Knocking Myself Out

Knockin' Myself Out - Lil Green

soundfile
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Listen girls and boys I got one stick
Give me a match and let me take a whiff quick
I'm gonna knock myself out, I'm gonna kill myself
I'm gonna knock myself out, gradually by degrees.

I started blowing my gage, and I was havin' my fun
I spied the police and I started to run
I was knocking myself out, I was killing myself
I'm knockin' myself out, gradually by degrees.

But the very moment I looked around
My mind said 'Yack throw that gage on the ground'
The police captain said 'Kill yourself'!
The police captain said 'Kill yourself'!
He said 'Knock yourself out, yeah, gradually by degrees.'

I used ta didn't blow gage, drink nothin' of the kind
But my man quit me and that changed my mind
That's why I'm knockin' myself out,
Yes I'm get killin' myself
I'm knocking myself out, gradually by degrees.

I'm gonna blow this jive, it's a sin and a shame
But it's the only thing that ease my heart about my man
When I knock myself out. Lord, when I kill myself
I just knock myself smack out gradually by degrees.

burning joint


Lil Green (vocal) & Big Bill Broonzy (guitar), Jan. 1941. Yack Taylor, April 1941