BOOZE AND BLUES
M Rainey

Ma Rainey& her Georgia Band  
recorded Oct 15th 1924
 New York


Went to bed last night and oh but I was in my sin,
Went to bed last night and I was in my sin,
Woke up this mornin', the police was shakin' me!

I went to the jailhouse, drunk and blue as I could be,
I went to the jailhouse, drunk and blue as I could be,
But the cruel old judge sent my man away from me!

They carried me to the courthouse, Lordy how I was cryin',
They carried me to the courthouse, Lordy how I was cryin',
They jailed me sixty days in jail, and money couldn't pay my fine!

Sixty days ain't long when you can spend them as you choose,
Days ain't long when you can spend them as you choose,
But this seem like jail than a cell where there ain't no booze!

My life is all a misery when I cannot get my booze,
My life is all a misery when I cannot get my booze,
I spend every dime on liquor, got to have the booze to blow these blues!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - April 2013)