorors. Skee Wee
Skeeeeee- Weeeeeee!
Skee Wee, My Sorors. Skee Wee
Skeeeeeeeeeeeee- Weeeeeeeeeee!
-1990s/1999 Black Greek Soundz (CD), re-posted on 3/19/2010 with permission from that website's editor
-snip-
Other examples of "one plus one is two" are found in the "O" page of this collection.

****
SGRHO IS IN THE HOUSE
Stop what ya doin
SGRHO is in the house!
and when we're on the floor,
u know we ALWAYS turn it out!
As I flipped my hair,
I made a Kappa stare-
As I turned it out
I made a Alpha shout-
Sigmas,Iotas and Ques?
Yeah, they want me too!
EEE-YIP!
I love my Gold and Blue!
- 3xthelady1922, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?s=ccb66641f027f73cbecde, 02-23-2006,

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SOUL STEPPING SORORS OF DST
[Examples are given in the Part 7 of this compilation (W-Z) under the title "Who Are We"] 

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SOUL STEPPING SORORS - ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA
[i haven't found the words to this chant, but here's a link to a YouTube sound file:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LDEd6Wm9xE published by Alisha Lola Jones, PhD,  Jan 14, 2012

I haven't attempted to transcribe that chant yet.

Here's a comment from that sound file's discussion thread:

@gooodies4u1, 2023
"As a older AKA its amazing to see how the songs been modified over the years." -snip- Unfortunately, this commenter didn't respond to a request for the words that she knew for this chant.]

****

STAY STRONG
It’s a long hard road to Omegaland.
Do you think that I will see you
on the other side?

Are you really worthy
of the land of the purple and the gold?
Will you succeed?
Will you cross the burning sands?
Are you worthy?
It’s a long hard road to Omega.
See it through.
Impress me.
-Anonymous, from notes in Q Pearl book, 1991 Edinboro University, posted by Azizi Powell

****
SWEET AS CANDY
The Elephants are mad
The Ivy’s are sad
The doves have flown away
That’s just too bad
Sweet as candy Sweet as pie
I love Sigma Gamma Rho until I die!
- from http://ms_quiet.tripod.com/chants.html, retreived 12/8/2012
-snip-
This Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority chant disses the other historically Black Greek letter sororities by mentioning their mascot/symbols: "elephants" = Delta Sigma Theta, "ivy" = Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta = dove.

****

T,U,V

TAKE IT SLOW
Soloist: Ladies, sometimes you've got to...
Sololist & Group: Take it slow
Admire the blue and gold
You've got to take a rest
To view the very best
You've better take your time
So it won't blow your mind
And when we come to the end
We just might just do it again.
Yeeeeoooop!
- 1990s/1999 Black Greek Soundz (CD), Sigma Gamma Rho chants, reposted on
on 3/19/2010 with permission from that website's editor
-snip-
Sigma Gamma Rho's colors are royal blue and gold.

****
TELL ME WHY*

Somebody tell me why

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Oh, I wanna know,

I need to know,

I gotta know

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

 

Somebody tell me why

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Oh, I wanna know,

I need to know,

I gotta know

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)


I go to sleep at six

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

And wake up early at eight.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

I go to see my big brothers

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Oh, but I’m always late.

Somebody tell me why

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Oh, I wanna know,

I need to know,

I gotta know

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

I gotta ache in my bones

Zoom Zoom Zoom)

And I just wanna go home.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

I want to see my sweet baby

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Because I feel so alone.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Somebody tell me why

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Why were we treated so bad

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Oh, I wanna know,

I need to know,

I gotta know

Why were we treated so bad.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

I get down on my knees

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Down on my knees to pray.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Oh, I heard a voice,

I heard a voice,

I heard a voice,

I heard a voice say

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Don’t you give up and quit.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

Just hold your head up high

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)

‘Cause that’s what makes a man

What makes a man,

What makes a man

Of Omega Psi Phi.

(Zoom Zoom Zoom)
-Kevin McCall, Tell Me why? Omega Psi Phi pledge song, Nov 23, 2008, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvJWPKPAlHE
-snip-
This is an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity pledge song. This song is an adaptation of the 1965 Staples Singers song "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)."

Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions and corrections are welcome.

****

TESTIFY
(Song for Serenade - Tune "I Want To Testify")

Friends, inquisitive friends are asking what's come over me.
Change, there's been a change and A Phi A.

Girls are walking around me, and taking me by surprise,
And I'm a brown-eyed Alpha, You can see it in my eyes.

Now it was just a little while ago, my life was incomplete.
I was just so doggone low and Alpha pulled me to my feet. A Phi A

Chorus

Don't you know that I just want to testify
What Alpha has done for me.
(Repeat)
Hm---- Hm----
Alpha, Soul Fraternity.
(Repeat)
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection, permission granted to post on Cocojams.com, 3/20/2010
-snip-
The musical inspiration for this song is the 1967 R&B song "I Just Want To Testify" by the Parliaments. "Testify" here is used in its African American church context of publicly sharing examples of what God (The Lord) has done in your life. That meaning is expanded to refer to publicly sharing good news with others, and is also expanded to mean telling the truth about something or someone.

****
THE ONLY FRATERNITY
Don't let my son go Alpha,
A dying mother said.
Don't let him go Kappa,
I'd rather see him dead.
Don't let him go Sigma!
It's just a club you see.
But let him go Omega!
It's the only Fraternity.
-http://eoques.com/files/reclamation-retention_handbook.pdf
The Episolon Omega Chapter Reclamation Kit Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 2008, retrieved
8/12/2012]

****
THEIR SORORITY HAS A FIRST NAME (Example #1)
Their Sorority has a first name
(it's A-L-P-H-A)
Their Sorority has a second name
(it's K-A-P-PA)
Their Sorority has a third name
(it's A-L-P-H-A)
THEIR SORORITY, AS YOU CAN SEE, ACCEPTS THE REJECTS OF DST!
-Guest,OO-OOP; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=103135, Fraternity & Sorority Chants & Songs; 1/3/2010
-snip-
This version of this chant is from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. "DST" is the initials for the historically Black Greek letter sorority Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. "OO-OOP" is Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's signature call. This example insults another historically Black Greek letter organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Example #2 for a very similar chant from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's point of view.

Among the university based African American (Greek lettered) sororities, DST (the Deltas) and AKA (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.) have a "history" that has created a rather intense rivalry.

This 'dissin' chant is based on the rather widely known Oscar Mayer hot dog jingle.

****
THEIR SORORITY HAS A FIRST NAME (Example #2)
[Sung to the Oscar Meyers song]

Their Sorority has a first name
Its d-e-l-t-a
Their sorority has a second name
Its s-i-g-m-a
Their sorority has a third name
Its t-h-e-t-a
Cuz dst has a way of accepting rejects of AKA
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Sigma chapter, http://orgs.tamu-commerce.edu/esig1908/chants.htm, Retrieved 3/7/2010

****
THE WAY I FLIP MY HAIR
The way I flip my hair I make the Kappa’s stare
The way I turn it out I make the Alphas shout
The Sigma’s and the Que’s, Yeah they want me too
EEEE-YIP I LOVE MY GOLD AND BLUE!!!!!
THEY TELL US WE'RE SMART
-http://greeks.astate.edu/sigmagammarho/chants.htm, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. chants, retrieved 6/22/2010

****
THEY TELL US THAT WE'RE SO SMART
Here is a chant that we used in step shows and it became a signature step for Sigma Gamma Rho because we stepped with books.

They tell us that we’re smart as if something is wrong,
Knowing that good grades is what everyone wants.
They tell us aiming high is really not that great,
And then we turn to say: at least we make our grades ( or “at least we graduate”)
-rhoyalty22 5/5/2005
-snip-
This contributor's name signals that she is a member of the historically Black Greek letter organization ty Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

****
THEY WANT SOME SKEE-WEE

Loved by the Alphas
Chased by K A Psi
Wanted by the Sigmas
Now the Qs want to try

They want some skee-wee, skee-wee (skeeee-weeee)
Skee-wee, skee-wee (skeeee-weeee)

You wish you had a nickel
You wish you had a dime
You wish you had an AKA
To love you all the time

You wish you had a quarter
You wish you had a dollar
You wish you had an AKA
To make you scream and holler.

