Hokum

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This article refers to a particular song type of American blues music. For the Russian single-seat military helicopter (NATO reporting name Hokum), see Kamov Ka-50.

Hokum is a particular song type of American blues music - a humorous song which uses extended analogies or euphemistic terms to make sexual inuendoes. This trope goes back to early blues recordings and is seen from time to time in modern American blues and blues-rock.

"Got out late last night, in the rain and sleet
Tryin' to find a butcher that grind my meat
Yes I'm lookin' for a butcher
He must be long and tall
If he want to grind my meat
'Cause I'm wild about my meat balls."

from Meat Balls, by Lil Johnson, recorded about 1937

The term hokum is most readily recognizable in the modern United States as a euphemism for "bull shit" (ex. "That's a lot of hokum").


[edit] Examples of Hokum

  • I Had to Give Up Gym - Hokum Boys, 1929
  • Please Warm My Weiner - Bo Carter, 1930
  • The Coldest Stuff in Town - Whistling Bob Howe & Frankie Griggs, 1935
  • Meat Balls - Lil Johnson, probably 1937
  • She Loves My Automobile - ZZ Top, 1979
  • Entering Marion - Bob Forster, 1988

[edit] Hokum Collections

  • Please Warm My Weiner - Yazoo L-1043 (cover art by Robert Crumb) (1992)
  • Hokum: Blues and Rags (1929-1930) - Document 5392 (1995)
  • Hokum Blues: 1924-1929 - Document 5370 (1995)
  • Raunchy Business: Hot Nuts & Lollypops - Sony (1991)

[edit] Hokum, the band

A progressive rock band based in Felixstowe, Suffolk in the UK uses the name Hokum - you can find information on them here: Hokum's Myspace Page.

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