"Statesboro Blues" lyrics

Yeah, why don't you wake up, mama
Turn your lamp down low?
Yeah, why don't you wake up, mama
Turn your lamp down low?
Yeah, you got the nerve to drive a good man from your door

Well, Big Eighty left Savannah, he did not stop
You ought to have seen that colored fireman when the boilers got hot
You can reach over in the corner
To hand me my travelin' shoes
Yeah, you're nobody's mama
I've got them old Statesboro blues

Yeah, you know my mama got 'em
My daddy got 'em
My auntie got 'em, Uncle got 'em too
Well, I woke up this morning
I had them old Statesboro blues
When I looked over in the corner
My poor Grandpa had 'em too

Well, you know I fed you when you were hungry
I hold you when you're sad
Give you everything, mama, that I ever had
Oh, you know I did
You never helped me at all
You give me back the wig I bought you
Let your goddamn head go bald

'Cause I can't be no bank boss, no superintendent
Work on no commissary counter, mama, up on no temple
I promised the good Lord, mama, not to dig no coal
Yes, I'm going up-country, baby
I'm gonna find myself a jelly roll

Can't you hear the church bells ringing
The secretary singing
The preachers preaching?
You hear them sisters shouting?
And the children in the pulpit
Mama trying to learn a song
A low down dirty deacon
Done stole my gal and gone

My daddy died, he left me reckless
My mama died and left me wild
My daddy left me reckless
My mama died and left me wild
I know I ain't good lookin' but I'm some woman's angel child

So, why don't you wake up, mama
Turn your lamp down low?
You turn it down, way down low
Yeah, why don't you wake up, mama
Turn your lamp down low?
Yeah, you got the nerve to drive a good man from your door