I came across this phrase while transcribing the words from Rev. Emmett Dickenson's 1930 recording "It's Your Time Now". After admonishing "sweetbacks" in his congregation about wearing "box back coats and bell bottom pants, he goes on to say "You men calling yourselves P.I If you knew what P.I. was you would doodle it back."
A year earlier the Charleston Blues Trio, another name for the Southern Blues Singers recorded "Doodlin' Back" for Gennett. This unknown group was accompanied by Cow Cow Davenport according to Dixon and Godrich, though on this side only a guitar is audible (perhaps Buster Johnson who shared the session). The chorus is "Doodlin' back, they all doin' the doodlin' back. Don't never let me catch you doin' the doodlin' back ." It makes me think perhaps it was a dance step. Also the use of the name Charleston if W.VA is meant would place it close to Huntington where Rev. Dickenson was then living.
Then there is Charlie Lincoln's "Doodle Hole Blues" from 1930. He of course was from Georgia.
So, does anyone know of a dance called the Doodlin'Back /Doodle it Back? Is there any known meaning to the phrase?
