Bessie Smith - Chattanooga Gal (2006) by Bessie Smith (보컬) on maniadb.com

Gee, but it's hard to love someone
When that someone don't love you
I'm so disgusted, heartbroken, 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 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 that trouble's going to follow me to my grave

I ain't never loved but three men in my life
I ain't never loved but three men in my life
My Father, my brother and 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 coming 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 going to hold it until you didn't come under my command

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 meIf I should take a notion
To jump into the ocean
'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, do, do doIf I go to church on Sunday
Sing the shimmy down on Monday
Ain't nobody's bizness if I do, if I doIf 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 doIf I give him my last nickel
And it leaves me in a pickle
'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, if I doThere are _________________ would hit me
Since _______________up and quit me
'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, do, do doI swear I won't call no copper
If I'm beat up by my poppa
'T ain't nobody's bizness if I do, if I do

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

My man ain't acting right, he stays out late at night?
And still he says he loves no one but me?
But if I find that gal, that tries to steal my pal
I'll get her told, just you wait and see?I feel blue, I don't know what to do
Every woman in my fix is bound to feel blue too, 'cause?I love my man better than I love myself
Lord, I love my man better than I love myself
And if he don't have me, he won't have nobody else?
My man's got teeth like a lighthouse on the sea?
My man's got teeth like a lighthouse on the sea?
And ev'rytime he smiles he throws them lights on me
His voice sounds like chimes, I mean the organ kind
His voice sounds like chimes, I mean the organ kind
And ev'rytime he speaks his music ease my troubling mind

Late last night, I sold away and cried
Late last night, I sold away and cried
Had the blues for Chicago, I just can't be satisfied

Blues on my brain, my tongue refused to talk
Blues on my brain, my tongue refused to talk
I was followin' my daddy but my feet refuses to walk

Mean old fireman, cruel old engineer
Lord mean old fireman, cruel old engineer
You took my man and left his mama standing here

Big red headline, tomorrow Defender news
Big red headline, tomorrow Defender news
"Woman dead down home, these old Chicago blues"
I said blues

I hate to see de evenin' sun go down,
Hate to see de evenin' sun go down
'Cause ma baby, he done lef' dis town.
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today,
Feel tomorrow like I feel today,
I'll pack my trunk, make ma git away.

Saint Louis woman wid her diamon' rings
Pulls dat man 'roun' by her apron strings.
'Twant for powder an' for store-bought hair,
De man ah love would not gone nowhere, nowhere.
Got de Saint Louis Blues jes as blue as ah can be.
That man got a heart lak a rock cast in the sea.

Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me. Doggone it!
I loves day man lak a schoolboy loves his pie,
Lak a Kentucky Col'nel loves his mint an' rye.
I'll love ma baby till the day ah die.

Been to de gypsy to get ma fortune tole,
To de gypsy, done got ma fortune tole,
Cause I'm most wile 'bout ma Jelly Roll.
Gypsy done tole me, "Don't you wear no black."
Yes, she done told me, "Don't you wear no black.

Go to Saint Louis, you can win him back."
Help me to Cairo, make Saint Louis by maself,
Git to Cairo, find ma old friend Jeff,
Gwine to pin maself close to his side;
If ah flag his train, I sho' can ride.
Got de Saint Louis Blues jes as blue as ah can be.
That man got a heart lak a rock cast in the sea.

Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me. Doggone it!
I loves day man lak a schoolboy loves his pie,
Lak a Kentucky Colonel loves his mint an' rye.
I'll love ma baby till the day I die.

You ought to see dat stovepipe brown of mine,
Lak he owns de Dimon' Joseph line,
He'd make a cross-eyed o'man go stone blin'.
Blacker than midnight, teeth lak flags of truce,
Blackest man in de whole of Saint Louis,
Blacker de berry, sweeter am de juice.
About a crap game, he knows a pow'ful lot,
But when worktime comes, he's on de dot.
Gwine to ask him for a cold ten-spot,
What it takes to git it, he's cert'nly got.

Got de Saint Louis Blues jes as blue as ah can be.
Dat man got a heart lak a rock cast in the sea.
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me. Doggone it!
I loves day man lak a schoolboy loves his pie,
Lak a Kentucky Col'nel loves his mint an' rye.
I'll love ma baby till the day ah die.

A black-headed gal makes a freight train jump the track, said a black-headed
Gal makes a freight train jump the track,
But a long tall gal makes a preacher ball the jack.

Lawd, a blonde-headed woman makes a good man leave the town, I said
Blonde-headed woman makes a good man leave the town,
But a red-headed woman makes a boy slap his papa down.

