“Deep Elem Blues”

Description

The listener is advised to be prepared when going to (Deep Elem): "If you go down to Deep Elem just to have a little fun, You'd better have your fifteen dollars when the policeman comes." The singer details his experiences with the women there

Notes

"Deep Elem," according to Michael Cooney, refers to Elm Street, the red light district in Dallas, Texas (for the reputation of this area, see also, e.g., "Take a Whiff On Me"). It's not clear whether the Cofer Brothers' "Black Bottom Blues" or the Shelton Brothers' "Deep Elem Blues" is the older form; the latter seems to have inspired more recordings. - RBW

Same tune

• Shelton Brothers, "Deep Elem Blues - No. 2" (Decca 5198, 1936)
• Shelton Brothers, "Deep Elem Blues - No. 3" (Decca 5422, 1937)

Recordings

• The Cofer Brothers, "The Georgia Black Bottom (Black Bottom Blues)" (Okeh 45111, 1927)
• Richard O. Hamilton, "Deep Elm Blues" [excerpt] (on USWarnerColl01)
• Lone Star Cowboys, "Deep Elm Blues" (Victor 23846, 1933)
• Prairie Ramblers, "Deep Elem Blues" (Perfect 5-11-51, 1935)
• The Shelton Brothers, "Deep Elem Blues" (Decca 5099, 1935; Decca 46008, 1946)

References

1. BrownIII 501, "Went Down Town"; 502, "Standin' on de Street Doin' No Harm" (2 fragments, consisting of little more than a declaration of innocence and a statement "along came the police and grabbed me by the arm," also found in some versions of this song)
2. DT, DEEPELM BLCKBTTM
3. BI, DTdeepel