The Chicago Gouge by Maggie Jones Lyrics

[Verse]
Chicago is the city for stomps and struggles
All 'round darktown
And everybody's givin' chittlin juggles
From the deacon down
I've seen 'em rip an' romp
To find some house rent stomp
I've seen society of the South Side variety
Strutting to some strut-in moonshine
And for what else but more moonshine, chittlins, bread, an' gin
I saw a hungry man eat all of the gut strings on a violin

[Chorus]
Down at a chittlin rag
They played a fiddlin' drag
I took my pencil out in all that scrouge
And named that music "Gouge"
For the landlords, Chicago's gouge
And for the swell broads, they really gouge

[Bridge]
I gouged the beauty from thе blues
Poured in some boilin' jazz
Stirrеd in a little spirits
Not the kind the spiritual has
I gouged the lock on ragtime melody
With a minor key
Stole some pickled beats from Charleston Pat
In one flat
[Chorus]
Down at a chittlin rag
They played a fiddlin' drag
They did a wicked dance, all in a scrouge
I called that dance the gouge
Till now they're dancing, Chicago gouge
It's so entrancing, the Chicago gouge