Bottle It Up And Go

McClennan “Un-capped”

Recorded by Tommy McClennan (vocal & guitar) in Chicago on November 22, 1939.

When Tommy McClennan recorded his first eight sides upon arriving in Chicago in 1939 “Bottle It Up And Go” was among the titles. The song had controversial verses that didn’t play well to any northern audience, especially a black one. Particularly objectionable was the verse that McClennan was most adamant to sing, “Nigger and a white man playing seven-up, Nigger beat the white man but he was scared to pick it up.” Big Bill Broonzy recalls McClennan playing it at a house party and being bodily ejected from the building.

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