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Beale Street Mamma - Bessie Smith

Jenny Neale

Down in Beale

Gave her papa the air;

Left him cold

Got him told

Said she didn't care

Old Joe her beau

Looked just like he would die;

If you was near him

You would hear him

Sob his mournful cry:

Beale Street Papa

Why don't you come back home

It isn't proper to leave your mama all alone

Sometimes I was cruel

That was true

But Papa you know Mama never two-timed you

Boo-hoo I'm blue;

So how come you do me like you do

I'm cryin'

Beale Street Papa don't mess around with me

There's plenty pettin' that

I can get in Tennessee

I'll still get my sweet cooking

Constantly

But not the kind you served to me

So Beale Street Papa come back home

So how come you do me like you do

I'm cryin'

Beale Street Papa don't mess around with me

There's plenty pettin' that

I can get in Tennessee

I bought a rifle razor and a knife

A full support can't save my life

So Beale Street Papa

Come back home