Shake It And Break It

Words & Music:

Charley Patton

Recorded sometime between 1929-1934

 

Note from the ITS Guitar Forum discussion of this song: "This song is an ode to... the jelly roll, a pastry but also, like in this case, a reference to the male genitals. The triple-dot parts are not missing lyrics, Patton just left them unspoken."  Also, note that the F is often an F6. A less authentic, but acceptable sub for the F6 is Dm7/F.

 

F  Gm7  C7  F

 

        C7

You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

F

Throw it out the window, catch it 'fore it roll.

        C7

You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

F

...it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls.

        Gm7      F       C7                 F

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

     C7                          F

Everybody have a jelly roll like mine, I lives in town.

C7                         F

I, ain't got no brown, an' I, I want it now.

        Gm7      F       C7                 F

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

You can snatch it, you can grab it, you can break it, you can twist it.

Anyway that I love to get it.

I, had my right mind since I, I blowed this town.

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

Jus' shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

.. it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls.

You can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

...it out the window, catch it 'fore it...

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

I ain't got nobody here but me and myself.

I, stay blue all the time, aw, when the sun goes down.

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

... it out the window, catch it 'fore it fall.

You can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

...it out the window, catch...

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

You can snatch it, you can grab it, you can break it, you can twist it.

Anyway that I love to get it.

I, had my right mind, I, be worried sometime.

'Bout a jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

... it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls.

You can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

...it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls.

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

I know I been to town, I, I walked around.

I, start leavin' town, I, I fool around.

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

... it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls.

You can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

...it out the window, catch it 'fore it...

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall.

 

Jus' shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall.

... it out the window, catch it 'fore it...

My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it...

 

F  C7  F