Special thanks to Dorus Sturm for transcribing and contributing many of the lyrics!
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by Eddie Green recording of 1927 or 1928 from 1927-1928 (Classics 870), copyright notice My heart's sad and I am all forlorn, my man's treating me mean I regret the day that I was born and that man of mine I've ever seen Happiness, it never lasts a day, my heart is almost breaking while I say A good man is hard to find, you always get the other kind Just when you think that he is your pal, you look for him and find him fooling 'round some other gal Then you rave, you even crave to see him laying in his grave So, if your man is nice, take my advice and hug him in the morning, kiss him ev'ry night, give him plenty lovin', treat him right For a good man nowadays is hard to find, a good man nowadays is hard to find
by Britt / Robinson / Roy Turk recording of February, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice I know a triflin'1 man, they call him Triflin' Sam He lives in Birmingham, way down in Alabam' Then the other night he had a fight, with a gal named Mandy Brown She plainly stated he was aggravating, as she shouted out to him Aggravatin' papa, don't you try to two-time me2, I said don't two-time me Aggravatin' papa, treat me kind or let me be, I mean just let me be Listen while I get you told Stop messin' round sweet jelly roll If you stay out with a high-brown baby I'll smack you down and I don't mean maybe Aggravatin' papa, I'll do anything you say Anything you say But when you go struttin', do you strut around my way, so papa Just treat me pretty, be nice and kind The way you're treating me will make me lose my mind Aggravatin' papa, don't you try to two-time me Just treat me pretty, be nice and sweet I got a darn forty-four3 that don't repeat Aggravatin' papa, don't you try to two-time me __________ Note 1: triflin', to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead, to treat someone or something as unimportant; Note 2: two-time me, to betray (a spouse or lover) by secret lovemaking with another; Note 3: forty-four, caliber of a hand gun.
by Perry Bradford recording of 1924 or 1925 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 (1924-1925) (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47471), copyright notice Let me tell you daddy, momma ain't gonna sit here and grieve Pack up your stuff and get ready to leave I stood your foolishness long enough, so now I'm gonna call your bluff Oh, I'm gonna call your hand, so, now daddy here's my plan Ain't gonna play no second fiddle 'cause, I'm used to playin' lead You must think that I am blind, you've been cheatin' me all the time Whoa yeah, you still flirt And you'll notice I ain't hurt, to see you with my chum Do you think that I am dumb You 'cause me to drink, when I sit down and think And notice that you never take heed I went to your house the other night, caught you and your good girl havin' a fight Ain't gonna play no second fiddle 'cause I'm used to playin lead Caught you with your good-time tramp1, so, now I'm gonna put out your lamp Oh, poppa, I ain't sore You ain't gonna mess up with me no more I'm gonna flirt with another guy2, then you're gonna hang your head an' cry2 Ain't gonna play no second fiddle 'cause I'm used to playin' lead __________ Note 1: tramp, Dorus Sturm suggests "vamp" instead of tramp; Note 2: guy & cry, Dorus Sturm suggests "sheik" & "weep" instead of guy and cry.
by Lovie Austin recording of October 16 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice My man ain't acting right, he stays out late at night And still he says he loves no one but me But if I find that gal, that tries to steal my pal I'll get her told, just you wait and see I feel blue, I don't know what to do Every woman in my fix1 is bound to feel blue too, 'cause I love my man better than I love myself Lord, I love my man better than I love myself And if he don't have me, he won't have nobody else My man's got teeth like a lighthouse on the sea My man's got teeth like a lighthouse on the sea And ev'rytime he smiles he throws them lights on me His voice sounds like chimes, I mean the organ kind His voice sounds like chimes, I mean the organ kind And ev'rytime he speaks his music ease my troubling mind __________ Note 1: in my fix, in my place or position. Derived from fixing a position, by a ship for instance.
by Fred Longshaw recording of November 18 1925, New York City from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 (1924-1925) (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47471), copyright notice "Hey Bessie it's Christmas here" Here! Here! Hurray for Christmas Christmas comes but once a year, and to me it brings good cheer, and to everyone who likes wine and beer Happy New Year is after that, happy I'll be, that is a fact That is why I like to hear, folks I say that Christmas is here Christmas bells will ring real soon, even in the afternoon There'll be no chimes shall ring at the Christmas Ball Everyone must watch their step, or they will loose their rep1 Everybody full of fare at the Christmas Ball (Excellent Joe Smith solo) Grab your partner one an' all, keep on dancing 'round the hall Then there's no one to fall, don't you dare to strut If your partner don't act fair, don't worry there's some more over there Seekin' a chance everywhere at the Christmas Ball __________ Note: 27,675 copies of this record were sold, her Downhearted Blues sold ten times as many!; Note 1: rep, short for reputation.
