Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional
This was played a few times during acoustic sets in 1970. Thanks to Ben Selfridge for help with the lyrics.
The title "Tell It To Me" is the one used by the New York City Ramblers with David Grisman when they played this at the Newport Folk Festival in the 1960s.
It is often mistakenly called "Cocaine Habit Blues" or "Cocaine Blues" in setlists.
Cocaine Habit Blues ("Take a whiff/sniff/drink on me") has something in common, but is not the same song as Tell It To Me.
Cocaine Blues is a different song altogether
ChorusThe version by the New York City Ramblers has completely different verses:
Tell it to me, tell it to me
Drink corn liquor let the cocaine be
Cocaine done killed my honey dead
[Chorus]
Walking down the street with a dollar in my hand
Looked for a woman ain't got no man
Cocaine done killed my honey dead
[Chorus]
I love my whiskey and I love my gin
But the way I love coke is a doggone sin
Cocaine done killed my honey dead
[Chorus]
Cocaine's for horses not for men
The doctor said it'll kill you, but he don't say when
Cocaine done killed my honey dead
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
Cocaine gonna kill my honey dead
Tell it to me, tell it to me
Drink corn liquor let your cocaine be
Cocaine gonna kill my honey dead
It's Cocaine Bill and Morphine Sue
Struttin' down the avenue two by two
Cocaine gonna kill my honey dead
[chorus]
You know I walked down Fifth and I turned down Main
Looking for a nickel for to buy cocaine
Cocaine gonna kill my honey dead
[chorus]
Well I came to a drug store full of smoke
With a sign that said "no more coke"
Cocaine gonna kill my honey dead
[chorus]
Now all you jugs gonna wind up dead
If you don't stop sniffin' that stuff in your head
Cocaine gonna kill my honey dead
[chorus]
[chorus]