Transcribed from vocals by Bessie Smith, recorded
February 16, 1923.
From Bessie
Smith: 1923; The Chronological Classics 761.
Gee, but it's hard to love someone
when that someone don't love you!
I'm so disgusted, heart-broken,
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 has got to promise
me to be mine, all mine!
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all
my days,
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all
my days;
It seems like trouble going to
follow me to my grave.
I ain't never loved but three mens
in my life;
I ain't never loved but three men
in my life:
My father, my brother, the man
that wrecked my life.
It may be a week, it may be a month
or two,
It may be a week, it may be a month
or two,
But the day you quit me, honey,
it's comin' home to you.
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's
in my hand,
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's
in my hand,
I'm gonna hold it until you meet
some of my demands.
Transcribed from Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, recorded November 18,
1931.
From Cab
Calloway and His Orchestra 1931-1932; The Chronological Classics 526.
Gee, but it's hard to love someone
When that someone don't love you;
I'm so disgusted, heart-broken, too
I've got those down-hearted blues.
I was crazy 'bout a gal,
She mistreated me all the time,
Next gal I get, she's got to promise to
Be mine, all mine.
'Cause she mistreated me,
And she drove me from her door;
Yes, she mistreated me,
She drove me from her door,
But the Good Book says,
She'll reap just what she'll sow.
I ain't never loved but three women in all my life,
I never loved but three women in all my life,
That was my mother, my sister, and the gal that wrecked
my life.
[Heavily scatted]
All the dirt you done to me
Is bound to come back to you.
Return to the Works
of Cab Calloway.
Return to the Heptune
Jazz and Blues Lyrics Page.
Find lyrics and musical
scores in Bessie
Smith Songbook!
Published 12/29/98.
Updated 9/18/99.
Visit the rest of our pages!