by Bessie Smith / Webman recording of 19 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Honey, there's a funny feeling 'round my heart, and it's bound to drive your mama wild It must be something they call the Cuban Doll1, it weren't your mama's angel child I went to see the doctor the other day, he said I's well as well could be But I said, "Doctor, you don't know really what's worrying me" I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my loving all the time I want to be somebody's baby doll to ease my mind He can be ugly, he can be black, so long as he can eagle rock and ball the jack I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my lovin' all the time, I mean to get my lovin' all the time Lord, I went to the gypsy to get my fortune told, she said you in hard luck, Bessie, doggone your bad luck soul I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my lovin' all the time, I mean to get my lovin' all the time __________ Note 1: Cuban Doll, still looking for the meaning, mail me please if you know a/the meaning.
by Clarence Williams / Charles Warfield recording of April 11 1923, New York City from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'll give the world if I could only Make you understand It surely would be grand I'm gonna telephone my baby Ask him won't you please come home 'Cause when you're gone, I'm worried all day long Baby won't you please come home Baby won't you please come home I have tried in vain Ever more to call your name When you left you broke my heart That will never make us part Every hour in the day You will hear me say Baby won't you please come home, I mean Baby won't you please come home Baby won't you please come home 'Cause your mama's all alone I have tried in vain Never more to call your name When you left you broke my heart That will never make us part Landlord gettin' worse, I've got to move May the first Baby won't you please come home, I need money Baby won't you please come home
by Bessie Smith recording of February(?) 17 1927, New York City from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night Then trouble's takin' place in the lowlands at night I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door There's been enough trouble to make a poor girl wonder where she want to go Then they rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond Then they rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond I packed all my clothes, throwed them in and they rowed me along When it thunders and lightnin' and when the wind begins to blow When it thunders and lightnin' and the wind begins to blow There's thousands of people ain't got no place to go Then I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill Then I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill Then looked down on the house were I used to live Backwater1 blues done call me to pack my things and go Backwater blues done call me to pack my things and go 'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more Mmm, I can't move no more Mmm, I can't move no more There ain't no place for a poor old girl to go __________ Note: This was one of her most successful records; it was recorded just before the catastrophic great Mississippi flood of 1927; Note 1: backwater, mostly old river beds which are left to take the excess flood water to relieve pressure on the levees (embankments). As the height of the water is excessive, however, breaches in the levee walls are deliberately made at certain points to allow particular areas to flood and thus lessen the pressure of water. These are the "backwaters," which occur in the St. Francis Basin to the west of the river between Memphis and Helena, in the great Yazoo-Mississippi Delta north of Vicksburg, in the Tensas Basin west of Natchez, and at other selected points.
by Bessie Smith recording of 19 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice When it rained five days and the skies turned dark as night When it rained five days and the skies turned dark as night There was trouble taking place in the lowlands at night I woke up this morning, wouldn't even get out of my door I woke up this morning, wouldn't even get out of my door Enough trouble to make poor girl wonder where she gonna go They rowed a little boat, about five miles 'cross the farm They rowed a little boat, about five miles 'cross the farm I packed up all my clothing, throwed it in and they rowed me along It thundered and it lightened and the winds began to blow It thundered and it lightened and the winds began to blow There was a thousand women, didn't have no place to go I went out to the lonesome, high old lonesome hill I went out to the lonesome, high old lonesome hill I looked won on the old house, where I used to live Backwater1 blues have caused me to pack up my things and go Backwater blues have caused me to pack up my things and go 'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more Hmm, I can't live there no more Hmm, I can't live there no more And there ain't no place for a poor old girl to go __________ Note: This was one of her most successful records; it was recorded just before the catastrophic great Mississippi flood of 1927; Note 1: backwater, mostly old river beds which are left to take the excess flood water to relieve pressure on the levees (embankments). As the height of the water is excessive, however, breaches in the levee walls are deliberately made at certain points to allow particular areas to flood and thus lessen the pressure of water. These are the "backwaters," which occur in the St. Francis Basin to the west of the river between Memphis and Helena, in the great Yazoo-Mississippi Delta north of Vicksburg, in the Tensas Basin west of Natchez, and at other selected points.
