The philosophy of modern song: Keep my Skillet Good and Greasy

The Philosophy of Modern Song

(The titles of songs reviewed in this series are now in alphabetical order, not in the order of publication.  That makes it easier for me even if no one else.)

• Cheaper to Keep Her
• Detroit City
• Dirty Life and Times
• I’ve always been crazy
• Keep my Skillet Good and Greasy
• My Generation and Desolation Row
• Old Violin by Johnny Paycheck
• Pump it up
• Strangers in the Night
• Take Me from This Garden of Evil
• There stands the glass
• Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
• Where or When

This article is presented in the order in which I researched it.  And it is of course very possible that after a few moments of reading through my ramblings and/or playing the opening video you will have had enough.  You might think indeed that none of this is for you.

But… I would be you, if that is the case and you really feel like leaving early, please do first skip down to the Frank Fairfield version of the song and give it a listen.   I came to this song because Dylan mentioned it, and hearing the Uncle Dave Macon version below thought, OK, but not much more.   But when by chance I heard the Frank Fairfield recording, my whole vision of what was possible changed.

However let us start with the Uncle Dave Macon version which is the one Bob Dylan cites in his volume.

This is one of a number of songs that Dylan included in “The Philosophy” of which I had no knowledsge until coming across his selection.   And the first thing I discovered is that lots of people have performed this, and the lyrics vary.  So I’ve been wanting to get this particular artist’s version.  The lyrics are at the foot of this piece.

And clearly it is a piece of music of some significance, not just because Bob Dylan mentioned it, but because so many people have performed it.  However if it made its way to the UK before Dylan mentioned it, I must have missed out.  Finding it in Dylan’s book took me into a new realm and of course that means I am completely dependent on other people’s work to try and make sense of this song, and why it is important enought to Dylan to include it in the book.

One particular reference to the song by Billy Faier, is interesting in that he says, “Keep My Skillet Good And Greasy is a fine old folk song that paints a marvellous portrait of a lovable country ne’er-do-well.”  But he also pointed out that the song got itself renamed many times and the tune was also varied, sometimes, he suggests, inappropriately.

Beyond that it is suggested elsewhere that the composer might have been Uncle Dave Macon (1870-1952), hence the recording selected above.    And indeed Bob Dylan cites the  1924 recording of “Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy” which I think is the one that I have added above.

But it s also interesting to note how different a performer Uncle Dave Macon was from Bob Dylan – in fact he was quite the opposite, with lots of talking and lots of jokes in beteen his songs.  He is often described as an entertainer, not as a musician.   Although it is also suggested that he wrote “Buddy Won’t You Roll Down The Line”.

Here are the lyrics I have taken from MusicMatch– disentangling them from the reecording is completely beyond the ability of this middle-class Englishman.  And below that a recording by Woodie Guthrie.

As for the meaning of the lyrics, I wouldn’t dare offer a thought.   But I was utterly amazed to find a very different version when looking around for more information on this song….

But again, going back to the lyrics of the version Dylan cites in his book…. here they are.

I'se chickens in my sack, bloodhounds on my track

I′m pullin' for my shanty home, home, home

I'm pullin′ for my shanty home



If they beat me to the door, I′ll put 'em under the floor

Keep my skillet good and greasy all the time, time, time

Keep my skillet good and greasy all the time


I′se a-walking down the street and I stoled a ham of meat

Got my skillet good and greasy all the time, time, time

Got my skillet good and greasy all the time


I'se gwine to the hills gwine to buy me a jug of brandy

Gwine give it all to Mandy

Keep her good and drunk and boozy all the time, time, time


Keep her good and drunk and boozy all the time

Honey, if you say so, I′ll never work-a no more

I'll lay round your shanty all the time, time, time

I′ll lay round your shanty all the time