 Rainey, previously a minstrel and tent-show singer, quite possibly knew of the broad outline of the number and "Shave' Em Dry" was probably in her repertoire from her earliest professional years.The song has been credited as being written by Ma Rainey, William Jackson, (or H. Jackson) and 'traditional' in various sources.An earlier ragtime piano tune entitled "Shave 'Em Dry" was copyrighted in May 1917 in St. Louis, Missouri by composer Sam Wishnuff.