Back in the 19th century on southern US land They built a simple kind of house, and many still do stand The people called them 'shotgun house', from the African word "to-gun" Just three or four rooms back-to-back, and I'm-a get me one, son.
When I get my shotgun house, you can visit all the time I will move from back porch to front room by walking a straight line Oh, when I buy my shotgun house that will be something fine I will finally have a place I can call mine
Now, yes, I am an English man - from Oxford, if you please But when it comes to settling down, I may look overseas For I have travelled far and wide, to places foul and fair But I have loved America since I was married there, yeah
When I get my shotgun house, you can visit all the time I will move from back porch to front room by walking a straight line Oh now, just to own a shotgun house would be a splendid thing I will sing the way my daddy used to sing On the banks M-I, double S-I, double S-I, P-P-I