HOMELESS BLUES
Porter Grainger

as rec by Bessie Smith   Sep 28th 1927 New York


Mississippi River, what a fix you left me in,
Old Mississippi River, what a fix you left me in,
Mudholes of water clear up to my chin!

House without a steeple didn't even have a door,
House without a steeple didn't even have a door,
Plain old two room shanty but it was my home sweet home!

Ma and pa got drownded, Mississippi you the blame,
My ma and pa got drownded, Mississippi you the blame,
Mississippi River, I can't stand to hear your name!

Homeless, yes, I'm homeless, might as well be dead,
Oh you know I'm homeless, might as well be dead,
Hungry and disgusted, no place to lay my head!

Wish I was an eagle, but I'm a plain old black crow,
Wish I was an eagle, but I'm a plain old black crow,
I'm gonna flap my wings and leave here, and never come back no more!







(Contributed by Peter Akers - May 2009)