[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
a 1922 popular song
words by Jack Yellen
music by Milton Ager
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Any man who trusts a gal
Ain’t nothin’ but a doggone fool
I don’t care who he is, he’s nothin’ but a fool
I claim that any man who does it
Ought to get a kickin’ from a mule
That’s what they ought to teach in every public school
Once I had a high brown gal, introduced her to my pal
But any man who trusts a gal
Ain’t nothin’ but a doggone fool, love is cruel
Chorus
I’ve got the high brown blues
About that thing called love
I can’t enthuse, from now on I refuse
To let my heart grow fond, or respond
To the jelly rollin’ of a midnight blonde
Folks the best of men, weaken now and then
But if I fall again, I’ll be a lady killin’ dark town villain
‘Till I lose those doggone aggravatin’
‘Sassinatin’ woman hatin’ High Brown Blues
2. Only way to keep a gal
Is tie her with a ball and chain
I don’t care who she is, she needs a ball and chain
I claim that any man who treats ’em different
Has a head without a brain
A man who treats ’em nice is certainly insane
Once I left my gal alone
Serves me right I should have known
The only way to keep a gal
Is tie her with a ball and chain, I complain
Sung here by Fred Feild: