House Rent Blues

I'ma tell you a story about the house rent blues
I had a good job, sho'nuff, for five long years
Lord have mercy
The old landlady was so lovey-dovey for five long years
She was so nice and kind in every way

Every Friday evening, I'd come home with my paycheck
She'll smile, she was so lovey-dovey
My meals on time, my bath water be ready
Everything be ready
He rocked on

One Friday evening I come home
I said, "Landlady"
She said, "What, Johnny?"
"I done lost my job"
She said, "What?"
"I done lost my job"

And I begin to notice then, when I come home in the evening time
She wouldn't smile, acted all sad
And I asked her, "What's wrong?"
Said, "I ain't feelin' good"
I said, "Lord have mercy"
He rocked on

One Friday evening, I come in
She said, "Where you been?" "I've been looking for a job"
She said, "You ain't been tryin' to find no job"
I said, "Yes, I am"
And she told me, the other evening, she passed by
She saw me on the corner leaned against a post

I said, "I guess my feet was tired, I've been walking all day"
I'm tired, I just can't find no job
She say, "Yeah"
She say, "I wants my rent"
I said, "I ain't got no job"
And rocked on

I go towards the streets, to a friend of mine
He had been so lovey-dovey to me for so long
And I told him, I say, "Hey"
He said, "What, Johnny?"
"I done lost my job"
He say, "Yeah"

I say, "I'm gonna stay here for a little while until I can get a job"
He said, "I don't know, let me go upstairs and see my wife, you know"
He goes upstairs, he comes back down
He said, "You know what? You know, she a little funny"
I said, "Yeah, and you funny, too; everybody's funny
When you ain't got no money, when you run out of money
Everybody's funny wit' ya"

Then I go back towards the streets, you know, back to old landlady
I go fool her, you know, to get my clothes out of the house
I said, "Hey"
She said, "What?"
"I got a job"
She said, "Yeah, yeah, sho'nuff, sho'nuff, yeah
When you start the work?"

I said, "Oh baby, I start tomorrow"
She said, "Oh yeah? You hungry?" I said, "Yeah"
She goes to the store, you know
I rush upstairs to get my clothes out, she talkin' 'bout the front rent
She'll get nothin', she'll get the back rent and will get none of it
I'm gone



Credits
Writer(s): John Lee Hooker
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Link