Whoa Back Buck
Whimsical Tales of Love, Loss, and Mischief in Lead Belly's 'Whoa Back Buck'
Lyrics
Who made the back band---whoa goddamn.
Questioning the creator of the back band in frustration.
18, 19--20 years ago,
Referencing events from 18 to 20 years ago.
Took my gal to the country store,
Recalling taking his girl to the country store.
Took my gal to the country store,
Repetition emphasizing the action of taking the girl to the country store.
Buy m' pretty little gal little calico.
Planning to buy fabric for his pretty girl.
Me and my gal walkin' down the road,
Describing walking with his girl.
Her knees knock together playin' "Sugar In The Gourd",
Describing his girl's nervousness or excitement as they walk.
Sugar in the gourd and the gourd in the ground,
A reference to obtaining something desired through a process.
If you want a little sugar got to roll the gourd around.
Explaining the method to obtain the desired sugar.
My old man's good old man
Reference to someone's father.
Washed his face in a frying pan,
Describing an unusual action of washing face in a frying pan.
Combed his hair with a wagon wheel,
Depicting a bizarre act of grooming with a wagon wheel.
And died with a toothache in his heel.
Humorous description of an unfortunate death due to a toothache in the heel.
Papa loved mama---mama loved men,(three times)
Highlighting complicated relationships between parents.
Mama's in the graveyard and papa's in the pen.
Stating the fate of the parents—mother in the graveyard and father in prison.
I gee to the mule but the mule wouldn't gee, (3 times)
Trying to command a mule to move but facing resistance.
So I hit him side the head with the single tree.
Resorting to force by hitting the mule with a single tree.
I haw to the mule wouldn't haw, (3 times)
Attempting to direct the mule to turn but encountering defiance.
So I broke his back with my mother-in-law.
Humorous exaggeration of taking extreme action against the mule.
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