Lyrics
Didn't he ramble, he rambled
Expressing the act of aimless wandering or moving without a specific destination.
Rambled all around, in and out of town
Describing the extensive wandering, both within and outside the town.
Didn't he ramble, didn't he ramble
Reiteration of the aimless wandering, emphasizing the repetitive nature of the behavior.
He rambled till the butcher cut him down
Describing the continuation of the wandering until a fatal encounter with a butcher.
His feet was in the market place, his head was in the street
Depicting a disjointed state where different parts of the person are in different places.
Lady pass him by, said, look at the market meat
Illustrating a lady observing the person's unusual state and making a comment about his condition.
He grabbed her pocket book, and said I wish you well
Describing an attempt to steal from the lady, expressing a casual and carefree attitude.
She pulled out a forty-five, said I'm head of personnel
Revealing the lady's response, indicating her preparedness to defend herself with a firearm.
Didn't he ramble, I said he rambled
Reiterating the aimless wandering, emphasizing the repetitive and habitual nature of the behavior.
Rambled all around, in and out of town
Emphasizing the extensive and repetitive nature of the wandering, in and out of town.
Didn't he ramble, oh didn't he ramble
Reiterating the aimless wandering and expressing a sense of wonder or admiration.
He rambled till the butcher shot him down
Highlighting the fatal outcome of the person's wandering, encountering violence from a butcher.
He slipped into the cat house, made love to the stable
Depicting the person engaging in illicit activities, specifically in a brothel.
Madam caught him cold, said I'll pay you when I be able
Describing the person's encounter with the brothel owner and the promise of payment.
Six months had passed, and she stood all she could stand
Indicating the passage of time and the brothel owner's growing impatience.
She said buddy when I'm through with you
Expressing the brothel owner's determination to end the relationship with the person.
Ole groundhog gonna be shakin yo' hand
Using a metaphor (groundhog) to imply consequences for the person's actions.
And didn't he ramble, he rambled
Reiterating the aimless wandering, emphasizing the repetitive and habitual nature.
Rambled all around, in and out of town
Describing the extensive wandering, both within and outside the town, as before.
Oh didn't he ramble, he rambled
Reiterating the wonder or admiration for the person's wandering.
You know he rambled, 'til the butcher, cut him down
Emphasizing the continuation of the wandering until the fatal encounter with a butcher.
I said he rambled, lord, 'til the butcher shot him down
Reiterating the fatal outcome, specifically mentioning the butcher's act of shooting.
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