Beale Street Mama Lyrics - 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!