This book came to life after a series of intensive interviews over time with a great number of people who lived through the Great Depression and remembered favorite phrases that they had often used, and others that had often heard. Both were remembered with great delight.

Further probing often brought other long forgotten phrases to the surface, with additional delight to both sides of the interviews.

The results produced this Journal that depicts a time when conversation was Paramount and greatly valued. Often conversation was the only source of news and communication, as well as an important source of entertainment that all could share. Consequently talk lived a 'life of it's own' with these wonderful and expressive sayings ever present.

We have authenticated them all, and present them here, warts and all. You may not want to leave the book on the coffee table for out of town relatives to browse.

"Her dress was so short that every time she sat down she took your picture."

"I'd owe you forever before I would beat you out of it.”

"You could have talked all day without saying that."

If you were alive and living in the Rural South during the Great Depression these phrases may bring back powerful memories. For the authors they were just the tip of the iceberg of the many Sayings they heard over and over as they were shipped from relative to relative. Later they realized these were more than just sayings, they represented the Heart and Soul of the Depression and should be recorded and saved as such. You will be glad they did.

“I wouldn’t take a million dollars for any kid I’ve got. And I wouldn’t give you a dime for another one.”

“He couldn’t pour piss out of a boot with the directions printed on the heel.”

“Her dress was so short that every time she sat down she took your picture.”

“Work don’t bother me none. I can lay right down beside it and go to sleep.”

“I’d owe you forever before I would beat you out of it.”

“He’s so bright they have to put him under a washtub so the sun can rise.”

“He don’t pay you much but you can steal him blind.”

“She’s so ugly she’d make a train take a dirt road.”