They want some skee-wee, skee-wee (skeeee-weeee)
Skee-wee, skee-wee (skeeee-weeee)

A-skeet-on, skeet-skeet, skeet-skee-wee
A-skeet-on, skeet-skeet, skeet-skee-wee
A-skeet-on, skeet-skeet, skeet-skee-wee
A-skeet-on, skeet-skeet, skeet-skee-wee

-snip-
Here's a sound file of this Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chant:

They want some skee-wee

Alisha Lola Jones, PhD, Jan 14, 2012

****
THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER (Version #1)
This is a Serious Matter
Yes
This is a Serious Matter
Yes Yes
Alpha Kappa Alpha
A-K-A
Sororities take note
We paved your way
So if your not AKA
You went the wrong WAY!
-AKA soror, (Pittsburgh, PA), from private electronic email to Azizi Powell, 8/13/04
-snip-
"This Is A Serious Matter" appears to be the most widely known traditional Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. (AKA) chant. This chant and its accompanying side to side signature step movement have become signature parts of the culture of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. sorority.

The complete lyrics to "This is a Serious Matter" chant vary among different chapters or within the same chapter at different points in time. "This Is A Serious Matter" is usually composed of two line rhyming verses that state the history of the sorority, praise the sorority and its members, and/or diss (insult) other sororitiies.

Many versions of this chant start with the step team saying "1 9 0 8" . This is the date that Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded. Most versions of "This Is A Serious Matter" include a reference to the fact that Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc was the first Black sorority. Each version of this chant includes the refrain "This Is a SERIOUS matter". However, a step team may only repeated the words "This is a serious matter; this is a serious, serious, serious matter".

My sense is that what "is a serious matter" is the sorority itself- its history, its ideals, its present activities, and its members' commitment to that organization.

"This Is A Serious Matter" is performed using a distinctive step movement. Each member of the step team holds their hands in an "Egyptian dance" pose [with their hands held palms down and sideways right below their waist]. Other "Egyptian-like" poses are performed throughout this routine while the steppers move from side to side to the beat of the chant.

For the record, I "went over" (became a member of AKA Sorority, Inc) in 1967-Gamma Zeta chapter, New Jersey. Members of the state's graduate chapter pledged my line. We only stepped a couple of times, and I don't remember learning "This is a Serious Matter".

I'm not sure when the "This Is A Serious Matter" chant was first composed. If anyone remembers this chant from the late 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, please share that information.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority-inc-this-is.html for a pancocojams post on "This Is A Serious Matter".
-snip-
Here's a video of one version of this Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chant:

AKA Step...A Serious Matter



Jasmin Whittington, Uploaded on Jan 31, 2009

****
THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER (Version #2)
We are the first black greek sorority.
Not DST, Not ZPhiB.
Sigma Gamma Rho. I don't think so.
Is it red and white? Is it red and gold?
Delta Sigma Theta you don't even know
Because on one bright and sunny day
all of your founders pledged AKA.
So greet me Delta and step back in line
because you don't know who you are
and you can't make up your mind." ...
This is a serious matter! YES!
This is a serious matter!
-The "Sensational" Sigma Epsilon Chapter' Spring 2003 [?]; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmvCmuFfycM&feature=related
-snip-
This transcription was posted as a comment by video viewer Psionix9 in 2008.

That video is no longer accessible.

****
THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER (Version #3)
I woke up this morning, jumped out of bed,
looked in the mirror and i SHOOK my pretty head
Okay they say i'm conceited, that is no lie....
I'LL BE A CONCEITED AKA UNTIL THE DAY THAT I DIE!
Pretty in pink, gorgeous in green
Since 1908, We've rained supreme!
This is a serious matter! YES!
This is a serious matter! YES, YES!
Alpha Kappa Alpha! (Alpha Kappa Alpha!)
SWEET AKA! (SWEET AKA!)
The first black sorority (echo)
WE PAVED THE WAY! (echo)
THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER!
-Guest, Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=103135&messages=76,
3/10/2010

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THIS IS MY PINKIE
This is my pinkie (hold up pinkie)
And this is my hand (hold out hand)
It's just like an AKA to take your man
You're mad about your boyfriend
And that's no lie
It takes a real ALPHA Woman to keep him satisfied
So get yourself together and put your man on a leash
because he'd rather be with beauty (sorors hold up your pinkie)
Than to be with the beast!

