ay, the church bell's a-ringin', secretary's singin' The preacher's preachin', can't you hear the sisters shoutin'? Children's in the pulpit, mama tryin' to learn that song Now that low-down dirty deacon done stole my gal and gone Says, old brother had 'em, my sister had 'em My auntie had 'em, my mother died with 'em Woke up this morning, the family had the weary blues Poked my head over in the corner, poor grandmammy had 'em, too I did more for you, woman, way last winter Late in the fall, and you remember I scuffled through the summer I did more for you, woman, than the Good Lord had ever done Carry downtown, bought you good hair, the Lord hadn't give you none Hand me back that hat I bought you, that coat and waist That shawl I bought you, mama, you gotta bring shoes and all If you don't like your daddy, you've got no right to carry no stall Hand me back that wig I bought you, mama, let your doggone head go bald You know, I can't be no bank boss, no superintendent Can't clerk in no commissary, ain't gonna work on no tipple And I promised the Good Lord, partner, not to dig no coal I'm gonna hang 'round the country and try to sell some jellyroll Said my mammy's got a hatchet, my papa got an axe My sister got a shepherd, my brother got some hounds Some men just crave their yella women, some, they like their teasin' brown I'm a stranger in town, mama, b'lieve I'm goin' the whole way 'round She wouldn't cook me no breakfast, she wouldn't git me no dinner She squabbled 'bout my supper and she kicked me outdoors She had a nerve to ask me, would a matchbox hold my clothes She had a nerve to ask me, would a matchbox hold my clothes