HESITATION BLUES
Billy Smythe, Scott Middleton, and Art Gillham (1915)
W.C. Handy (1915) (as "Hesitating Blues")

Victor Military Band (1916)
Al Bernard (1919)
Art Gilham (1925)
Louis Armstrong (W.C.Handy version), Asylum Street Spankers,
Barney Bigard, Milton Brown, Reverend Gary Davis,
Duke Ellington, The Flatlanders,
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, Earl Hines,
Holy Modal Rounders (with altered lyrics),
Hot Tuna, James P. Johnson, Janis Joplin,
Kaleidoscope, Lead Belly, Wingy Manone,
Sara Martin, Ralph McTell, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Willie Nelson with Asleep at the Wheel,
Old Crow Medicine Show, Patrick Sky,
Dave Van Ronk, The Radiators, Eva Taylor,Taj Mahal
Doc and Merle Watson, Clarence Williams


Well, nickel is a nickel, I said, dime is a dime
I need a new gal, she won't mind
Tell me how long do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, I said, must I hesitate?
The eagle on the dollar says "in God we trust"
You say you want a man
You wanna see that dollar first
Tell me how long do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, I said, must I hesitate?
Well, If the river was whiskey, said, I was a duck
You know I'd swim to the bottom
Lord, and never come up
Tell me how long
Well, rocks in the ocean, said, fish in the sea
Knows you mean the world to me
Tell me how long do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesitate?
Well, the hesitation stalker's got them hesitation shoes
You know, Lord, I got them hesitation blues
Tell me how long do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesitate?
Said, can I get you now, how long must I hesitate?