(sorors do the Delta's hand sign upside down. Should be an upside down triangle)
-soulforealAKA, http://www.stophazing.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000243
-snip-
This is a Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chant dissing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members.

"This is my pinkie" is a line from a children's playground taunt.

****
THIS TRAIN
This train don't carry no Zetas.
This train.
This train don't carry no Zetas
This train.
No.
This train just carries the Akas*
The [name of chapter] of Alpha Kappa Alpha
This train.

This train don't carry no Sigmas.
[Sing same words as above but substitute the word "Sigmas".]

This train don't carry no Deltas.
[Sing same words as above but substitute the word "Sigmas".]
-online source https://www.wattpad.com/44876415-alpha-hard-greek-life-our-night

*"Akas" is pronounced "ahkahs" in this song.
-snip-
This song is an adaptation of a Spiritual or Early Gospel song "This Train (Is Bound For Freedom").

****
TO THE LEFT
this goes to to the song Irreplacable by beyonce

to the left to the left
aka's yall went the wrong way
yall should of went rit wit tose delta's
yall know thats wats up.
yall went left with them sidissy akas
yall sould of went right
get yall minds rigt
yall cant even step
i bet yall cant even step to this tune
i bet yall couldnt talk and step at the same time

theres more
-Delta ; 8/13/2007
-snip-
The blogger identified the musical inspiration for this chant as "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé.

"tose" is probably a typo for "dose". "Dose" is an exaggerated African American Vernacular English form of the word "those".

"Sidissy" is a form of the African American vernacular word "saditty" which is from the word "society" and means "stuck up".

****
There are no examples in this collection that begin with the letter "u" or the letter "v".

****
This concludes part six of this seven part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

What Is The REAL Meaning of The African American Song "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground" That John Lomax Collected In 1940 In Alabama?

 

Knock John Booker (To The Low Ground)

 Mary McDonald - Topic, Sep 5, 2019

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group

Knock John Booker (To The Low Ground) · Mary McDonald

Deep River Of Song: Alabama, "From Lullabies To Blues" - The Alan Lomax Collection

℗ 2001 The Association for Cultural Equity, under exclusive license to Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.

Released on: 2001-05-15

Recording Engineer, Producer, Speaker: John A. Lomax

Recording Engineer, Producer: Ruby Lomax

Producer: Steve Rosenthal

Mastering Engineer: Phil Klum

Vocalist, Speaker: Mary McDonald

Assistant Producer, Recording Second Engineer: Ruby Pickens Tartt

Composer Lyricist: Traditional

Auto-generated by YouTube.

[comments are turned off]

****

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about and lyrics for the African American song "Gon' [Gonna] Knock John Booker" (To The Low Ground). This song is classified as an African American children's game song. In this sound file, one person sings this song to the accompaniment of up-tempo hand clapping and (probably) foot stomping.

After hearing this song, my speculative conclusion is that "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground" was song that accompanied a dance competition (dance challenge). As such it was similar to African American "show me your motion" circle game songs, except that the children (or people of other ages) who participated in that dance competition weren't expected to imitate the movements of previous dancers. Instead, they were expected to show off their best dance moves regardless what dance steps other people had performed. 

Also, the African American song "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground" may have been a mash up of the 1840s and later African American "Johnny Booker" songs and the 1920s bluegrass instrumental tune "Billy In The Low Ground".  

The content of this post is provided for folkloric, historical, socio-cultural, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers and singer/s of "Gon' Knock John Booker". Thanks to the African American woman Molly (or Mary) McDonald for singing this song, and thanks to Alan Lomax for collecting and recording this song a many other American folk songs.  Thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post. 
-snip-
Most of the content of this post was found in a 2014 pancocojams post about the song "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground". That post had no comments. I deleted it and replaces it with this posit that includes additional information.

The YouTube sound file that I embedded in that 2014 pancocojams post was published by Nico Fournier on May 10, 2014 That post is no longer available on YouTube.

