Special thanks to Dorus Sturm for transcribing and contributing many of the lyrics!
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by Bessie Smith recording of from Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter (Columbia/Legacy 57546), copyright notice Let me tell you how and why what no-good man done to me He called me pretty, young and wild, after that he let me be He'd taken advantage of my mouth, and that you understand So, wait a while, show you, chile, just how to treat a no-good man Make him stay at home, wash and iron, tell all the neighbors he done lost his mind Give your house rent shake1 on Saturday night Monday morning you'll hold collectors good and tight You see a man you really like Let him bite that monkey, brother, in his back When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down hold him where you got him make him stay in town, 'cause I'm a safety woman, lookin' for a safety man Make him stay at home, help me wash and iron, the neighbors know he done lost his mind I give a house rent shake on Saturday night Monday morning I held collectors good and tight I seen a man I really like I let him bite that monkey, brother, smack in his back When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down I hold it where I had it and he stayed in town, I'm a safety woman, and I had to have a safety man I ain't good lookin', I'm built for speed I've got ev'rything a pigmeat needs 'Cause I'm a safety woman, lookin' for a safety man __________ Note: having a house rent party was popular way of raising the money to pay the rent to the landlord or lady as well as other bills like gas, electricity and water.
by Bernard / Robinson / Roy Turk recording of September 24, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice (Spoken: Who's that knockin' on that door Jones? You better get away from that door I don't know nobody named Jones You're in the right church, brother, but the wrong pew1) Sam Jones left his lawful wife, just to step around Came back home, 'bout a year Took it for his high brown Went to his accustomed shore And he knocked his knuckles sore His wife she came, but to his shame She knew his face no more Sam said, "I'm your husband, dear" But she said, "Dear, that's strange to hear" You ain't talkin' to Mrs. Jones You speakin' to Miss Wilson now I used to be your lawful mate But the judge done changed my fate Was a time you could-a' walked right in And call this place your home sweet home But now it's all mine, for all time I'm free and livin' all alone Don't need your clothes, don't need your rent Don't need your ones and twos Though I ain't rich, I know my stitch I earned my strutting shoes Say, hand me the key that unlocks my front door Because that bell don't read Sam Jones no more, no You ain't talkin' to Mrs. Jones You speakin' to Miss Wilson now __________ Note 1: pew, a compartment in the auditorium of a church providing seats for several persons. Also, one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors fixed in rows in a church. by Hill / Williams
by George Brooks recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice Judge you wanna hear my plea, before you open up your court But I don't want no sympathy, 'cause I done cut my good man's throat I caught him with a trifling Jane, I warned him 'bout before I had my knife and went insane, and the rest you ought to know Judge, judge, please mister judge, send me to the 'lectric chair Judge, judge, good mister judge, let me go away from here I wanna take a journey, to the devil down below I done killed my man, I wanna reap just what I sow Oh judge, judge, lordy lordy judge, send me to the 'lectric chair Judge, judge, hear me judge, send me to the 'lectric chair I love him so dear, I cut him with my barlow1, I kicked him in the side I stood here laughing o'r him, while he wallowed around and died Oh judge, judge, lordy judge, send me to the 'lectric chair Judge, judge, sweet mister judge, send me to the 'lectric chair Judge, judge, good kind judge, burn me 'cause I don't care I don't want no one good mayor, to go my bail I don't want to spend no, ninety-nine years in jail So judge, judge, good kind judge, send me to the 'lectric chair __________ Note 1: barlow, a sturdy inexpensive jackknife.
by Bessie Smith recording of 1931 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice Captain, tell your men to get on board Hoist your sail, just pull into another shore I'm dreary in mind and I'm so worried in heart Oh the best of friends sho' has got to part Blow your whistle captain, so your men'll know what to do Blow your whistle captain, so your men'll know what to do When a woman gets dreary ain't no tellin' what she won't do It's cloudy outdoors as can be Oh it's cloudy as can be That's the time I need my good man with me It's rainin' and it's stormin' on the sea It's rainin', it's stormin' on the sea I feel like somebody has shipwrecked poor me
by J.C. Johnson / Bessie Smith recording of 19 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice If you catch me stealin', I don't mean no harm If you catch me stealin', I don't mean no harm It's a mark in my family and it must be carryin' on I got nineteen men and won't want more I got nineteen men and won't want more If I had one more I'd let that nineteen go It's hard to love another woman's man It's hard to love another woman's man You catch him when you want him, you got to catch him when you can Have you ever seen a peaches grow on sweet potato vine? Have you ever seen a peaches grow on sweet potato vine ? Just step in my backyard and take a peep at mine I'm gonna tell you, daddy, like Solomon1 told the Jew I'm gonna tell you, daddy, like Solomon told the Jew If you don't like-ee me, I sure don't like-ee you __________ Note 1: Solomon, Dorus Sturm suggests "China man" instead of Solomon.