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by Robinson / Roy Turk recording of March 15, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Minnie Neal down in Beale1, gave her papa the air Left him cold, got him told, said she didn't care Poor Joe, her beau, looked just like he would die If you were near him, you would hear him, start his mournful cry Beale Street1 papa, why don't you come back home It isn't proper to leave your mama all alone Sometimes I was cruel, that was true But papa you know mama never two-times2 you Ooh-ooh, I'm blue So how come you do me like you do, I'm crying Beale Street papa, don't mess around with me There's plenty of petting that I can get in Tennessee I still get my sweet cookies constantly But not the kind you serve to me So Beale Street papa, come back home So how come you do me like you do, I'm crying Beale Street papa, don't mess around with me There's plenty of petting that I can get in Tennessee I bought a rifle, razor and a knife, a postal card can't save my life So Beale Street papa, come back home __________ Note 1: Beale Street, one of the most famous streets in Memphis and where the blues were born. It was the home to famous blues musicians such as W.C. Handy who wrote the first blues song here in 1909. Take the Beale Street Historical Tour with the Memphis Guide; Note 2: two-time you, to betray (a spouse or lover) by secret lovemaking with another.
by Lovie Austin recording of June 14, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice When you're sad and lonely Thinking about you only Feeling disgusted and blue Ah, your heart is aching Yes, it's almost breaking No one to tell your troubles to That's the time you'll hang your head, And begin to cry All your friends forsake you, Trouble overtakes you And your good man turns you down Evil talk about you Everybody doubt you And your friends can't be found Not a soul to ease your pain You will plead in vain You've got those bleeding hearted blues Say baby, tell me what's on your mind Pretty papa, tell me what's on your mind You keep my poor heart achin' I'm worried all the time I give up every friend that I had Yes, I give up every friend that I had I give up my mother I even give up dear old dad by Bessie
Smith
by Lovie Austin / Ma Rainey recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Hey boweavil1 don't bring them blues no more Hey boweavil don't bring them blues no more Boweavil's here, boweavil's everywhere you go I'm a lone boweavil, been out a great long time I'm a lone boweavil, been out a great long time For to sing this song, to ease boweavil's troublin' mind I don't want no sugar put into my tea I don't want no sugar put into my tea The mens are so evil, I'm scared they might poison me I went downtown I bought myself a hat I brought it back home I laid it on the shelf I looked in my bedroom Tired sleepin' by myself I'm tired sleepin' by myself __________ Note 1: bo or boll weevil or weavil, a grayish weevil, super-family of beetles that infests the cotton plant and feeds on the squares and bolls. drawing
by Chris Smith / Harold Troy / Clarence Williams recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 (1924-1925) (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47471), copyright notice Cake walkers1 may come, cake walkers may go, but I wanna tell you 'bout a couple I know High steppin' pair, Debonair When it comes for bus'ness not a soul can compare Here they come, look at 'em, demonstratin', goin' some, ain't they syncopatin'? Talk of the town, teasin' brown pickin' 'em up and layin' 'em down Dancin' fools ain't they demonstratin'? They're a class of their own Now the only way to win is to cheat 'em, you may tie 'em but you'll never beat 'em Strut your stuff, they're the cake walkin' babies from home Strut your stuff, strut your stuff, cake walkin' babies from home Here they come, look at 'em, syncopatin', goin' some, ain't they demonstratin'? Talk of the town, teasin' brown pickin' 'em up and layin' 'em down Dancin' fools ain't they syncopatin'2? They're a class of their own Now the only way to win is to cheat 'em, you may tie 'em but you'll never beat 'em Strut your stuff, they're the cake walkin' babies form home Strut your stuff, strut your stuff, cake walkin' babies from home __________ Note 1: cakewalk, a black American entertainment having a cake as prize for the most accomplished steps and figures in walking. Also, a stage dance developed from walking steps and figures typically involving a high prance with backward tilt. It is also used to indicate a one-sided contest or an easy task; Note 2: syncopatin', a rhythmical alteration which consists in welding into one tone the second half of one beat with the first half of the beat which follows.