The summary for that sound file categorized it as "Afro-American Blues and Game Songs"

There apparently were at least two comments in that sound file's discussion thread because I added this statement underneath that publisher's categorization of this song:
"In response to a query [from the person recording this song] who shared that this game was played in the yard and in the house too."

****
INFORMATION, LYRICS, AND DANCE INSTRUCTIONS FOR "GON' KNOCK JOHN BOOKER TO THE LOW GROUND"
From http://www.loc.gov/folklife/LP/AFS_L4_sm.pdf The Library Of Congress. Music Division; Archive of American Folklore
"The slave children played ring games, many of the tunes for which were adaptations of white game songs and country tunes. Three of these ring games follow; [titles "Rosey", "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground", and Run [N word*] Run"

*ThE "n word" is fully spelled out in that pdf.

GON KNOCK JOHN BOOKER TO THE LOW GROUND
Gon knock John Booker to the low ground
Tu-da darlln' day.
Gon knock John Booker to the low ground
Tu-da darlln' day.
That lady bow to beat you.
Tu-da darlln' day.
That lady bow to beat you.
Tu-da darlln' day.
That gentleman bow to beat you
Tu-da darlln' day.
That gentleman bow to beat you

Tu-da darlln' day.

Chorus:
Hey-ay-ay,
Hey-ay-ay,
Hello, my lover
Keep a- g-wine on
Hello, my lover
Keep a-runnin on
Hello, my lover
Keep a- gwine
That ole mule buck
That ole mule buck
Keep a- gwine
Kicked the saddle off
That ole mule buck
Keep a- gwine
[The next lines repeat what has gone on before]
-snip-
White folklorist John Lomax collected this song in 1940 in Alabama as it was sung by African American woman Harriet McClintock.

I believe that "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground" was a "show me your motion"  African American challenge dance competition. My guess is other children sung the song while one person at a time, but probably more than one person showed off their best dance moves while other people sung that song. 

Here are my guesses about the meanings of some of the lyrics of that song in the context of that song.

gon'" - African American Vernacular English word meaning "gonna" (going to), also given as
 "gwine".

**
In the context of the song "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground", I think that the words "Knock John Booker to the low ground" has a very similar meaning as the contemporary African American Vernacular English saying "Kick 'em to the curb" (meaning,"beat that person" / "get rid of him or her" . If "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground" was a dance challenge game song-as I think it was-, the dance challenger wants to dance better than her or his competitor herein referred to as "John Booker". If that dance challenger dances better than John Booker, she (or he) would have (figuratively) knocked John Booker to the low ground.

I think that same meaning of "knock" was used for the old African American children's dance song (game song) "Knock Jim Crow". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/09/knock-jim-crow-real-origin-of-dance.html for a 2014 pancocojams post for the song "Knock Jim Crow". 

Furthermore, I believe that the word "knock" in both of those African American songs have the connotation of dancing very well". The American saying "to knock it out of the park" (i.e. to hit a home run in baseball or in softball" has a similar complimentary meaning..

The 2016 dance name "Hit The Quan" is a "contemporary" example of the use of the phrase  "hit the" + the name of a Hip Hop dance that has basically the same meaning as "Knock John Booker" and "Knock Jim Crow" i.e. "to do that particular dance" very well.  

**

In the excerpt given toward the end of this pancocojams post https://andybiskin.com/musings/andy-biskin-and-16-tons-songs-from-the-alan-lomax-collection "Musings: Andy Biskin and 16 Tons: Songs from the Alan Lomax Collection" Alan Biskin (who worked for a brief period of time with folklorist Alan Lomax) wrote that "when you hear the lyrics you realize it’s a slave-era protest song. Alan writes, “‘Booker’ is another form of buckra, a word of African origin meaning ‘white’.”
-end of quote-

I disagree with that statement as I don't find any references to slave-era protest in the lyrics for that song. 

I'm aware that the name "John Booker" was used in a number of a number of plantation (pre-end of Civil War) dance songs with titles such as "Jonny Boker", "Old Johnny Booker", "Mister Booger" "What Johnny Booker Wouldn't Do").

However, with all due respect to Alan Lomax, if the "Knock John Booker" song that his father John Lomax collected in 1940 originated as a protest song that was sung by enslaved Black people in Alabama or elsewhere in the United States, the song that John Lomax heard and recorded in 1940 didn't have any protest lyrics.

