Now this is how you start a summer. My lovely pal ‘mouse just received his new copy of the great old dirty blues compilation Raunchy Business: Hot Nuts and Lollypops, an old favorite of mine I hadn’t heard in years. In fact, it’s been so long since I’ve heard it that I’d forgotten all about Lil Johnson’s My Stove’s in Good Condition, a song that, for some mysterious reason on which I can’t quite put my finger, I find incredibly cheering. Fortunately, ‘mouse knew that my memory could use a jog and my strut could use a cut.
I’ve got a range in my kitchen, sho’ bakes nice and brown
I’ve got a range in my kitchen, sho’ bakes nice and brown
All I need is some good daddy, who turns my damper down
And my stove is automatic, you don’t have to burn wood or coal
And my stove is automatic, you don’t have to burn wood or coal
I got strike your match baby, and stick right in the hole
And it’s yas yas baby, my stove is all cleaned out
And it’s yas yas baby, my stove is all cleaned out
I always keep it in good condition, you know what I’m talkin’ about
Mmmmm… my pot is boiling low
Mmmmm… my pot is boiling low
If you can’t keep it percolatin’, Baby I swear you’ll have to go
I don’t want no charcoal, if you can’t bake my biscuits brown
I don’t want no charcoal, if you can’t bake my biscuits brown
When my wood gets too hot, I swear you’ll have to turn my damper down.
(Lest you think that this is unnecessarily smutty, let me assure you that this has nothin’ on Lucille Bogan’s “Shave ‘Em Dry #2.")
The weekend, let it commence.