Beale Street Mama

by Bessie Smith

From the album: The St. Louis Blues / Cold in Hand Blues

Track 10 of 20 on The St. Louis Blues / Cold in Hand Blues (1925).

Duration: 3:35

The St. Louis Blues / Cold in Hand Blues cover art

Lyrics for Beale Street Mama

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 postal card can't save my life So Beale Street Papa, come back home

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More from The St. Louis Blues / Cold in Hand Blues

  1. Midnight Blues
  2. Gulf Coast Blues
  3. Graveyard Dream Blues
  4. Aggravatin Papa
  5. Oh Daddy Blues
  6. Down Hearted Blues
  7. Yodeling Blues
  8. If You Don't, I Know Who Will
  9. Cemetery Blues
  10. Beale Street Mama
  11. Keeps on a-Rainin' (Papa, He Can't Make No Time)
  12. Mama's Got the Blues
  13. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
  14. Nobody in Town Can Bake a Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine
  15. Jail House Blues
  16. Outside of That
  17. Lady Luck Blues
  18. Bleeding Hearted Blues
  19. Taint Nobody's Bizness if I Do
  20. Sam Jones Blues