Oh, ashes to ashes and dust to dust, I said ashes to ashes and dust to dust,
If my blues don't get you, my jazzing must.

Ever since Miss Susie Johnson
Lost her jockey Lee
There has been much excitement
And more to be

You can hear her moanin?
Moanin? night and morn
She's wonderin' where her
Easy rider's gone

Cablegrams goes off in inquiry
Telegrams goes off in sympathy
Letters came from down in Bam
Everywhere that Uncle Sam
Is the ruler of delivery

All day the phone rings, it's not for me
At last good tidings fills my heart with glee
This message came from Tennessee

Dear Sue, your easy rider struck this burg today
On a southbound rattler beside the Pullman car
I seen him there and he was on the hog

Oh, you easy rider's got to stay away
She had to vamp it but the hike ain't far
He's gone where the Southern cross the Yellow Dog

When it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night
When it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night
Then trouble's takin' place in the lowlands at night

I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door
I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door
There's enough trouble to make a poor girl wonder where she wanna go

Then they rowed a little boat about five miles cross the pond
Then they rowed a little boat about five miles cross the pond
I packed all my clothes, throwed 'em in and they rowed me along

When it thunders and lightnin' and the wind begins to blow
When it thunders and lightnin' and the wind begins to blow
There's thousands of people ain't got no place to go

And I went and stood up on some high old lonesome hill
And I went and stood up on some high old lonesome hill
Then looked down on the house were I used to live

Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go
Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go
'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more

Mmm, I can't move no more
Mmm, I can't move no more
There ain't no place for a poor old girl to go

Now listen honey while I say
How can you tell me that you're going away?
Don't say that we must part
Don't break my achin' heart

You know I love you true for many years
Love you night and day
How can you leave me
Can't you see my tears?
So listen while I say

After you've gone
And left me cryin'
After you've gone
There's no denyin'
You'll feel blue
You'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal
You ever had

There'll come a time
Now don't forget it
There'll come a time
When you'll regret it
Someday
When you grow lonely
Your heat will break like mine
And you'll want me only
After you've gone
After you've gone away

After you've gone
Left me cryin'
After you've gone
There's no denyin'
You'll feel blue
You'll feel sad
You'll miss the best pal
You ever had

There'll come a time
Now don't forget it
There'll come a time
When you'll regret it
Someday
When you grow lonely
Your heat will break like mine
And you'll want me only
After you've gone
After you've gone away

Oh my honey
Oh my honey
You better hurry and let's go down there
Ain't you goin'?
Ain't you goin'?
To that leaderman, ragged meter man

Oh honey
Oh honey
Let me take you to Alexander's
Grand stand brass band
Ain't you coming along?

Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Alexander's ragtime band
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
It's the best band in the land

They can play the bugle call like you've never heard before
Sounds so natural that you'll wanna go to war
That's just the best band in the land
Oh honey lamb

Come on along
Come on along
Let me take you by the hand
Up to the man
Up to the man
Who is the leader of the band
And if you care to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Alexander's ragtime band

Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Alexander's ragtime band
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
It's the best band in the land

Listen to the bugle call

Just the best band in the land
Oh honey lamb
Come on along
Come on along
Let me take you by the hand
Up to the man
Up to the man
Who is the leader of the band
And if you care to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Alexander's ragtime band

Dixie moonlight, Swanee shore
Headed homebound just once more
To my Mississippi delta home
Southland has that grand garden spot
Although you believe or not
I hear those breeze a-whispering:
"Come on back to me"
Muddy water 'round my feet
Muddy water in the street
Just God don't shelter
Down on the delta
Muddy water in my shoes
Reeling and rocking to them lowdown blues
They live in ease and comfort down there
I do declare
Been away a year today
To wander and roam
I don't care it's muddy there
But see it is my home
Got my toes turned Dixie way
'Round the delta let me lay
My heart cries out for muddy water

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, Mr. Judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair
Judge, Judge, good Mr. 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

Judge, Judge, send me there, Judge
I love him so dear

I cut him with my Barlow
I kicked him in the side
I stood there laughing over him
While he wallowed 'round and died

Oh, Judge, Judge, lordy Judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair
Judge, Judge, please, Mr. Judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair

Judge, Judge, good, kind Judge
Burn me, for I don't care

I don't want no bumbling man
To go my bail
I don't want to spend no
Nine and ninety years in jail

So Judge, Judge, good kind Judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair

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.

I had a man for fifteen years
Give him his room and board
Once he was like a Cadillac
Now he's like an old worn out Ford
He never brought me a lousy dime
And put it in my hand
So there'll be some changes from now on
According to my planHe's got to get it, bring it, and put it right here
Or else he's gonna keep it out there
If he must steal it, beg it, or borrow it somewhere
Long as he gets it, I don't care
I'm tired of fryin' pork chops
To grease his fat lips
And he has to find another place
For to park his old hips
He must get it, and bring it, and put it right here
Or else he's gonna keep it out thereThe bee gets the honey, and brings it to the corn
Else he's kicked out of his home sweet home
To show you that they brings it, watch the dog and the cat
Everything even brings it, from a mule to a mare
The rooster gets the worm, and brings it to the hen
That oughta be a tip to all you no-good men
The groundhog even brings it and puts it in his hole
So my man has got to bring it, doggone his soulHe's got to get it, bring it, and put it right here
Or else he's gonna keep it out there
If he must steal it, beg it, or borr' it somewhere
Long as he gets it child, I don't care
I'm gonna tell him like the Chinaman: when you don't bring 'em check
You don't get 'em laundry, if you break 'em down neck
You got to get it, bring it, and put it right here
Or else you gonna keep it out there

It's a long, long lane that has no turning
And it's a fire that always keeps on burning
Mister devil down below
Pitchfork in his hand
And that's where you are going to go
Do you understand?
Devil's gonna git you
Devil's gonna git you
Oh, the devil's gonna git you
Man, just as sure as you's born

Devil's gonna git you,
Devil's gonna git you,
Oh, the devil's gonna git you,
The way you're carryin' on

You go away, stay for weeks
On your doggone spree
Come back home, get in my bed
And turn your back on me
Oh the devil's gonna git you
I mean the devil's gonna git you
Man the devil's gonna git you
Sure as you's born

Dirty two-timer, dirty two-timer,
Dirty two-timer, you ain't coming clean

Oh the devil's gonna git you
I mean the devil's gonna git you
Oh the devil's gonna git you
You know what I mean

I don't want no two-time stuff
From my regular man
Don't want nothing that's been used
'Cause it's second-hand
The devil's gonna git you
Oh the devil's gonna git you
Man the devil's gonna git you
Sure as you're born to die

Mister Rich Man, Rich Man
Open up your heart and mind
Mister Rich Man, Rich Man
Open up your heart and mind
Give the poor man a chance
Help stop these hard, hard time

While you livin' in your mansion
You don't know what hard time means
While you livin' in your mansion
You don't know what hard time means
Oh, workin' man's wife is starvin'
Your wife is livin' like a queen

Please, listen to my pleadin'
'Cause I can't stand these hard time long
Oh, listen to my pleadin'
Can't stand these hard time long
They'll make an honest man do things
That you know is wrong

All man fought all the battles
All man would fight again today
All man fought all the battles
All man would fight again today
He would do anything you ask him
In the name of the U.S.A

Now the war is over
All man must live the same as you
Now the war is over
All man must live the same as you
If it wasn't for the poor man
Mister Rich Man what would you do?

"Stay away from me 'cause I'm in my sin.
Stay away from me 'cause I'm in my sin.
If this place gets raided, it's just me and my gin.

Don't try me nobody, oh, you will never win.
Don't try me nobody 'cause you will never win.
I'll fight the army, navy just me and my gin.

Any bootlegger sure is a pal of mine.
Any bootlegger sure is a pal of mine.
'Cause a good ol' bottle o' gin will get it all the time.

When I'm feeling high ain't nothing I won't do.
When I'm feeling high ain't nothing I won't do.
Get me full of liquor and I'll sure be nice to you.

I don't want no pork and I don't need no beer.
I don't want no pork and I don't need no beer.
I don't want no porkchop just give me gin instead."

Madam Buff's was quite deluxe
Servants by the score
Footmen at each door
Butlers and maids galore

But one day Sam, her kitchen man
Gave in his notice, he's through
She cried, "Oh Sam, don't go
It'll grieve me if you do"

I love his cabbage gravy, his hash
Crazy 'bout his succotash
I can't do without my kitchen man

Wild about his turnip top
Like the way he warms my chop
I can't do without my kitchen man

Anybody else can leave
And I would only laugh
But he means too much to me
And you ain't heard the half

Oh, his jelly roll is so nice and hot
Never fails to touch the spot
I can't do without my kitchen man

His frankfurters are oh so sweet
How I like his sausage meat
I can't do without my kitchen man

Oh, how that boy can open clam
No one else is can touch my ham
I can't do without my kitchen man

When I eat his doughnuts
All I leave is the hole
Any time he wants to
Why, he can use my sugar bowl

Oh, his baloney's really worth a try
Never fails to satisfy
I can't do without my kitchen man

