Let me tell you bout the time
I had the hard luck blues
Down so low I had nothing to lose
I had to shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues
So I got me a guitar and a microphone
Ten records later the blues were gone
I had to shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues

Shake ‘em high, shake ‘em low
Shake ‘em everywhere you go
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues
Shake ‘em up and make ‘em shout
Flip ‘em over and shake ‘em out
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues

Tell you bout the time I bought an automobile
Had four good tires and three good wheels
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues
Push in the key, pull out the choke
Step on the gas and go for broke
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues

Shake ‘em once, shake ‘em twice
Shake em like a pair o’ dice
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues
Shake ‘em hard and shake ‘em quick
Shake ‘em honey, that’s the trick
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues

Two individuals sittin in the shade
Each one wishin the other was a maid
Heh – wouldn’t that be nice
Two individuals laying in bed
One rolled over to the other and said
You gotta shake ‘em,
You gotta shake ‘em right now!

Shake ‘em low, shake ‘em high
Shake ‘em till you shake ‘em dry
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues
Shake ‘em up and shake ‘em down
Shake ‘em out to the edge of town
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues

Shake ‘em out and shake ‘em in
Shake ‘em till you make ‘em grin
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues
Shake ‘em high, shake ‘em low
Shake ‘em till its time to go
You gotta shake ‘em,
shake them hard luck blues