Mamie Neale, down in Beale,
Gave her papa the air,
Left him cold, got him told,
Like she didn't care;
Poor Joe, her beau,
Looked just like he would die;
If you would see her, you would
hear her, sob this mournful cry:
Beale Street Papa, why don't you
come back home?
It isn't proper to leave your mama
all alone.
Sometimes I was cruel, that's true,
But your sweet mama never did two-time
you;
Ah, ooh, I'm blue!
So how come you do me like you
do?
I'm cryin'!
Beale Street Papa, I mean, don't
you mess around with me;
There's plenty petting I can get
in Tennessee,
I get my lovin' constantly, but
not the kind you served to me,
So please, sweet papa, come back
home!
Beale Street Papa, I mean, don't
you mess around with me;
There's plenty petting I can get
in Tennessee,
I bought a razor, rifle, rope and
knife,
But if the police comes for you,
baby, gonna save my life,
So Beale Street Papa, come back
home!
Transcribed from vocals by Bessie Smith, recorded
April 11, 1923.
From Bessie
Smith: 1923; The Chronological Classics 761.
Jenny Neale,
Down in Beale,
Gave her papa the air;
Left him cold,
Got him told,
Said she didn't care.
Old Joe, her beau,
Looked just like he would die;
If you was near him,
You would hear him
Sob his mournful cry:
Beale Street 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-timed
you!
Boo-hoo, I'm blue;
So how come you do me like you
do?
I'm cryin'!
Beale Street Papa, don't mess around
with me!
There's plenty pettin' that I can
get in Tennessee,
I'll still get my sweet cooking,
constantly,
But not the kind you served to
me,
So Beale Street Papa, come back
home!
So how come you do me like you do?
I'm cryin'!
Beale Street Papa, don't mess around
with me!
There's plenty pettin' that I can
get in Tennessee,
I bought a rifle, razor and a knife,
A full support [?] can't save my
life;
So Beale Street Papa, come back
home!
Return to the Heptune
Jazz and Blues Artists Page.
Return to the Esther Bigeou page.
Find lyrics and musical scores in Bessie Smith Songbook!
Published 9/23/99.
Updated 11/19/99.
Visit the rest of our pages!