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