CRAZY BLUES (Perry Bradford)
Perry "Mule" Bradford  1920

as recorded by Mamie Smith 
with Perry Bradford & his Jazz  Hounds  
August 10th 1920

also recorded by -
Mary Stafford & her Jazz Band '21
Leon Redbone


I can't sleep at night,
I can't eat a bite,
'Cause the man I love on,
He don't treat me right!

He makes me feel so blue,
I don't know what to do;
Sometimes I'm sad inside
And then begin to cry,
'Cause my best friend
Said his last goodbye.

there's a change in the ocean,
Change in the deep blue sea, my baby;
I tell you folks there ain't no change in me,
My love for that man will always be!

Now I got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away;
I ain't got no time to lose,
I must find him today!

Now the doctor's gonna do
All that he can,
But what you're gonna need
Is the undertaker man!
I ain't had nothin' but bad news,
Now I got the crazy blues!

Now I can read his letters,
I sure can't read his mind!
I thought he's lovin' me,
He's leavin' all the time!
Now I see my poor love was blind!

I went to the railroad,
Set my head on the track,
Thought about my daddy,
I gladly snatched it back!
Now my babe's gone
And gave me the sack!

Now I've got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away!
I ain't had no time to lose,
I must find him today!

I'm gonna do like a Chinaman,
Go and get some hop,
Get myself a gun
And shoot myself a cop!
I ain't had nothing but bad news,
Now I've got the crazy blues!

The blues!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - March 2013)