“I Got Mine”

Description

The singer gets into all sorts of scrapes, getting out in some manner while maintaining "I got mine." Example: The police raid a craps game in which the singer is involved. He grabs the pot and successfully makes off.

Notes

The Digital Tradition footnotes claim that this is from McNeil's Southern Folk Ballads. This is incorrect; I have not been able to discover the source of the DT version. - RBW

Perhaps the DT transcription came from the Carson recording? Or, more likely, from one of the several revival performances of the song, such as Roy Bookbinder's. - PJS

Brown's text seems to be a racist version of the original (or other texts are cleaned up); the singer devotes his efforts to cheating "coons." - RBW

Looking at the sheet music on the American Memory website makes it clear that the other texts were cleaned up; this was originally a "coon song." It was recorded by a duo that was probably Collins & Harlan, who specialized in "coon songs." - PJS

Recordings

• Chris Bouchillon, "I Got Mine" (Columbia 15317-D, 1928)
• Fiddlin' John Carson, "I Got Mine" (OKeh 40119, 1924)
• Bill Chitwood & Bud Landress, "I Got Mine" (Brunswick 2810, 1925)
• [Arthur] Collins & [Joseph] Natus, "I Got Mine" (CYL: Edison 7889, 1901) (Victor [Monarch] 1297, 1902)
• Fleming & Townsend, "Yes, I Got Mine" (Victor 23676, 1932)
• Jenkins Family, "I Got Mine" (OKeh 40247, 1924)
• John McGhee, "I Got Mine" (Gennett 6403, 1928)
• Peg Moreland, "I Got Mine" (Victor 23510, 1930)
• Jesse Oakley ,"I Got Mine" (Supertone 9256, 1928)
• Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers, "I Got Mine" (Columbia 15134-D, 1927; rec. 1926)
• Unknown baritone & tenor [probably Collins and Harlan] "I Got Mine" (Standard 597, c. 1901)

References

1. BrownIII 52, "I Got Mine" (1 text)
2. Gilbert, p. 243, "I Got Mine" (1 partial text)
3. DT, IGOTMINE
4. Roud #7852
5. BI, Gil243