Oh Stingy Ginny saved up all her pennies
Straight to the bank she would go
The sharks would have their hands around her
But none could get her dough

Ginny's fellow was a slick high yeller
Sent away to jail one day
He cried for bail, then turned real pale
When I heard Ginny say

Oh I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away
It's in demand
They wants it every day

I've been saving it up for a long long time
To give it away would be more than a crime
Your eyes may roll, your teeth may grit
But none of my money will you git
You can look at my bank book
But I'll never let you feel my purse

'Cause I'm a woman, believes in safety first, safety first
Said if you want my money, here's my plan
I'm saving it up for a real good man
I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away

She said I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away
It's in demand
Folks cryin' for it every day

I've been saving it up for a long long time
To give it away would be more than a crime
Your eyes may roll, your teeth may grit
But none of this small change will you git
You can look at my bank book
But I'll never let you put your hands on my purse

Lord I'm a woman, believes in safety first, safety first
Say if you want my money, here's my plan
I'm not savin' it up for no naked man
I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away

Once I lived the life of a millionaire
Spent all my money, didn't have any care
Took all my friends out for a mighty good time
Bought bootleg whisky, champagne and wine

Then I began to fall so low
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go
I get my hands on a dollar again
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins

'Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out
In your pocket, not one penny
And as for friends, you don't have any

When you finally get back up on your feet again
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody knows you when you're down and out

When you finally get back upon your feet again
Everybody wants to be your good old long-lost friend
Said it's mighty strange
Nobody knows you
Nobody knows you
Nobody knows you when you're down and out

Back in Black Mountain, a child will smack your face
Back in Black Mountain, a child will smack your face
Babies cryin' for liquor, and all the birds sing bass

Black Mountain people are bad as they can be
Black Mountain people are bad as they can be
They uses gunpowder just to sweeten their tea

Back in Black Mountain, can't keep a man in jail
Back in Black Mountain, can't keep a man in jail
If the jury finds him guilty, the judge'll throw they bail

Had a man in Black Mountain, sweetest man in town
Had a man in Black Mountain, the sweetest man in town
He met a city gal, and he throwed me down

I'm bound for Black Mountain, me and my razor and my gun
Lord, I'm bound for Black Mountain, me and my razor and gun
I'm gonna shoot him if he stands still, and cut him if he runs

Down in Black Mountain, they all shoot quick and straight
Down in Black Mountain, they all shoot quick and straight
The bullet'll get you, if you start dodgin' too late

Got the devil in my soul, and I'm full of bad booze
Got the devil in my soul, and I'm full of bad booze
I'm out here for trouble, I've got the Black Mountain blues

Note: I'm unsure of the underlined/blank lyrics-- any idea?

to provide money for someone's bail is to "throw" their (they) bail.

Tired of bein' lonely, tired of bein' blue
I wished I had some good man, to tell my troubles to
Seem like the whole world's wrong
Since my man's been gone

I need a little sugar in my bowl
I need a little hot dog on my roll
I can stand a bit of lovin', oh so bad
I feel so funny, I feel so sad

I need a little steam-heat on my floor
Maybe I can fix things up, so they'll go
What's the matter hard papa
Come on and save your mama's soul
'Cause I need a little sugar, in my bowl, doggone it
I need a some sugar in my bowl

I need a little sugar in my bowl
I need a little hot dog between my rolls
You gettin' different, I've been told
Move your finger, drop something in my bowl

I need a little steam-heat on my floor
Maybe I can fix things up, so they'll go
Get off your knees, I can't see what you're drivin' at
It's dark down there looks like a snake!
C'mon here and drop somethin' here in my bowl
Stop your foolin' and drop somethin' in my bowl

"Up in Harlem every Saturday night
When the highbrows get together its just so right
They all congregate at an all night hop
And what they do is Oo Bop Bee Dap
Oh Hannah Brown from way cross town
Gets full of coin and starts breaking 'em down
And at the break of day
You can hear ol' Hannah say
'Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer.
Send me again. I don't care.
I feel just like I wanna clown.
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down!
He's gotta rhyme, yeah! When he stomps his feet.
He sends me right off to sleep.
Check all your razors and your guns.
We gonna be arrested when the wagon comes.
I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer.
Send me cause I don't care.
Blame me cause I don't care.
Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer.
Send me again, I don't care.
I feel just like I wanna clown.
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringing me down.
He's got rhyme, Yeah, when he stomps his feet.
He sends me right off to sleep.
Check all your razors and your guns.
Do the Shim-Sham Shimmy 'til the rising sun.
Give me a reaper and a gang of gin.
Play me cause I'm in my sin.
Blame me cause I'm full of gin.'"

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 know 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 every 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