THEM "HAS BEEN" BLUES
W E Skidmore / M Walker

as rec by Bessie Smith w Clarence Williams (piano)  
March 5th 1925 New York


Maybe you'd like to know, know why I'm blue,
Know why I'm blue, know why I'm blue;
Maybe some day it might happen to you,
Yes, it might happen to you!

When I tell my story, listen please do,
It's sad but true, please hear it through.
Now if you've got a papa, then you will know
Just why the blues upset me so!

Did you ever wake up with the sun's early rise,
And feel around the place where your sweet sweet papa lies?
And when you find that he's gone, and his pillow ain't even warm,
Well there you're set for the news, just you've got them "has been" blues!

You reach out for your stockin', you reach out for your skirt,
You don't know what you doin', your feelin' sure is hurt!
You try to find your wrap up, can't even find your hat!
You stumble over the lockup and start to curse the cat!

Rush to the front door and pull it open wide,
Then you find a message peekin' right outside;
It reads, "Goodbye sweet mama, now don't you feel so blue,
I've got another woman that's a better gal than you!".

Did you ever wake up with the sun's early rise,
And feel around the place where your sweet man used to lay?
And then you want to hang your head and climb right back into bed!
Be satisfied with the news, Lord, you got them "has been" blues!





(Contributed by Peter Akers - May 2009)