by S. Loney / Spencer Williams recording of September 26, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Folks, I know a gal named Cemetery Lize, down in Tennessee She has got a pair of mean old graveyard eyes, full of misery Every night and day, you can hear her sing a blues away I'm going down to the cemetery 'cause the world is all wrong I'm going down to the cemetery 'cause the world is all wrong Down there with the spooks, to hear 'em sing my sorrow song Got a date to see a ghost by the name of Jones Got a date to see a ghost by the name of Jones Makes me feel happy to hear him rattle his bones He's one man I always know just where to find He's one man I always know just where to find When you want true lovin' go and get the cemetery kind He ain't no fine dresser, he don't wear nothing but a sack Yeah, he ain't no fine dresser, he don't wear nothing but a sack Everytime he kisses me that funny feeling creeps up my back
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by Lovie Austin recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Late last night, I sold away and cried Late last night, I sold away and cried Had the blues for Chicago, I just can't be satisfied Blues on my brain, my tongue refused to talk Blues on my brain, my tongue refused to talk I was followin' my daddy but my feet refuses to walk Mean old fireman, cruel old engineer Lord mean old fireman, cruel old engineer You took my man and left his mama standing here Big red headline, tomorrow Defender1 news Big red headline, tomorrow Defender news "Woman dead down home, these old Chicago blues" I said blues __________ Note 1: Chicago area newspaper with mainly black readers, still in existence today.
by Porter Grainger recording of 1928 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice It's a long, long lane that has no turning And it's a fire that always keeps on burning Mister devil down below Pitchfork in his hand And that's where you are going to go Do you understand? Devil's gonna git you Devil's gonna git you Oh, the devil's gonna git you Man, just as sure as you's born Devil's gonna git you, Devil's gonna git you, Oh, the devil's gonna git you, The way you're carryin' on You go away, stay for weeks On your doggone spree1 Come back home, get in my bed And turn your back on me Oh the devil's gonna git you I mean the devil's gonna git you Man the devil's gonna git you Sure as you's born Dirty two-timer2, dirty two-timer, Dirty two-timer, you ain't coming clean Oh the devil's gonna git you I mean the devil's gonna git you Oh the devil's gonna git you You know what I mean I don't want no two-time stuff From my regular man Don't want nothing that's been used 'Cause it's second-hand The devil's gonna git you Oh the devil's gonna git you Man the devil's gonna git you Sure as you're born to die __________ Note 1: spree, an unrestrained indulgence in or outburst of an activity "she or he went on a buying spree"; Note 2: two-timer, to betray (a spouse or lover) by secret lovemaking with another.
by Bessie Smith recording of 19 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice Did you ever fall in love with a man that was no good? Did you ever fall in love with a man that was no good? No matter what you did for him, he never understood The meanest thing he could say would thrill you through and through The meanest thing he could say would thrill you through and through And there wasn't nothin' too dirty for that man to do He'd treat you nice and kind till he win your heart and hand He'd treat you nice and kind till he win your heart and hand Then he git so cruel that man, you just could not stand Lawd, I really don't think no man's love can last Lawd, I don't think no man's love can last They'll love you to death then treat you like a thing of the past There's nineteen men livin' in my neighborhood There's nineteen men livin' in my neighborhood Eighteen of them are fools and the one ain't no doggone good Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd That dirty no-good man treats me just like I'm a dog
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by Lovie Austin / Alberta Hunter recording of February 16, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Gee, but it's hard to love someone when that someone don't love you I'm so disgusted, heartbroken, too I've got those down hearted blues Once I was crazy 'bout a man He mistreated me all the time The next man I get he's got to promise to be mine, all mine If I could only find the man oh how happy I would be To the good Lord ev'ry night I pray Please send my man back to me I've almost worried myself to death wond'ring why he went away But just wait and see he's gonna want me back some sweet day Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days It seems that trouble's going to follow me to my grave Got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand Got the world in a jug The stopper's in my hand Going to hold it, baby, till you come under my command Say, I ain't never loved but three men in my life No, I ain't never loved but three men in my life 'T'was my father, brother and the man who wrecked my life 'Cause he mistreated me and he drove me from his door Yeah, he mistreated me and he drove me from his door But the good book says you'll reap just what you sow Oh, it may be a week and it may be a month or two Yes, it may be a week and it may be a month or two But the day you quit me honey, it's coming home to you Oh, I walked the floor and I wrung my hands and cried Yes, I walked the floor and I wrung my hands and cried Had the down hearted blues and couldn't be satisfied __________ Note: Bessie Smith's first recording and a hit record that made her famous as well. He, he's, man, brother, father respectively she, she's, gal/woman, sister and mother when the speaker is male.
