HESITATING BLUES
W C Handy  1915

as rec by Lena Horne w Phil Moore & his Orch  1946

also rec by-
Prince's Band '15
The Victor Military Band '16
Arthur Collins '16
Jim Europe's 369th Infantry "Hellfighters" Band '19
Art Hickman & his Orch '19
Brown & Terry's Jazzola Boys '21
The Pioneer Western Swing Band '35
Al Bernart & The Goofus Five
Velma Middleton w Louis Armstrong


Hello Central, what's the matter with this line?
I wanna talk to that sweet man o' mine!
Tell me how long will I have to wait?
Please give me two nine eight,
Why do you hesitate?

What d'ya say, can I talk to my brown?
A storm last night blowed the wires all down!
Tell me how long will I have to wait?
Oh, won't you tell me now,,
Why do you hesitate?

Sunday night, my beau proposed to me,
Said he'd be happy if his wifey I'd be!
City, how long will I have to wait?
Come be my wife, my Kate!
Why do you hesitate?

I said no, oh evil me!
He left last night on the Santa Fe.
Honey, how long will he make me wait?
Oh, won't you tell me now,
Why does he hesitate?

If my man would come home to me,
I'd be sweet as any kitty-kitty could be!
Tell me, how long will he make me wait?
come home to me baby,
Why do you hesitate?



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - June 2011)

******

as rec by Eartha Kitt w Shorty Rogers & his Giants  Dec 9th 1957 Hollywood


Hello Central, what's the matter with this line?
I wanna talk to that sweet man of mine!
Tell me how long will I have to wait?
Please give me two nine eight,
Why do you hesitate?

What d'you say, can't talk to my mann?
A storm last night blowed the wire all down!
Tell me how long will I have to wait?
Will he come back now,
Or will he hesitate?

Procrastination is the thief of time,
So all the wise owls say!
One stitch in time may save nine,
Tomorrow's not today,
And if you put off, someone's bound to!

Sunday night, my beau proposed to me,
Said he'd be happy if his wife I'd be!
Oh, how long will I have to wait?
Come be my wife, my Kate!
Why do you hesitate?

Well I declined him, just for a stall,
He left that night on the Cannonball!
Oh, how long will I have to wait?
Will he come back now
Or will he hesitate?

I'd be his, he'd be mine,
And I'd be feelin' gay!
Left alone, grieve and pine,
My best friend's gone away!
He's gone and left me the hesitatin' blues,
The hesitatin' blues,
Those hesitatin' blues!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - October 2011)