by Thomas "Fats" Waller / Clarence Williams recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice Daddy, you've been doggone sweet on me, daddy, you the only one I see You know I need but you 'cause you my man, you can love me like no one can Something 'bout you I can't resist, and when you kiss me, daddy, I stay kissed Now, daddy, squeeze me, squeeze me again, oh, daddy don't stop till I tell you when Now, daddy squeeze me, kiss me some more, oh, Lord, like you did before Your papa cupid is standing close by Now, daddy, don't let sweet baby cry Pick me up on your knee I just git so, you know, when you squeeze me I just git so, you know, when you squeeze me
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by Bessie Smith recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice Standin' in the rain and ain't a drop fell on me Standin' in the rain and ain't a drop fell on me My clothes is all wet but my flesh is as dry as can be It can rain all day, I ain't got no place to go It can rain all day, I ain't got no place to go Because it's cold outside in that ice and snow If it rains five days that won't give me no blues If it rains five days that won't give me no blues I've got my raincoat and hat, umbrella, boots and shoes Rain, rain, rain don't rain on me all day Rain, rain, rain don't rain on me all day 'Cause if I get too wet I've got to go into the house and stay
St. Louis woman with her diamond rings
by Robinson recording of September 24, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Worried in the nighttime, worried in the day 'Cause another sweetie, took my man away Down in St. Louis, there I lost my pride and joy St. Louis woman, stole the heart of my big boy, I'm cryin'! St. Louis gal, just look what you done done, I said what you done done St. Louis gal, you gonna have some fun, I mean a-lots of fun! I'm always cryin' the blues, both night and day Now, daddy's gone but you will shake in your shoes Hear what I say, 'cause some fine mornin', without any warnin' St. Louis gal, I'm gonna handle you, I say manhandle you You'll find yourself in a jam, as sure as anything what am Down in Missouri, there'll come a time, your life won't be worth a dime You stole my pal, St. Louis gal, I'm going a-huntin', do, do, de, do You know just what I'm gonna do, you stole my pal, St. Louis gal
by Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice There ain't nothing I can do, or nothing I can say That folks don't criticize me But I'm goin' to, do just as I want to anyway And don't care if they all despise me If I should take a notion To jump into the ocean 'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, do, do do If I go to church on Sunday Then just shimmy down on Monday Ain't nobody's bizness if I do, if I do If my friend ain't got no money And I say "Take all mine, honey" 'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, do, do do If I give him my last nickel And it leaves me in a pickle 'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, if I do Well I'd rather my man would hit me, than to jump right up and quit me 'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, do, do do I swear I won't call no copper If I'm beat up by my papa 'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, if I do
by Leola P. Wilson / Wesley Wilson recording of from Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter (Columbia/Legacy 57546), copyright notice You're my man, you're so nice and brown, sweetest man in this town I heard you say you was goin' away, and leave me here to stay I feel like I could cry, and here's the reason why Daddy, you really knows your stuff when you take me for a buggy ride I like you when you got your habits on, you can shift your gear with so much pride I gets a funny feelin' when you gaze into my eyes You give me so much thrill, you make my thermometer rise I'm happy when you're by my side when you take me for a buggy ride Daddy, you're as sweet as you can be when you take me for a buggy ride When you set me down up on your knee, and ask me to be your bride When you hug and kiss me it makes me feel fine I gets this funny feelin' up and down my spine You don't need no teachin', you don't need no guide when you take me for a buggy ride Your lovin' ain't so forte in the park but you a lovin', poor creature in the dark You ain't so hot! What can it be that makes me say? "daddy, take all of me" You always ready ev'ry time that I call What I like about you, you never stall You ain't no preacher, you a good old soul You done sent salvation to my very soul I can't kick but I'm satisfied when you take me for a buggy ride
by Bessie Smith recording of 1928 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice Did you ever sit thinking with a thousand things on your mind? Did you ever sit thinking with a thousand things on your mind? Thinking about someone who has treated you so nice and kind You'll get an old letter and you begin to read You'll get an old letter and you begin to read Got the blues so bad tell that man of mine I wanna be Don't you hear me baby, knocking on your door? Don't you hear me baby, knocking on your door? Have you got the nerve to drive me from your door? Have you got the nerve to say that you don't want me no more? Have you got the nerve to say that you don't want me no more? The good book said you got to reap what you sow Take me back baby, try me one more time Take me back baby, try me one more time That's the only way I can get these thinking blues off my mind
by Bessie Smith recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice I've lived a life but nothin' I've gained Each day I'm full of sorrow and pain No one seems to care enough for poor me, to give me a word of sympathy Oh, me! Oh, me! Wonder what will become of poor me? No father to guide me, no mother to care Must bear my troubles alone Not even a brother to help me share This burden I must bear alone Oh, me! Oh, me! Wonder what will become of poor me? I'm settin' and thinkin' of the days gone by They filled my heart with pain I'm too weak to stand and too strong to cry But I'm forgittin' it all in vain Oh, me! Oh, me! Wonder what will become of poor me? I've traveled and wandered almost everywhere To git a little joy from life Still I've gained nothin' but wars and despairs Still strugglin' in this world of strife Oh, me! Oh, me! Wonder what will become of poor me?
