BEALE STREET MAMA



also rec by-
Lucille Hegamin & her Blue Flame Syncopaters 1922
The Dixie Daisies 1923
Esther Bigeou - 1923
Bessie Smith - 1923
Arthur Gibbs & his Gang 1923
Thomas & Bernard - 1923
Shufflin' Phil w Ladd's Black Aces 1923
Ted Lewis & His Band (Instr.)  - 1923
Fletcher Henderson & His Orch. (Instr.)  - 1923
Cab Calloway & His Orch. - 1933
Bob Howard & His Boys (vocal: Bob Howard) - 1938
Zep Meissner & His Dixieland All-Stars - 1946
Sophie Tucker


as recorded by Bessie Smith
with The Down Home Trio
April 11th 1923 New York


Minnie Neale,
Down in Beale,
Give her papa the air;
Left him cold,
Got him told,
Said she didn't care!
Poor Joe,
Her beau,
Looked just like he would die!
If you were near him,
You would hear him
Start 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 still get my sweet cookies constantly,
But not the kind you serve 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.



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - July 2015)


__________________


As recorded by ESTHER BIGEOU
with piano accompaniment by  Clarence Williams:


Mamie Neale, down in Beale
Gave her papa the air
Left him cold, got him told
Like she didn't care
Poor Joe, her beau
Looked just like he would die
And if you was near her
You would hear her
Sob this 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's true
But your sweet Mama never did two-time you
Boo-hoo, I'm blue
So how come you do me like you do
I'm cryin'...


Beale Street Papa
I mean don't you mess around with me
There's plenty petting I can get in Tennessee
I get my lovin' constantly
But not the kind you serve to me
So please, please Papa, come back home


(Piano Solo)

 

Beale Street Papa
I mean don't you mess around with me 
There's plenty petting I can get in Tennessee
I bought a razor, rifle, rope and knife
And if a postal card comes, baby, gonna save my life
So please, please Papa, come back home



********************



As recorded by THOMAS & BERNARD
(better known as Ernest Hare & Al Bernard):


Say, gal, you gettin' high tone ain't'cha
(Yeah, you said it, listen...)


(I'm Mamie Neale, from down on Beale)
You went and gave me the air
Left me cold
(I got you told that i didn't care)
Oh! me (Yee-haa!)
Feel just like I could die
(When I'm near you)
I feel so blue and I start to cry


Beale Street Mama (Yeah?)
Why don't you come back home (No!)
Oh, it ain't proper to leave your papa all alone
(Sometimes I was cruel, that's true)
(But Pappy, your sweet Mama never two-timed you)
Aah-hoo! I'm blue
So how come you do me like you do
(Quit cryin')


Beale Street Mama
Don't mess around with me
(There's fancy pettin' that I can get in Tennessee)
I still get my sweet cookies constantly
(Yeah, but not the kind I serve to thee)
That's right, Beale Street Mama, come back home


(I'm Mamie Neale)
You ain't real, you don't seem quite the same
(Since I'm gone)
I'm forlorn, life seems mighty tame
I'm true to you
(But, boy, you done me wrong, hear me statin')
I'm still waitin', Mama, don't be long


Beale Street Mama (Um-hmm?)
Why don't you come back home (Uh-uh!)
Oh, it ain't proper to leave your Papa all alone
(You know, sometimes I was cruel, that's true)
(But Papa, your sweet Mama never two-timed you)
Aah-hoo! I'm blue
So how come you do me like you do
(Quit cryin')


Beale Street Mama
Don't mess around with me
(There's fancy pettin' that I can get in Tennessee)
I bought a razor, a rifle, a rope and a knife
I'll post you the card, we'll save your life
Beale Street Mama, come back home



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2015)