Just a note here to say that the transcription of the second verse is wrong. The phrase:
I didn't have no payroll
Not even no place to go
Should be: "I didn't have no pharaoh"
Maybe Canned Heat changed the lyric in later versions of the song but that is certainly the original version. What does it mean? Well, strangely, the word "pharaoh" was once a widely used slang term for money: "pharaoh = gold = money" but seems to have just slipped out of use almost entirely. A generation ago most working class people in both the States and UK would have understood the word immediately. Now?
I have seen this word written as "fairo" on some lyric sites which is, of course, complete nonsense. Hope this helps.
As an added note: Of course I forgot about the very popular 19th century poker game "Faro" beloved of Doc Holiday (corruption of Pharoah) which might explain the use of the wrongly spelt "fairo" referred to on some lyric versions.
As an added note: Of course I forgot about the very popular 19th century poker game "Faro" beloved of Doc Holiday (corruption of Pharoah) which might explain the use of the wrongly spelt "fairo" referred to on some lyric versions.
Just a note here to say that the transcription of the second verse is wrong. The phrase:
I didn't have no payroll Not even no place to go
Should be: "I didn't have no pharaoh"
Maybe Canned Heat changed the lyric in later versions of the song but that is certainly the original version. What does it mean? Well, strangely, the word "pharaoh" was once a widely used slang term for money: "pharaoh = gold = money" but seems to have just slipped out of use almost entirely. A generation ago most working class people in both the States and UK would have understood the word immediately. Now?
I have seen this word written as "fairo" on some lyric sites which is, of course, complete nonsense. Hope this helps.
As an added note: Of course I forgot about the very popular 19th century poker game "Faro" beloved of Doc Holiday (corruption of Pharoah) which might explain the use of the wrongly spelt "fairo" referred to on some lyric versions.
As an added note: Of course I forgot about the very popular 19th century poker game "Faro" beloved of Doc Holiday (corruption of Pharoah) which might explain the use of the wrongly spelt "fairo" referred to on some lyric versions.