Comments on: The Old Folks Started It

By: chris

chris — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:47:02 +0000

Thanks so much, had that tune on repeat all day until i found this, i love the internet!

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sun, 27 May 2007 23:19:23 +0000

Hi,

Here’s a few refinements of Sule Greg’s version.

THE OLD FOLKS STARTED IT

G
Talk about your melody from shore to shore
I tell you the strut, sure has got to go
C
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
D G
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.

‘Tain’t no use for you women to always be in a rut
Just walk up to your man and do your wicked strut.
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.
A hundred dollar bill will make a broke man slobber
A women with a strut will make a good man holler
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.
Takes a greyhound to run it. Takes a round ball to roll
Takes a man with the strut to satisfy my soul
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.
Talk about your women, wearing your strapless skirts
Your grandma does the strut in your grandpa’s shirt
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.
Some of you men wearin’ your stripe-ed hose
You done lost your strut many years ago
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.
Just As sure as a little fish can’t live on dry land
A women with the strut can always get a man
The old folks started it. The young folks got it.
Everybody’s crazy about the darktown strut.

By: Sule Greg Wilson

Sule Greg Wilson — Sat, 27 May 2006 22:30:08 +0000

Kat:here’s what I got (I”m working on the tune, too, for Sankofa Strings):
THE OLD FOLKS STARTED IT

The old folks started it
You talk about melody from shore to shore
I tell you the strut, SURE HAS GOT TO GO …
The old folks started it
The young folks got it
Everybody’s crazy about the downtown stomp
I got news for you women
TO Always BE in a rut
Just walk to your man and do your wicked strut
The old folks started it
The young folks got it
Everybody’s crazy about the downtown stomp DARKTOWN STUFF/STRUT
A hundred dollar bill will make a broke man slobber
A women with a strut will make a good man holler
The old folks started it
The young folks got it
Everybody’s crazy about the DARKTOWN STRUT
??Takes a greyhound to run it
It’s ride round the world
Takes a man with the strut
To start it up on the floor???
The old folks started it
The young folks got it
Everybody’s crazy about the DARKTOWN STRUT
Talk about your women
WEARING YOUR ————– STRUGGLIN? REG’LAR? STRAPLESS? SKIRTS
Your grandma does the strut IN your grandpa’s SHIRT
The old folks started it
The young folks got it
‘N’ Everybody’s crazy about the DARKTOWN STRUT
SOME of you men WEARIN’ YOUR STRIPE-ED HOSE
You done lost your strut AND MANY YEARS AGO
The old folks started it
The young folks got it
Everybody’s crazy about the downtown stomp
JUST As sure as a little fish can’t live on dry land
A women with THE strut can always get a man
The old folks…

REMEMBER, “THE DARKTOWN STRUTTER’S BALL”? THE SONG’S REFRAIN REFERS TO THAT…

SGW

By: Kat Roche

Kat Roche — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:58:08 +0000

Hello!
I’m desperately trying to decipher the lyrics to “the old folks started it”. I’ve got most of them. I’m wondering if you have it figured out- I would love to perform this song, record this song, but want to pay Minnie a real tribute and do it like she did. Do you know if her lyrics or any of The Memphis Jug Band Lyrics were ever transcribed?

Thank you for any help…
This is what i have so far:

The old folks started it

You talk about melody from shore to shore
I tell you the strut…