1. Well if you go down to Deep Elem, put your money in your shoes (note 2)
Women in Deep Elem got them Deep Elem blues
Oh sweet mama, your daddy's got them Deep Elem blues
Oh sweet mama, your daddy's got them Deep Elem blues
2. Once I had a girlfriend, she meant the world to me
She went down to Deep Elem, now she ain't what she used to be
[chorus]
3. When you go down to Deep Elem, have a little fun (note 3)
Have that ten dollars ready when the policeman comes (note 4)
[chorus]
4. Once I knew a preacher, preached the bible through and through
Went down to Deep Elem now his preaching days are through
[chorus]
5. When you go down to Deep Elem, put your money in your pants
The women in Deep Elem they don't give a man a chance (note 5)
[chorus]
6. When you go down to Deep Elem, put your money in your socks (note 6)
The redheads in Deep Elem, they'll put you on the rocks (note 7)
[chorus]
(1) the order of verses in various versions is: d***'s Picks 8: 1,2,3,4,5 -- Reckoning: 1,4,6,3,1 -- Almost Acoustic: 3,1,4,2,3 -- Garcia/Nelson 1962: 3,4,5,6,3 -- (2) Garcia varies between singing "Well if you go down to Deep Elem" and "When you go down to Deep Elem". (3) sometimes "got to have a little fun" or "just to have a little fun" (4) "ten dollars" is the most common. But the Prairie Ramblers and Dead Ringers have "fifteen dollars". And on Almost Acoustic, Garcia sings the first verse with "ten dollars" and the last with "twenty dollars"! (5) sometimes "The fellas in Deep Elem" and sometimes "won't give a man a chance" (6) sometimes "... keep your money in your socks" (7) the Good Old Boys have "Good lookin' women ..." and Dead Ringers have "they will throw you on the rocks"
Women in Deep Elem got them Deep Elem blues
Oh sweet mama, your daddy's got them Deep Elem blues
Oh sweet mama, your daddy's got them Deep Elem blues
2. Once I had a girlfriend, she meant the world to me
She went down to Deep Elem, now she ain't what she used to be
[chorus]
3. When you go down to Deep Elem, have a little fun (note 3)
Have that ten dollars ready when the policeman comes (note 4)
[chorus]
4. Once I knew a preacher, preached the bible through and through
Went down to Deep Elem now his preaching days are through
[chorus]
5. When you go down to Deep Elem, put your money in your pants
The women in Deep Elem they don't give a man a chance (note 5)
[chorus]
6. When you go down to Deep Elem, put your money in your socks (note 6)
The redheads in Deep Elem, they'll put you on the rocks (note 7)
[chorus]
(1) the order of verses in various versions is: d***'s Picks 8: 1,2,3,4,5 -- Reckoning: 1,4,6,3,1 -- Almost Acoustic: 3,1,4,2,3 -- Garcia/Nelson 1962: 3,4,5,6,3 -- (2) Garcia varies between singing "Well if you go down to Deep Elem" and "When you go down to Deep Elem". (3) sometimes "got to have a little fun" or "just to have a little fun" (4) "ten dollars" is the most common. But the Prairie Ramblers and Dead Ringers have "fifteen dollars". And on Almost Acoustic, Garcia sings the first verse with "ten dollars" and the last with "twenty dollars"! (5) sometimes "The fellas in Deep Elem" and sometimes "won't give a man a chance" (6) sometimes "... keep your money in your socks" (7) the Good Old Boys have "Good lookin' women ..." and Dead Ringers have "they will throw you on the rocks"