My Black Mama, Parts 1 & 2

"'"'
Hey, black mama, what's the matter with you?
Said it ain't satisfaction, don't care what I do
Hey, mama, what's the matter with you?
Said it ain't satisfaction, baby, don't care what I do

You take a brown-skinned woman will make a rabbit move to town
But a jet-black woman will make a mule kick his stable down
Oh, a brown skinned woman will make a rabbit move to town
Oh, but a jet-black woman will make a mule kick his stable down

Ain't no heaven, ain't no burnin' hell
Where I'm goin' when I die, can't nobody tell
Oh, it ain't no heaven now, ain't no burnin' hell
Oh, where I'm goin' when I die, can't nobody tell

Well, my black mama's face shines like the sun
Oh, lipstick and powder sure won't help her none
My black mama's face shines like the sun
Oh, lipstick and powder, well, that sure won't help her none

Well, you see my milk cow, tell her hurry home
I ain't had no milk since that cow been gone
If you see my milk cow, tell her hurry home
Yeah, I ain't had no milk since that cow been gone

Well, I'm going to the racetrack to see my pony run
He ain't the best in the world but he's a runnin' son of a gun
I'm going to the racetrack to see my pony run
He ain't the best in the world but he's a runnin' son of a gun

Oh, Lord have mercy on my wicked soul
Wouldn't mistreat you baby for my weight in gold
Oh, Lord have mercy on my wicked soul

"'"'
I solemnly swear, Lord I raise my right hand
That I'm gonna get me a woman you get you another man
I solemnly swear, Lord I raise my right hand
That I'm gonna get me a woman, babe you get you another man

I got a letter this morning, how do you reckon it read?
Oh hurry hurry, the gal you love is dead
I got a letter this morning, how do you reckon it read?
Oh hurry hurry, the gal you love is dead

I grabbed my suitcase, I took off up the road
I got there she was laying on the cooling board
I grabbed my suitcase, I took off up the road
Oh, when I got there she was laying on the cooling board

Well, I walked up close I looked down in her face
Good old girl got to lay here till judgement day
I walked up close and I looked down in her face
Yes, the good old girl got to lay here till judgement day

(Aw, sure now. I'm feelin' low down this evenin')

Oh, my woman so black she stays apart of this town
Can't nothing go when the poor girl is around
My black mama stays apart of this town
Oh, can't nothing go when the poor girl is around

Oh, some people tell me the worried blues ain't bad
It's the worst old feeling that I ever had
Some people tell me the worried blues ain't bad
But it's the worst old feeling, Lord I ever had

Mmm, I fold my arms and I walked away
That's all right mama, your trouble will come some day
I fold my arms, Lord I walked away
Yeah, that's all right mama, your trouble will come some day