Dick Robertson was a crooner who fronted big bands and worked with Eubie Blake, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and others. His career spanned from the early 1920’s through the 1940’s. At some point he began writing songs as well as singing. To say that this tune entered the oral tradition and then may be considered a folk song may be a stretch. But the tongue and cheek approach to the hard times deserves to be included in any collection.