STAVIN’ CHAIN by LIL JOHNSON - Easy Ukulele Chords
Intro A7 E7 D7 A7
Verse 1
[A7]If you don't shake you won't get no cake,
[A7]If you don't hum I'm gonna give you none,
Now, [D7]you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this [A7]train,
I'm the [E7]chief engineer, I'm gonna [D7]run it like Stavin' [A7]Chain.
Verse 2
I [A7]asked you in the morning to treat me right,
You [A7]put me off, you tell me "Wait 'til night"
Now, [D7]you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this [A7]train,
I'm the [E7]chief engineer, I'm gonna [D7]run it like Stavin' [A7]Chain.
Instrumental
A7 A7 A7 A7
D7 D7 A7 A7
E7 D7 A7 A7
Verse 3
Back your [A7]horse out my stable, back him out fast,
I’ve [A7]got another jockey, get yourself another mare,
Now, [D7]you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this [A7]train,
I'm the [E7]chief engineer, I'm gonna [D7]run it like Stavin' [A7]Chain.
Verse 4
[A7]Stavin' Chain was a man of might,
He [A7]saved up his money just to ride all night,
Now, [D7]you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this [A7]train,
I'm the [E7]chief engineer, I'm gonna [D7]run it like Stavin' [A7]Chain.
Instrumental
A7 A7 A7 A7
D7 D7 A7 A7
E7 D7 A7 A7
Verse 5
Was at your [A7]house last night, about half past four,
[A7]Found another woman comin' out your door,
Now, [D7]you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this[A7] train,
I'm the [E7]chief engineer, I'm gonna [D7]run it like Stavin' [A7]Chain.
Outro
A7 A7 A7 A7
D7 D7 A7 A7
E7 D7 A7 A7
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The Story Behind the Song
Lil Johnson’s Version
Lil Johnson’s take, recorded in the 1930s, leans heavily into the “dirty blues” tradition—songs that were often explicit, humorous, and full of double meanings.
In this version the character becomes a symbol of bravado and freedom, rather than crime or violence
This was common in “hokum blues,” a subgenre that used playful, risqué lyrics to entertain audiences.
Cultural Context
Songs like this were:
Performed in juke joints and informal settings
Meant to be provocative, funny, and a bit shocking
Part of a tradition where audiences understood the slang and double entendres
Because of that, the meaning isn’t always literal—it’s about attitude, swagger, and storytelling