by B.B. King / Jules Taub
recording of probably 1960
from The Great B.B. King (B. B. King and His Orchestra) (Crown CLP 5143), copyright notice

Way back yonder in the days of old
The men was workin' but not savin' any dough
Then came a woman lookin' real cool
She said to herself, "Now, that's my fool"

I'm gonna ball tonight
I'm gonna ball tonight
Well, I can't break the rule
'Cause every man is some woman's fool

I met a girl on the avenue
She was shy and I was blue
Like a teacher and a student in the school
She looked at me and said, "You're my fool"

Way back yonder in the days of old
The men was workin' but not savin' any dough
Then came a woman lookin' real cool
She begin then to play every man for a fool

I'm gonna ball tonight
I'm gonna ball tonight
Well, it's no use to break the rule
'Cause every man is some woman's fool

Yeah, I'm gonna ball tonight
Gonna ball tonight
I'm gonna ball tonight
I'm gonna ball tonight
Well, it's no use to break the rule
'Cause every man is some woman's fool