It seems to me that Alan Lomax based what I think is his faulty conclusion about the slave protest origins of that song on his belief that the last name "Booker" derived from the West African word "buckra" meaning "White man" and later, "White people".  Here's information about the etymology of the word "buckra" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckra
"Buckra or Backra is a term of West African origin. It is mainly used in the Caribbean and the Southeast United States. Originally, it was used by slaves to address their white owners. Later, the meaning was broadened to generally describe white people.

Etymology

"Buckra" has been found in many variants, successively bacceroe, bochara, backra, baccra, bakra, buckera, buckra, bockra,[1] and more. It probably derives from the Ibibio and Efik Annang word mbakara, meaning (white) European or master.[2] It is thought to have emerged during the 17th or 18th century colonial period of slavery, when enslaved people were transported from West Africa and Central Africa to plantations in the Caribbean owned by European colonizers.

Initially, it was used by enslaved people to address their white owners and their overseers. Later, the meaning was broadened to generally describe white people. After the abolition of slavery, the word survived to refer to white people, usually used by black people in the US in derogatory meaning."...

However, another etymology has been given for the last name "Booker" in the African American folk songs "Johnny Booker".  Here's a comment about the song "Johnny Booker" from https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=67154 "Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bucker"

From: Dave Sutherland, Date: 21 Feb 04 
"It is in the forum under "Old Johnny Booker". It started life as a minstrel song called "Old Johnny Bigger" with the politically incorrect chorus "Old Johnny Bigger was a gay old ni-ger*". It later changed to Booker and was a favourite among soldiers in both the first and second world wars. Jack Elliott of Birtley was perhaps best known for purveying the song to the folk scene, Both he and Bob Davenport have recorded the song.
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment. The word "gay" in those lyrics means "happy".

Click  http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-old-time-song-johnny-booker.html for the 2013 pancocojams post "The Old Time Song "Johnny Booker". 

If "Gon' Knock John Booker To The Low Ground" originated as a slave-era protest song, my guess is that its meaning and probably also its performance activity had changed a lot when John Lomax happened upon a Black woman singing it in 1940 Alabama.

By then, my guess is that in the context of that song "John Booker" no longer was a general referent for a White man if it ever was.  Instead "John Booker" referred to any person who another person beat in this dance challenge.

Also, I think that the words "the low ground" no longer literally meant "a lower level of ground". Instead, by the 1940s in the context of this song, my guess is that "the low ground"  figuratively, not literally meant "where the people stood who lost the dance challenge".. 

**
"That lady (or "that man") bow to beat you" - "bow to beat you" might mean "performing a bow or curtsy before starting the dance challenge (dancing).

However, in the "Musings: Andy Biskin and 16 Tons: Songs from the Alan Lomax Collection" article that has previously been mention in this pancocojams post (an excerpt of which is  given toward the end of this post), the writer gave that lyric as "bound to beat you".  In large part because of that quote and also because that meaning makes more sense for what I believe was a dance challenge, I believe that the word "bow" is a mistranslation for the word "bound". In that song "bound to beat you" means "is going to beat you (with "beat you" meaning "win"/ dance better than you".)

**
"That ole mule buck"- the old mule bucked ,meaning "leap[ed] with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack" http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bucked

I wonder if the children who sung the line about the mule bucking performed the "bucking" movement that still lives on in the [new style] Black majorette dance routines. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/eight-dd4l-dancing-dolls-of-jackson.html for a pancocojams post that shows examples of "bucking". Note that "bucking" isn't the same as the tap dance movement of "buck & wing".

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EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE ARTICKE ABOUT FOLKLORIST ALAN LOMAX
https://andybiskin.com/musings/andy-biskin-and-16-tons-songs-from-the-alan-lomax-collection "Musings: Andy Biskin and 16 Tons: Songs from the Alan Lomax Collection

"Alan Lomax (1915-2002) had a profound influence on our understanding of American folk music. His legacy includes thousands of essential field recordings, as well as anthologies, essays, and groundbreaking research that seeks to unravel the very meaning of music within a culture. He was a tireless advocate for what he, way ahead of his time, termed "cultural equity": giving all cultures an equal voice and promoting their diversity and preservation.

