Transcribed from vocals by Bessie Smith, recorded
February 16, 1923.
From Bessie
Smith: 1923; The Chronological Classics 761.
I've been blue all day,
My man's gone away,
He done 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 mailman passed, but he didn't
leave no news.
The mailman 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 mouth full of gimme,
a hand full of much obliged.
I've been blue all day,
My man's gone away,
He 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 has left me in this
town,
The man I love has gone and left
me in this town;
And if it keeps on a-snowing, I
will be New Orleans bound.
Mailman passed by but he didn't
leave no news.
Mailman passed by but he didn't
leave no news.
I'll tell the world he left me
cryin'; I got the New Orleans blues.
These men up north, they sure do
make me tired,
These men up north, they surely
do make me tired,
They've got a mouth full of gimme,
and a hand full of much obliged.
I dreamed last night that my bed
was fallin' down,
I dreamed last night that my bed
was fallin' down,
But it was only the bedbugs makin'
their last go-round.
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Published 9/23/99.
Updated 11/19/99.
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