SWEET MAMMA (PAPA'S GETTING MAD)
(George A. Little / Fred Rose / Peter L. Frost)


Marion Harris - 1920
Flo Bert - 1920
Luclle Hegamin - 1920
Original Dixieland Jazz Band (Instr.)- 1920
Southern Negro Quartette - 1921
Duke Ellington & The Washingtonians (Instr.) - 1928
Emmett Miller & His Georgia Crackers - 1929
Bon Bon & His Buddies - 1941
Joe Marsala & His Chosen 7 (Instr.) - 1951

Also recorded by: Wycliffe Gordon; The Three Keys; Leon Redbone.


My sweet mamma packed her grip and started away
Said she was leaving town
Now, if I'd only thought and would have asked her to stay
She might have set it down
I'm feeling awfully lonesome and blue
Since she went away
So I sat down and wrote a little letter to her
Here's what I had to say

Sweet mamma, papa's getting mad
I know the sweetest peaches don't grow on trees
I know the sweetest honey don't come from bees
I'm tired of listening to your corrections
You'd better hunt yourself some good protection

Sweet mamma, papa's done gone mad
I never thought I'd ever feel this bad
You flirted with the butcher, you flirted with the baker
But now you're flirting with the undertaker
Sweet mamma, papa's getting mad

My sweet mamma got the letter I sent away
And made a beeline home
Said she was missin' all my kissin' both night and day
'Cause she was all alone
I found and framed the note
I wrote to her as a souvenir
Now every time that she starts getting naughty with me
I whisper in her ear

Sweet mamma, papa's getting mad
I know the sweetest peaches don't grow on trees
I know the sweetest honey don't come from bees
I'm tired of listening to your corrections
You'd better hunt yourself some good protection

Sweet mamma, papa's done gone mad
I never thought I'd ever feel this bad
You flirted with the butcher, you flirted with the baker
But now you're flirting with the undertaker
Sweet mamma, papa's getting mad



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2020)