lyrics by Leola P. Wilson / music by Wesley Wilson recording of 19 from Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter (Columbia/Legacy 57546), copyright notice My man's got somethin', he gives me such a thrill Every time he smiles at me, I can't keep my body still I done cried so much, look like I've got the mumps1 I can't keep from worryin' 'cause I'm down in the dumps2 I had a nightmare last night, when I laid down When I woke up this mornin', my sweet man couldn't be found I'm goin' down to the river, into it I'm goin' to jump Can't keep from worryin' 'cause I'm down in the dumps Someone knocked on my door last night when I was asleep I thought it was that sweet man of mine makin' his 'fore day creep Wasn't nothin' but my landlord, a great big chump Sat 'way from my door Mr. landlord, 'cause I'm down in the dumps When I woke up my pillow was wet with tears Just one from that man o' mine seems like a thousand years But I'm gonna straighten up, straighter than Andy Gump Ain't no use of me tellin' that lie 'cause I'm down in the dumps I'm twenty-five years old, that ain't no old maid I got plenty of vim and vitality, I'm sure that I can make the grade I'm always like a tiger, I'm ready to jump I need w whole lot's of lovin' 'cause I'm down in the dumps __________ Note 1: mumps, a viral infectious disease, fever is one of the symptoms; Note 2: down in the dumps, a gloomy state of mind.
by J.C. Johnson recording of January 9 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice I heard the folks were talking here yesterday As I listened by the door Would eavesdrop1 'cause they never hear no good, they say And I heard things that hurt me so They said I had a man I give my money to They said I had a man I give my money to And if I was broke he would turn my eyes all blue They talked about my pa who was blind in one eye They talked about my pa who was blind in one eye They said he was a sinner and was too mean to cry I never knock nobody, wonder why they picked on me I never knock nobody, wonder why they picked on me There's goin' to be a funeral if they don't let me be I never stopped to listen, to try and hear no good news I never stopped to listen, to try and hear no good news I hear things about me, give me those eavesdropper's blues __________ Note 1: eavesdrop, to listen secretly to what is said in private. Etymology: probably back-formation from eavesdropper, literally, one standing under the drip from the eaves (= the lower border of a roof that overhangs the wall). :
by J. C. Johnson recording of March 28 1928, New York City from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice I woke up this morning with a awful aching head I woke up this morning with a awful aching head My new man had left me, just a room and a empty bed Bought me a coffee grinder that's the best one I could find Bought me a coffee grinder that's the best one I could find Oh, he could grind my coffee, 'cause he had a brand new grind He's a deep sea diver with a stroke that can't go wrong He's a deep sea diver with a stroke that can't go wrong He can stay at the bottom and his wind holds out so long He knows how to thrill me and he thrills me night and day Oh, he knows how to thrill me, he thrills me night and day He's got a new way of loving, almost takes my breath away Lord, he's got that sweet somethin' and I told my girlfriend Lou He's got that sweet somethin' and I told my girlfriend Lou From the way she's raving, she must have gone and tried it too (Part 2) When my bed get empty make me feel awful mean and blue When my bed get empty make me feel awful mean and blue My springs are getting rusty, sleeping single like I do Bought him a blanket, pillow for his head at night Bought him a blanket, pillow for his head at night Then I bought him a mattress so he could lay just right He came home one evening with his spirit way up high He came home one evening with his spirit way up high What he had to give me, make me wring my hands and cry He give me a lesson that I never had before He give me a lesson that I never had before When he got to teachin' me, from my elbow down was sore He boiled my first cabbage and he made it awful hot He boiled my first cabbage and he made it awful hot When he put in the bacon, it overflowed the pot When you git good lovin', never go and spread the news Yes, he'll double-cross you, and leave you with them empty bed blues
by Bessie Smith recording of 19 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice Men sure is deceitful and they's gettin' worser ev'ry day Men sure is deceitful and they's gettin' worser ev'ry day Act like a bunch of women, they's just-a gab, gab, gabbin' away There's two things got me puzzled, there's two things I can't stand There's two things got me puzzled, there's two things I can't stand A mannish actin' woman and a skippin' twistin' woman actin' man I used to love a man, he always made my poor heart ache I used to love a man, he always made my poor heart ache He was crooked as a corkscrew and evil as a copperhead snake I know a certain man who spent a year runnin' a poor gal down I know a certain man who spent a year runnin' a poor gal down And when she let him kiss her, the fool blabbed it all over town
