so below is blind willie mctell's amazing song "southern can is mine," fairly recently covered by white stripes. and you thought gangsta rap was nasty. a few observations. true, it's disturbing. then again, it's very funny, for a number of reasons. it's a "double entendre" of an interesting sort; "southern can" is certainly a substitute for a another phrase, probably the one usually performed in bars and brothels; i'd suggest "bama ass." mctell hurries through the thing so fast that it washes over you and you don't know what he's talking about: but almost every phrase is perfectly clear. the thing is a virtuoso performance, for speed and in other respects; blind willie mctell was incomparable. it is even affectionate at points, and you can see maybe "sweet ass" in a couple of the verses. and it is certainly hyperbolic; i think he's *threatening her grandmother.* i'll throw up a similarly extreme ma rainey lyric at some point.

Southern Can is Mine
Blind Willie McTell

Now looka here mama let me tell you this
If you wants to get crooked I'm gonna give you my fist
You might read from Revelations back to Genesee
But if you get crooked, your southern can belongs to me
Ain't no need you bringin no jive to me
Cause your southern can is mine
Might go uptown have me arrested and have me put in jail
Some hotshot got money come and throw my bail
Soon as I get out, hit the ground
Your southern can is worth a thousand, half a pound (?)
Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me
cause your southern can is mine
You might take it from the south you might carry it up north
but understand you can't rule or either be my boss
Take it from the east, hide it in the west
When I get it mama, your can won't see no rest.
Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me
cause your southern can is mine
(in the morning)
your southern can belongs to me
(i'm not dreamin)
your southern can belongs to me.
Ah ashes to ashes mama, and sin to sin,
every time I hit you you'll think I've got a dozen hands.
Give you a punch through that barb-wire fence
Every time I hit you you'll say I've got no sense
Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me
cause your southern can is mine
(every bit of it)
southern can belongs to me
Get me a brick out of my backyard
give you the devil if you get kinda hard
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
cause your southern can is mine
(you hear me cryin)
southern can belongs to me
Spank it a little bit, boy [guitar run].
Ah, your southern can is mine.
Now if I catch ya mama down in the heart of town
take me a brand-new a brick and tear your can on down.
Ain't no need you bringin no stuff to me,
because your southern can belongs to me
(I'm talkin to ya)
your southern can belongs to me.
You may be deathbed sick and mama graveyard bound
I'll make your can moan like a hound
Ain't no need you bringin no stuff to me
because your southern can is mine
(you hear me talkin)
southern can belongs to me.
{Guitar run.} Oh spank it like that. That the way Ruthie Mae like it (?).
Cause your southern can is mine.
Sit there unsteady with your eyes all red
what I said get your grandma dead.
Ain't no need of bringing no jive to me
cause your southern can is mine
You got to stop your barkin and raising the deuce
I'll grab you mama and turn every way but loose
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
cause your southern can belongs to me
(every bit of it)
southern can belongs to me.
[Guitar run.] Aww, whup it boy, that's the way the people like that thing.
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
cause your southern can is mine
(you hear me talkin)
your southern can belongs to me.
Might swiddle (?) like a tadpole
let it jump like a frog
Every time I hit it you'll holler
lawd lawd lawd?
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
cause your southern can is mine
(you hear me talkin)
southern can belongs to me.
Now play it a little bit, just whup it.
Aww shucks. Play that thing boy.
Southern can belongs to me.