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