SIDEWALK BLUES
(Walter Melrose / Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton)

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton

Also recorded by: Bob Barnard; California Ramblers; Geoff Cole;
James Dapogny; The Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Freddie Keppard;
Wynton Marsalis; Morton Seven; Turk Murphy; Jimmie Noone;
Knocky Parker; Bob Schulz; Bob Scobey; Hal Smith; 
Theis-Nyegaard Jazz Band; Terry Waldo; 
Lu Watters & the Jerba Buena Jazz Band; Alex Welsh Legacy Band.


Verse 1: I got the blues and I sure have got 'em bad,
Meanest old blues that I ever, ever had.
My mind is weary, and ev'rything is wrong,
Ev'ry day seems just nine years long.
That's just why I sing and cry this mournful song.

Verse 2: When I arise in the morning for the day,
Heartbreakin' blues say good morning right away.
They haunt me just like a shadow haunts a tree,
Even taste 'em in my coffee.
That's just why I sing and cry this mournful song.

Chorus 1: My baby's gone, and I got the blues,
It sure is awful to be lonsesome like me,
Worried, weary up in a tree.
That's why you can hear me say, night and day,

"Where can my baby be?"
I roam the streets ev'ry where, look here and there,
Wond'ring why she gave me the air.
Good Lawd, I've got the sidewalk blues.

Chorus 2: My baby's gone, and I got the blues,
She went away on the sly, didn't say why,
Never even kissed me goodbye,
That's why you can hear me say, night and day,

"Who took my woman away?"
I roam the streets like a tramp, feet in a cramp,
Searching for my two timin' vamp,
Good Lawd, I've got the sidewalk blues.

Chorus 3: My baby's gone, and I got the blues,
She flew away like a crow, why, I don't know,
Vanished like a migratin' bo',
That's why you can hear me say, night and day,

"What will become of me?"
If I could find an old boat, one that would float,
I'd baptize my blues makin' goat.
Good Lawd, I've got the sidewalk blues.