"[3] The song name was a 1920s slang term for a big spender, a traveling businessman in the habit of spending large amounts of money in nightclubs.
The lyrics to the song describe a woman who wanted a butter and egg man to treat her well and let her play so she doesn't need to work all day.
Texas Guinan, a New York night club hostess, is also attributed to the popularization of the term in a derogatory fashion because of her usage when targeting one of her customers.
[4] Walter Winchell has also stated that the original butter and egg man was “Uncle Sam” Balcom, and the first person to use it in a derogatory manner was Harry Richman.
"[1] – James Lincoln Collier, Armstrong's biographer This solo, as analyzed by Thomas Brothers, was perfected over time as he performed this number in a cabaret act at the Sunset Café with May Alix.