It was originally a Jamaican ginger extract tonic that became popular during prohibition and the depression as it was 70-80% ethanol. The song is about the effects of the plasticiser used to cut it down to make more money and circumvent the law changing around it. It was a neurotoxin and one of the effects was that it weakened the muscles in the hands and feet causing victims to walk oddly as they couldn't lift the toes or pick their feet up so they dragged along the ground and walked toe to heel. Google Jamaican Ginger for a better description
Nope.It specifically refers to those who were effected by Organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy, which came from drinking a certain popular (at the time) brand of "Jamaican Ginger" (a patent medicine that was sold during Prohibition also known as "Jake") that contained triorthocresyl phosphate (a neurotoxin effecting the spine). Victims were said to have "Jake Leg" or "Jake Foot". Victims would lose control over the muscles which allowed them to move their toes upward, giving them an odd gait where they'd high step with the toes downward and contacting the walking surface before the heel (instead of heel-toe, they'd toe-heel), which came to be known as the "jake walk" or the "jake dance". In many victims, even those able to walk, the calves and the muscles between the thumbs and fingers would atrophy.
They used ginger Jake to make moonshine, and the contaminated drink caused the malady caused "jake leg" a tragic slow destruction of neurological function especially in the front of the body.
------------------This song was originally posted on protestsonglyrics.net, www.protestsonglyrics.net/Medical_Songs/Jake-Leg-Blues.phtml You thought the lively man would die, When you made the country dry, When you made it so, that he could not get, Not another drop of rye, But I know that you will feel bad, When you see what he have had, When you see him coming with a lot of dough, If you listen I will tell you so. Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you here he comes, He's got those jake limber leg blues(3) (4) Here he comes, I mean to tell you, here he comes He's got those jake limber leg blues When you see him coming, I am going to tell you, If you sell him jake, you'd better give him a crutch too, Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you, here he comes He's got those jake limber leg blues, oh step on it. Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you here he comes, He's got those jake limber leg blues, Here he comes, I mean to tell you, here he comes, He's got those jake limber leg blues. He could be named Charley, and he could be named Ned, But if he drank this jake(4), it will give him the limber leg, Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you here he comes, He's got those jake limber leg blues.
I just love when they sing "Oooh, step on it!" :-D This is fantastic!
Kimberly Collins Step on it baby! :-D Here he comes :)
Historical gem.
ssshhhh, first rule of jake club..
This song makes my leg shake
a treasure - thanks for sharing this
I have just discovered what Jake Leg is.
Jake was a fermented homemade liquor made of ginger root, I believe.
It was originally a Jamaican ginger extract tonic that became popular during prohibition and the depression as it was 70-80% ethanol.
The song is about the effects of the plasticiser used to cut it down to make more money and circumvent the law changing around it.
It was a neurotoxin and one of the effects was that it weakened the muscles in the hands and feet causing victims to walk oddly as they couldn't lift the toes or pick their feet up so they dragged along the ground and walked toe to heel.
Google Jamaican Ginger for a better description
wow this is music
what a great song
The guy on the right in the string trio picture sure wears his hat like Robert Johnson.
When was this recording released? Is it in the public domain?
...a left handed banjo player....Lizbeth Cotton's ancestor?
Does anyone know the source of the photo of the trio with fiddle and two banjos? Great picture... I wonder who it is?
Jake legs means becoming like azombie after all that bad canned heat and moonshine,innit?
Nope.It specifically refers to those who were effected by Organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy, which came from drinking a certain popular (at the time) brand of "Jamaican Ginger" (a patent medicine that was sold during Prohibition also known as "Jake") that contained triorthocresyl phosphate (a neurotoxin effecting the spine). Victims were said to have "Jake Leg" or "Jake Foot".
Victims would lose control over the muscles which allowed them to move their toes upward, giving them an odd gait where they'd high step with the toes downward and contacting the walking surface before the heel (instead of heel-toe, they'd toe-heel), which came to be known as the "jake walk" or the "jake dance". In many victims, even those able to walk, the calves and the muscles between the thumbs and fingers would atrophy.
They used ginger Jake to make moonshine, and the contaminated drink caused the malady caused "jake leg" a tragic slow destruction of neurological function especially in the front of the body.
I thought it was feeling the "groove" or whatever you were taking. Ah well boys will be boys. Shake away there Jake, your doin great.
------------------This song was originally posted on protestsonglyrics.net, www.protestsonglyrics.net/Medical_Songs/Jake-Leg-Blues.phtml
You thought the lively man would die,
When you made the country dry,
When you made it so, that he could not get,
Not another drop of rye,
But I know that you will feel bad,
When you see what he have had,
When you see him coming with a lot of dough,
If you listen I will tell you so.
Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you here he comes,
He's got those jake limber leg blues(3) (4)
Here he comes, I mean to tell you, here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues
When you see him coming, I am going to tell you,
If you sell him jake, you'd better give him a crutch too,
Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you, here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues, oh step on it.
Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you here he comes,
He's got those jake limber leg blues,
Here he comes, I mean to tell you, here he comes,
He's got those jake limber leg blues.
He could be named Charley, and he could be named Ned,
But if he drank this jake(4), it will give him the limber leg,
Oh well, it's here he comes, I mean to tell you here he comes,
He's got those jake limber leg blues.