Blind Willie Mctell

I got the dark night blues
I'm feeling awful bad
I got the dark night blues
Mama, I'm feeling awful bad
That's the worst ol' feeling
That a good man have ever had

I followed my brown
From the depot to the train
I followed my fair brown
From the depot to the train
And the blues came down
Like dark night showers o' rain

I drink so much whiskey
I stagger when I'm sleep
Drink so much whiskey
I stagger when I'm sleep
My brains are dark and cloudy
My mind's gone to my feet

I got the blues so bad
I can feel them in the dark
I got the blues so bad
I can feel them in the dark
And one dark and dreary morning
Baby, when you broke my heart

I got a fair brown in Atlanta
Got one in Macon too
I got a fair brown in Atlanta
Got one in Macon too
I got one in Statesboro
Give me them old dark night blues

Everything I told you
Went and told your outside man
Everything I told you
Mama, you went and told your outside man
But I want to tell you something
Your good man can't stand

Riding the PNP Special
Mama, and I'm leaving this town
Riding the PNP Special
Baby, and I'm leaving this town
Say you didn't want me
I'ma quit hanging around

You may search the ocean, you might go 'cross the deep blue sea
But mama, you'll never find another hot shot like me
I followed my baby from the station to the train
And the blues came down like night and showered me

I left her at the station wringing her hands and crying
I told her, she had a home just as long as I had mine
I've got two women and you can't tell them apart

I've got one in my bosom and one I got in my heart
The one in my bosom, she's in Tennessee
And the one in my heart, don't even give a darn for me

I used to say a married woman was the sweetest thing that ever been born
But I've changed that thing, you better leave married women alone
Take my advice, let these married women be
'Cause their husbands'll grab you, beat you ragged as a cedar tree

When a woman say, she love you 'bout good as she do herself
I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else
I really don't believe no woman in the whole round world do right
Act like an angel in the daytime, mess by the ditch at night

I'm going, pretty mama, please don't break this rule
That's why I'm searching these deserts for the blues
I'm going, pretty mama, searching these deserts now
That's why I'm walking my baby home anyhow

Lord, oh Lord
Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord

When a woman say, she love you 'bout good as she do herself
I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else

Lord, Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord

Yes now, wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Have you got the nerve to drive poor papa Taj from your door?

Woke up this mornin' baby, I had them Statesboro blues.
Statesboro Georgia, that is.
Woke up this mornin, had them Statesboro blues.
Looked over in the corner, well my baby had 'em too.

Mama died and left me reckless, Papa died and left me wild,
I ain't good lookin baby, but I'm someone's sweet angel child.
Going to the country, baby do you want to go?
I know if you can't make it, your sister Lucille say she wanta go.

You know I loved that woman better than any woman I'd ever seen.
Yes I loved that woman better than any woman I'd ever seen.
She treat me like a king, I treat her like she was a doggone Queen.

Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Have you got the nerve to drive papa Taj from your door?

Now looka here mama let me tell you this
If you wants to get crooked I'm gonna give you my fist
You might read from Revelations back to Genesee
But if you get crooked, your southern can belongs to me
Ain't no need you bringin no jive to me
Cause your southern can is mine
Might go uptown have me arrested and have me put in jail
Some hotshot got money come and throw my bail
Soon as I get out, hit the ground
Your southern can worth two dollar, half a pound
Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me
Cause your southern can is mine
You might take it from the south you might carry it up north
But understand you can't rule or either be my boss
Take it from the east, hide it in the west
When I get it mama, your can won't see no rest.
Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me
Cause your southern can is mine
(in the morning)
Your southern can belongs to me
(i'm not dreamin)
Your southern can belongs to me.
Ah ashes to ashes mama, and sin to sin,
Every time I hit you you'll think I've got a dozen hands.
Give you a punch through that barb-wire fence
Every time I hit you you'll say I've got no sense
Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me
Cause your southern can is mine
(every bit of it)
Southern can belongs to me
Get me a brick out of my backyard
Give you the devil if you get kinda hard
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
Cause your southern can is mine
(you hear me cryin)
Southern can belongs to me
Spank it a little bit, boy.

(guitar run)

Ah, your southern can is mine.
Now if I catch ya mama down in the heart of town
Take me a bran-new brick and tear your can on down.
Ain't no need you bringin no stuff to me,
Because your southern can belongs to me
(I'm talkin to ya)
Your southern can belongs to me.
You may be deathbed sick and mama and graveyard bound
I'll make your can moan like a hound
Ain't no need you bringin no stuff to me
Because your southern can is mine
(you hear me talkin)
Southern can belongs to me.

(Guitar run)

Oh spank it like that.
The way Ruthie Mae likes it.

