Scratch a lie...

Posted by RGM on February 25, 2005

In Reply to: Scratch a lie... posted by SR on February 02, 2005

: I watched the movie "Ray" last evening and when Ray Charles Robinson was a boy, his mother cautioned, "Scratch a lie, find a thief!"
: Any ideas on origin? Is this a Southern/Negro saying or is it more widespread?
: As ESC posted earlier they also referred to "Devil's Music."

The "devils music" was probably blues or jazz. Those genres were regarded much the same as Metal was in the 80's. I believe blues/jass was highly associated with heroine and opiate use.

as for the phrase, i've never heard it before either, it's a good one though, it's going in my repitoire