by E. Brown recording of January 8 1924 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice How come I'm blue as can be, how come I need sympathy I know what's troubling me, listen and you'll see Because the good man that I got, left me all alone Woke up this morning at four, when I heard him slamming my door Did you ever wake up on a frosty morning and discover your good man gone Did you ever wake up on a frosty morning and discover your good man gone If you did you'll understand, why I'm singing sad moanful songs Well, he didn't provide and he wasn't handsome, so he might not appeal to you Well, he didn't provide and he wasn't handsome, so he might not appeal to you But he gave me plenty loving and I never had to beg him too Now my damper1 is down and my fire ain't burning and a chill's all around my bed My damper is down and my fire ain't burning and a chill's all around my bed When you lose the man you love, then a gal is just as good as dead __________ Note 1: damper, a device that damps as a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft.
by Wesley Wilson recording of from Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter (Columbia/Legacy 57546), copyright notice (spoken: Twenty-five cents? Ha! No! No! I wouldn't pay twenty-five cents to go in nowhere 'cause listen here) Up in Harlem ev'ry Saturday night when the high-browns git together it's just too tight, they all congregates at an all night strut and what they do is tut-tut-tut Old Hannah Brown from 'cross town gets full of corn and starts breakin' 'em down Just at the break of day you can hear old Hannah say, "Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer" Send me gate I don't care I feel just like I wanna clown Give the piano player a drink because he's bringin' me down He's got rhythm, yeah! When he stomps his feet, he sends me right off to sleep Check all your razors and your guns We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer Send me 'cause I don't care Slay me 'cause I don't care Gimme a reefer and a gang o' gin Slay me, 'cause I'm in my sin Slay me 'cause I'm full of gin Check all your razors and your guns Do the shim-sham shimmy till the risin' sun
by Ida Cox recording of September 26 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Blues on my mind, blues all around my head Blues on my mind, and blues all around my head I dreamed last night that the man that I love was dead I went to the graveyard, fell down on my knees I went to the graveyard, fell down on my knees And I asked the gravedigger to give me back my real good man please The gravedigger look me in the eye The gravedigger look me in the eye Said "I'm sorry lady but your man has said his last goodbye" I wrung my hands and I wanted to scream I wrung my hands and I wanted to scream But when I woke up I found it was only a dream
by Clarence Williams recording of February 16, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice I've been blue all day, my man's gone away He has left his mama cold for another gal I'm told I tried to treat him kind, I thought he would be mine That man I hate to lose, that's why mama's got the blues The man I love he has done left this town The man I love he has done left this town And if it keeps on snowing, I will be Gulf Coast bound The mail man passed but he didn't leave no news The mail man passed but he didn't leave no news I'll tell the world he left me with those Gulf Coast blues Some of you men sure do make me tired Some of you men sure do make me tired You've got a mouthful of "gimme", a handful of "much oblige"
by Bessie Smith recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice My man said he didn't want me I'm getting tired of his dirty ways I'm going to see another brown I'm packin' my clothes I'm leavin' town, getting outdoors lettin' him know and he'll see a hard time Now there's no need of cryin', just put me off your mind, then you'll see a hard time When your good woman is gone you'll see a hard time (spoken: Don't say a word, just listen) The risin' sun ain't gonna set in the east no more The risin' sun ain't gonna set in the east no more 'Cause I'm a good woman I can get a man any place I go You can say what you please, you will miss me There's a lots-a things you are bound to see, when your friends forsake you and your money's gone Then you'll look around all your clothes is gone Down on your knees you'll ask for me, there's no one else you will want to see Then you'll pray a prayer that men pray ev'rywhere, Lord When your good woman is gone When your good woman is gone
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