[,,,]

Alan had a genius for finding singers who not only gave us songs we’d never heard before, but also delivered intimate, unforgettable performances by infusing the words and melodies with all they knew and lived.

[,,,]

One of my favorite Lomax recordings is his "Southern Journey," a 13-volume collection from around the same time as FSNY. For that series Alan returned to many of the rural southern locales he had visited early in his career, excited to find new songs and singers. Alan always relished the fact that he and I were both displaced Texans living in exile in New York City, and I think of this CD as my own homecoming journey. I hope it proves to be a good travelling companion for you.

[…]

"Knock John Booker" is an African-American children’s game song. Alan’s father, John Lomax, recorded Aunt Molly McDonald singing it on a farm in Alabama in 1940, and as far as I can tell, there are no other available renditions. When you hear the lyrics you realize it’s a slave-era protest song. Alan writes, “‘Booker’ is another form of buckra, a word of African origin meaning ‘white’.”

Gon’ knock John Booker to the low ground Tu-da darlin’ day

That lady bound to beat you, Tu-da darlin’ day”…

Gon’ knock John Booker to the low ground Tu-da darlin’ day

That lady bound to beat you, Tu-da darlin’ day”…

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BLUEGRASS TUNE "BILLY IN THE LOW GROUND" 
From AI Overview (retrieved March 2, 2026)

AI Overview #1 [retrieved March 2,2026]
"  "Billy in the Low Ground" is a foundational, traditionally upbeat American fiddle tune with 18th-century Scottish/Irish roots, likely originating from tunes like "The Braes of Auchtertyre" (1761). It became a staple in old-time and bluegrass music, typically played in the key of C, and was popularized in the 1920s by early recording artists like A.C. "Eck" Robertson.

Origins and Evolution

Roots: The tune's ancestry is traced to early Scottish/Irish music, possibly related to the 1724 tune "O, Dear Mother What Shall I do?" or the 1761 "The Braes of Auchtertyre".

Title Meaning: Theories suggest the title may refer to William of Orange at the 1690 Battle of the Boyne (a "low ground" battle) or simply a description of someone in a low-lying, swampy area.

Alternative Names: The song has been known as "Fiddler’s Drunk and the Fun’s All Over," "Jinny in the Lowland," and "The Belles of Tipperary".

Bluegrass and Early Recordings

Early Recordings: The tune was famously recorded in the 1920s by A.C. (Eck) Robertson (1924) and Fiddlin' John Carson (1923), solidifying its place in the American repertoire.

Key of C: While many old-time tunes are in D or G, "Billy" is famous for being in the key of C, which makes it distinct for fiddlers and popular among guitarists (notably, Tony Rice's version is often considered the bluegrass standard).

Variations: It has been played by a wide variety of musicians, including Uncle Jimmy Thompson, the Kessinger Brothers, and Lowe Stokes.

Old Time vs. Bluegrass

There is a distinct, older version known as "Old Time Billy in the Lowground," linked to Kentucky fiddler Kelly Gilbert, which predates the more common, fast-paced bluegrass version.

The bluegrass version is often recognized for its "crooked" (uneven) structure in some interpretations, although the standardized version is a 2-part reel.

Common Performances

The tune is a jam favorite for bluegrass bands, with notable versions by Doc Watson (played in D), Byron Berline and Clarence White, and modern interpretations by Billy Strings.

****
AI Overview #2 [retrieved March 2, 2026]

The traditional fiddle tune "Billy in the Low Ground" was first recorded in the early 1920s, with common attributions to early 1920s recordings by artists like Fiddlin' John Carson (circa 1923) or A.C. (Eck) Robertson (1924). It is a well-known American fiddle tune with roots in 18th-century Irish and Scottish music.

Earliest Recordings: While some sources cite A.C. Robertson's 1924 recordings, the tune was in the repertoire of various fiddlers, with recordings by Fiddlin' John Carson in 1923 and recordings by the Kessinger Brothers in 1929.

Contest Tradition: The song was a popular contest tune, appearing in the 1919-1928, Berea, KY, contest tune lists.

