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This tune is by Cripple Clarence Lofton (recorded 1935 accompanied by Big Bill Broonzy), who used to be a tap-dancer, but developed a limp so he moved on to boogie woogie piano. Jim Jackson and Blind Blake wrote about the policy too. The Policy was an illegal lottery game - a cross between Lotto and Wheel of Fortune, players pick three numbers and hope they matched the numbers of the day. You usually put your winnings from the previous game on the next day's numbers, so came to be called an insurance policy. "Policy" was a good cover code for transacting tickets. In fact, the lyrics are full of coded references. If you don’t know what they mean the song is incomprehensible:

• Game operators spun a large wheel and "the numbers fell." Policy wheels had colourful names like "The Interstate," and "The Red Devil."
• A three-number combination is a "gig," and a four-number combination a "horse."
• Some gigs had their own names like the washerwoman's gig" (4, 11, 44), "the dirty gig" (3, 6, 9).

To make sure you improved your chances of winning you could invest in Aunt Sally's Policy Player's Dream Book and Aunt Sally's Lucky Dream Spiritual Supplies, which would help you interpret your dreams where the right numbers were hidden.

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from Dead Cat Blues, released March 1, 2015

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Bill Lawrie & Paul Gioia Perth, Australia

Lawrie & Gioia cemented a firm musical friendship after a short stint in jail (well, sort of). For the last fifteen years they have formed part of legendary blues band Tin Dog. Now, Lawrie & Gioia return to their musical roots, delving into the rich acoustic piano and guitar blues of pre-war America. ... more

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