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by Turner Layton / Henry Creamer recording of October 15 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice Tillie Brown was a dancing fool Spent her time in a dancing school When the band would play Tillie would start right in to sway First one out on the ballroom floor She never got enough, she just craved for more When she start to sway All the girls and boys would say Whoa, Tillie, take your time Whoa, Tillie, take your time There ain't no use to hurrying 'cause you wanna prance You've got all night to do that dance Whoa, Tillie, lay 'em down Whoa, Tillie Brown You don't know what to shake When you shake What to break Whoa, Tillie, take your time Whoa, Tillie, take your time Whoa, Tillie, take your time There ain't no use to hurrying 'cause you wanna prance Look out there, Tillie, you got all night to do that dance Whoa, Tillie, lay 'em down Whoa, Tillie, Tillie Brown You don't know what to shake When you shake What to break Whoa, Tillie, take your time
by Spencer Williams recording of 19 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice Honey baby, won't you cuddle near, just sweet mama whisper in your ear I'm wild about that thing, it makes me laugh and sing, give it to me papa, I'm wild about that thing Do it easy, honey, don't get rough, from you, papa, I can't get enough I'm wild about that thing, I'm wild about that thing, everybody knows it, I'm wild about that thing Please don't hold it, baby, when I cry, give me every bit of it or else I'll die I'm wild about that thing, ja da ging ging ging, all the time I'm cryin', I'm wild about that thing What's the matter, papa, please don't stop, don't you know I love it and I want it all? I'm wild about that thing, just give my bell a ring, you touched my button, I'm wild about that thing If you want so satisfy my soul, come on and rock me with a steady roll I'm wild about that thing, gee I like your ting-a-ling, kiss me like you mean it, I'm wild about that thing Come on turn the lights down low, say you're ready, just say let's go I'm wild about that thing, I'm wild about that thing, come on and make me feel it, I'm wild about that thing I'm wild about it when you hold me tight, let me linger in your arms all night I'm wild about that thing, my passions got the fling, come on, hear me cryin', I'm wild about that thing by
by Hill / Williams recording of June 14, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091), copyright notice The blues, the blues, the yodling1 blues They seem to haunt me all the time Because that I ain't got no one That will console my mind It seems to me no happiness will I ever find No happiness will I find Lord, lord, lord, lord Lord, lord, lord, lord My man went out without a cause I wonder who put them jinx on me, I said, them jinx on me, I wonder who put them jinx on me, lowdown jinx on me My man's gone back to his used-to-be I'm gonna yodel, yodel my blues away, I said, my blues away I'm gonna yodel, yodel my blues away, ee-ooo, I'm gonna yodel Till things come back my way I've got the blues, go spread the news I've got those doggone yodling blues __________ Note 1: yodling, to sing by suddenly changing from a natural voice to a falsetto and back. Also, to shout or call in a similar manner. From the German word Jodeln.
by Bessie Smith recording of from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474), copyright notice Woke up this mornin' when chickens was crowin' for day Felt on the right side of my pilla', my man gad gone away By this pilla' he left a note readin', "I'm sorry, Jane, you got my goat No time to marry, no time to settle down" I'm a young woman and ain't done runnin' 'round I'm a young woman and ain't done runnin' 'round Some people call me a hobo, some call me a bum Nobody knows my name, nobody knows what I've done I'm as good as any woman in your town I ain't no high yeller, I'm a deep killer of brown I ain't gonna marry, ain't gonna settle down I'm gonna drink good moonshine and rub these browns down See that long lonesome road Lawd, you know it's gotta and I'm a good woman and I can get plenty men
by Spencer Williams recording of 1929 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838), copyright notice Loving is the thing I crave For your love I'll be your slave You gotta give me some, yes give me some Can't you hear me pleading, you gotta give me some Said mister Jones to old butcher Pete, I want a piece of your good old meat You gotta give me some, oh give me some I crave your round steak, you gotta give me some Sweet as candy in a candy shop Is just your sweet sweet lollipop You gotta give me some, please give me some I love all day suckers, you gotta give me some To the milkman I heard Mary scream Said she wanted a lots of cream You gotta give me some, oh give me some Catch it when you come sir, you gotta give me some Hear my cryin' on my bended knees If you wanna put my soul at ease You gotta give me some, please give me some Can't stand it any longer, you gotta give me some Seeper called to Pele-Mele, sugar lump Said I'm going crazy about your hump You've got to give me some, please give me some I can't wait eight days, you gotta give me some Jay bird said to the peckerwood, I like to peck like a pecker should But give me some, yes give me some I'm crazy about them worms, you've gotta give me some
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