TAKE YOUR FINGERS OFF IT
(Traditional)

Memphis Jug Band - 1934
The Even Dozen Jug Band - 1964

Also recorded by: Lizzie Miles; Lene Marlin;
Charlie Burse; Bev Pegg Good Time Jazz Gang;
Alberta Jones; Mary Stafford; Robert Johnson;
Mike Harding: ........... and others.


Katie King she had a diamond ring
And it caused her lots of woe
Now who would be the lucky one to get it
Well all the fellahs wanted to know
Red Cap called on her one night
Saw the ring and lost his head
But when he went to view it
He stuck his finger through it
And this is what she loudly said....

Man, take your fingers off it
Now don't you try to touch it
'Cause it don't belong to you
There's no need to crave it
'Cause mama's gonna save it
For the man whose love is true

Boy, try and find something like it
See if you won't fail
Papa you can't buy it 'cause it ain't for sale
Now take your fingers off it
And don't you dare to touch it
'Cause it don't belong to you

(Instrumental Break)

I said take your fingers off it
And don't you dare to touch it
'Cause it don't belong to you
Well there's no need to crave it
'Cause Mama's gonna save it
For the man whose love is true

Boy, try and find something like it
See if you won't fail
Papa you can't buy it cause it ain't for sale
You gotta take your fingers off it
And don't you dare to touch it
'Cause it don't belong to you
You hear me tellin' you, man
No, it don't belong to you


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ALTERNATE CHORUS:

Take your fingers off it, keep your big mitts down
Take your fingers off it, keep your big mitts down
Take your fingers off it, you know you can't touch it
You know it don't belong to you


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ALTERNATE VERSION:

You know it's sad to see a woman, an extra good'n
Holdin' back on her sugar puddin'
Take your fingers off it and don't you dare touch it
You know it don't be long to you

Two old maids a-layin' in bed
One turned over toward the other and said
Take your fingers off it, don't you dare touch it
You know it don't belong to you

A nickel is a nickel, a dime is a dime
A house full of children, none of them's mine
Take your fingers off it and don't you dare touch it
You know it don't belong to you

I may be little and I may be thin
But I'm an awful good Daddy for the shape I'm in
Take your fingers off it and don't you dare touch it
You know it don't belong to you

I never been to Heaven, but I been told
St. Peter taught the angels how to jelly roll
Take your fingers off it and don't you dare touch it
You know it don't belong to you

Big fish, little fish, swimmin'g in the water
Come back here, man, and marry my daughter
Take your fingers off it and don't you dare touch it
You know it don't belong to you

There's just one thing that I could never understand
Why a bow-legged woman likes a knock-kneed man
Take your fingers off it and don't you dare touch it
You know it don't belong to you


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