SALES TAX BLUES
(Carter / Jacobs)


The Mississippi Sheiks (vocal: Bo Carter) - 1934


SPOKEN INTRO:
Say Walter, we need some cigarettes. Let's go in and get a pack.
Okay!
Hello boys, what can I do for you?
I'll have a pack of cigarettes.
Alright. Here you are. Be three cents more though.
What's that for?
Sales tax. Haven't you ever heard of sales tax?
Sure haven't.
What's gonna happen next, man? You know they got a law here they call the sales tax.
Sales tax? What is that for?
That's three cents tax on everything that's sold. 
They say that's the Government's rule.
The Government's rule? Well there's a lot of things sold that the Government knows anything about them
Well, I'll just sing you a little song about these sales tax....


These times now ain't suiting me
Corn is costing a dollar and three
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Ev'rywhere you go

Old Aunt Martha lived behind the jail
A sign on the wall saying 'Liquor For Sale'
You know, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Ev'rywhere you go

I never seen the like since I been born
The women got the sales tax on the stuff at home
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Ev'rywhere you go

You know these sales taxes is a pain
(Instrumental Break)

You used to could buy it for a dollar a round
Now sales tax is on it all over town
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Ev'rywhere you go

I'm as lovin' as a woman can be
The stuff I've got'll cost you a dollar and three
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Ev'rywhere you go

Now, you may take me to be a fool
Everything is sold by the Government's rule
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Oh, the sales tax is on it 
Oh, the sales tax is on it
Ev'rywhere you go







(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2011)