Unlike many of Cotten's other hits like "Freight Train," which she wrote as a child, "Shake Sugaree" (1967) was a collaborative effort born from her role as a great-grandmother.
"Shake Sugaree" hasn't stayed in the past; it has been kept alive by generations of artists: Shake Sugaree
: Theories range from references to African-American dances involving sugar on the floor to variations of Native American words. The Musical Genius of Elizabeth Cotten Unlike many of Cotten's other hits like "Freight
: The song was originally intended as a way to engage her grandchildren. Cotten would sing the chorus, and then encourage the children to make up their own verses. Cotten would sing the chorus, and then encourage
: The recurring theme of pawning items (watch, chain, even a "split pea shell") suggests a narrative of poverty and making ends meet.
: Entirely self-taught, she didn't perform publicly until her 60s, after being "discovered" while working as a housekeeper for the musical Seeger family. A Lasting Legacy