Cause your southern can is mine.
Sit there unsteady with your eyes all red
What I said get your grandma dead.
Ain't no need of bringing no jive to me
Cause your southern can is mine
You got to stop your barkin and raising the deuce
I'll grab you mama and turn every way but loose
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
Cause your southern can belongs to me
(every bit of it)
Southern can belongs to me.

(Guitar run.)

Aww, whup it boy, that's the way the people like that thing.

Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
Cause your southern can is mine
(you hear me talkin)
Your southern can belongs to me.
Might twiddle like a tadpole
Let it jump like a frog
Every time I hit it you'll holler
God oh God
Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey
Cause your southern can is mine
(you hear me talkin)
Southern can belongs to me.
Now play it a little bit, just whup it.
Aww shucks. Play that thing boy.
Southern can belo-ongs to me.

Feel like a broke down engine, mama
Ain't got no drivin' wheel, lord have mercy
Feel like a broke down engine, mama
Ain't got no drivin' wheel
You all been down and lonley
You know just how Willie McTell feels

But it's, Lordy Lord, Lordy, Lordy Lord
Lordy Lord , Lordy, Lordy Lord

I've been shooting craps and gambling
Good God, and I done got broke
I've been shooting craps and gambling
Sweet mama, and I done got broke
I done pawned my 33 special, good gal
And my clothes been sold

I even went down in my praying ground
Dropped down on bended knees
I went down to my praying ground
And dropped on bended knees
I ain't crying for no religion
Lordy, give me back my good girl please

But it's Lordy Lord, Lordy, Lordy Lord
Lordy Lord, Lordy, Lordy Lord, Lord, Lordy Lord

If you give me my baby
Lord, I won't worry you no more
If you give me my baby
Lord, I won't worry you no more
You ain't got to put her in my house
Lordy, only lead her to my door

Lordy, Lord

Don't you hear me, baby
Knocking on your door?
Don't you hear your daddy, mama
Knocking on your door?
Can?t I get out singing, living 'n' tapping
Flatting, slip right across your floor

Lordy Lord, Lordy, Lordy Lord, Lordy Lord
Lordy, Lordy Lord

I got the dark night blues
I'm feeling awful bad
I got the dark night blues
Mama, I'm feeling awful bad
That's the worst ol' feeling
That a good man have ever had

I followed my brown
From the depot to the train
I followed my fair brown
From the depot to the train
And the blues came down
Like dark night showers o' rain

I drink so much whiskey
I stagger when I'm sleep
Drink so much whiskey
I stagger when I'm sleep
My brains are dark and cloudy
My mind's gone to my feet

I got the blues so bad
I can feel them in the dark
I got the blues so bad
I can feel them in the dark
And one dark and dreary morning
Baby, when you broke my heart

I got a fair brown in Atlanta
Got one in Macon too
I got a fair brown in Atlanta
Got one in Macon too
I got one in Statesboro
Give me them old dark night blues

Everything I told you
Went and told your outside man
Everything I told you
Mama, you went and told your outside man
But I want to tell you something
Your good man can't stand

Riding the PNP Special
Mama, and I'm leaving this town
Riding the PNP Special
Baby, and I'm leaving this town
Say you didn't want me
I'ma quit hanging around

You may search the ocean, you might go 'cross the deep blue sea
But mama, you'll never find another hot shot like me
I followed my baby from the station to the train
And the blues came down like night and showered me

I left her at the station wringing her hands and crying
I told her, she had a home just as long as I had mine
I've got two women and you can't tell them apart

I've got one in my bosom and one I got in my heart
The one in my bosom, she's in Tennessee
And the one in my heart, don't even give a darn for me

I used to say a married woman was the sweetest thing that ever been born
But I've changed that thing, you better leave married women alone
Take my advice, let these married women be
'Cause their husbands'll grab you, beat you ragged as a cedar tree

When a woman say, she love you 'bout good as she do herself
I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else
I really don't believe no woman in the whole round world do right
Act like an angel in the daytime, mess by the ditch at night

I'm going, pretty mama, please don't break this rule
That's why I'm searching these deserts for the blues
I'm going, pretty mama, searching these deserts now
That's why I'm walking my baby home anyhow

Lord, oh Lord
Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord

When a woman say, she love you 'bout good as she do herself
I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else

Lord, Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord

Yes now, wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Have you got the nerve to drive poor papa Taj from your door?

Woke up this mornin' baby, I had them Statesboro blues.
Statesboro Georgia, that is.
Woke up this mornin, had them Statesboro blues.
Looked over in the corner, well my baby had 'em too.

Mama died and left me reckless, Papa died and left me wild,
I ain't good lookin baby, but I'm someone's sweet angel child.
Going to the country, baby do you want to go?
I know if you can't make it, your sister Lucille say she wanta go.

You know I loved that woman better than any woman I'd ever seen.
Yes I loved that woman better than any woman I'd ever seen.
She treat me like a king, I treat her like she was a doggone Queen.

Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Have you got the nerve to drive papa Taj from your door?