Origins: The tune is rooted in older British/Irish fiddle traditions, with early American printings appearing in the 19th century.

It is often listed as a seminal, early American old-time/country tune from the 1920s"
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxKhfjBrWiY "Billy in the Lowground" - Benny Thomasson, published by Joy of Fiddling, Oct 21, 2016 for one of many YouTube videos of "Billy In The Low Ground"

The musician who introduced the fiddler Benny Thomasson referred to "Billy In The Low Ground" as "that old breakdown tune."

I don't think the tune for "Billy In The Low Ground" sounds the same as the tune for the song "Knock John Booker To The Low Ground". But "Knock John Booker.." could have been inspired by that instrumental song.

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Eight Religious & Non-Religious Examples Of The Song "Dig A Hole Put The Devil In"

 

Dig a little hole and put the  devil in

MrJonwildoc, Jan 17, 2015

Reynaldo Williams

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases eight YouTube examples of the song "Dig A Hole Put The Devil In"

The saying "Dig A Hole Put The Devil In" has obvious religious roots. The song "Dig A Hole Put The Devil In" has been sung in churches in the United States and in Jamaica, and probably elsewhere throughout the world.

However, there are also non-religious adaptations of this song. WARNING- Some of those adaptations include words that are considered profanity.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, religious, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composers of these songs and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the videographers of these videos and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/03/lead-belly-dig-hole-put-devil-in-two.html for the 2026 pancocojams post "Lead Belly - "Dig A Hole Put The Devil In" (two YouTube sound files, comments, & lyrics) Complete Reprint" 

Also,click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/03/some-history-of-comments-about-song-dig.html for the related pancocojams post "Some History Of & Comments About The Song "Dig A Hole Put The Devil In" (from a Mudcat folk music discussion thread),'

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS

These videos are presented in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Dig A Hole

Teen Missions International, Jul 7, 2013

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Dig A Little Hole



Lisbet Simbolon, May 2, 2016

GMAHK Ciracas ( Lisbet Simbolon, Frida Hasibuan, Yulidar Sianturi)

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Dig A Hole

Tiger- Topic, Feb 3, 2016

Provided to YouTube by VP Records

Dig A Hole · Tiger

Ram Dance Hall

℗ 1992 VP Music Group, Inc
-snip-
Tiger is a dancehall singer from Jamaica.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- He Dig a Hole - Gamel Grant

Musical Expressions of Praise JM [Jamaica], June 3, 2017
-snip-
Gamel Grant is a Jamaican Gospel singer and songwriter.

I think that this rendition of "Dig A Hole" has a Jamaican ska rhythm. Please correct me if I am wrong about this. 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - DIG A HOLE & PUT THE DEVIL IN Remix

Reynaldo Williams,  Feb 27, 2020

Remember Heaven Album Launch
-snip-
I think that this rendition of "Dig A Hole" has a Jamaican ska rhythm. Please correct me if I am wrong about this

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 - Leadbelly - Gwine Dig a Hole to Put the Devil In 

Leadbelly- topic,  Sep 4, 2018 [WARNING- This song includes some profanity.]

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group

Gwine Dig a Hole to Put the Devil In -- The Library of Congress Recordings, V. 2 Lead Belly recorded this song between 1934 and 1943]

℗ 1991 Rounder Records Manufactured and distributed by Concord Music Group

Released on: 1991-01-01

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"Gwine" is an outdated American English word that means "gonna".

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #8 - - Po' Howard / Gwine Dig a Hole to Put the Devil In

Don Flemons, March 22, 2018
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The song "Gwine Dig A Hole Put The Devil In" begins around 3:58 of this song file. [WARNING- This song includes some profanity.]

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Here's a brief excerpt from Dom Flemon's Wikipedia page: 
"Dominique Flemons (born August 30, 1982) is an American old-time music, Piedmont blues, and neotraditional country multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter...

A member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops from their inception in 2005 until 2013, Flemons has released five solo albums, with two albums being collaborations with other musicians. His 2018 album Black Cowboys was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards,[2] and for a Blues Music Award at the 40th Blues Music Award ceremony in the 'Acoustic Album' category.[3] His 2023 album Traveling Wildfire was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album, at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[4]"...

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