SAFETY MAMA

Bessie Smith  1931
Bessie Smith   rec Nov 20th 1931 New York


Let me tell you how and what
One no-good man done to me;
He called me pretty, young and wild,
After that he let me be!

He'd taken advantage of my youth,
And that you understand,
So wait awhile,
I'll show you chile
Just how to treat a no-good man!

Make him stay at home, wash and iron,
Tell all the neighbours he done lost his mind!
Give you house-rent shake Saturday night,
Monday mornin' you'll hold collectors good and tight!

You see a man you really like,
Let him bite that monkey brother in his back!
When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down,
Hold him where you got him, make him stay in town!
'Cause I'm a safety woman lookin' for a safety man!

I made him stay at home, help me wash and iron,
The neighbours know he done lost his mind!
I give a house-rent shake one Saturday night,
Monday mornin' I held rent collectors good and tight!

I see a man I really like,
I let him bite that monkey brother smack in his back!
When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down,
I holded where I had him and he stayed in town!
'Cause I'm a safety woman and I had to have a safety man!

Say, I ain't good lookin', I'm built for speed,
I've got ev'rything a pig meat need!
'Cause I'm a safety woman a-lookin' for safety man!





(Contributed by Peter Akers - May 2009)