HUSTLIN' DAN
J Crawford

as rec by Bessie Smith  July 22nd 1930 New York


Listen sportin' fellas, all you brown and black girls too,
Tell you 'bout a black man, best that ever wore a shoe!
Hustlin' Dan, he was my man!

Talk about your lover, he can more than satisfy me!
Master of my weakness, everything a man could be!
Hustlin' Dan, oh he's my man!

He was one good gambler, he would gamble anywhere!
Knows the game and plays it, always plays it on the square!
Hustlin' Dan, yes he's my man!

Yes he was a hustler, round us calls him Hustlin' Dan,
Born down on the levee, was a rough and tumble man!
Hustlin' Dan, mmm he's my man!

He got sick one mornin', just about the break of day,
xxxx was xxxx him, had to send my man away;
Hustlin' Dan, he was my man!

While he was in Dimsville, spendin'money all the time,
Prayed to the Lord above me, "Please don' take that man o' mine!
Hustlin' Dan, Lord he's my man!".

Since he's gone and left me, bought myself a big forty four,
Gonna join my good man, I don't wanna live no more!
Hustlin' Dan, Lord he's my man!






(Contributed by Peter Akers - May 2009)