Leadbelly

Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone.
Alberta, Alberta,
Where'd you stay last night?
Alberta, Alberta
Where'd you stay last night?
Come home this morning,
Clothes don't fit you right
Alberta, Alberta,
Girl, you're on my mind.
Alberta, Alberta,
Girl, you're on my mind.
Ain't had no loving
Such a great long time.
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone.

Have you got you a bull cow
Feed him morning grass
Have you got you a bull cow
Feed him morning grass
Cause when them heifers come around
Enjoy, yas, yas, yas

If you got you a bull cow
Feed 'em and they go
If you got you a bull cow
Feed 'em then they go
But when them heifers leave him
You know he's gonna low

Oh, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ay, ha, ha, ha
Go, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ay, hay, hay, hay
But you know good and well, baby
Might be your heifer calf

If you got you a bull cow
He has a long line
If you got you a bull cow
Be there with a long line
But one 'em heifer leave him
You know they on daddy's mind

Oh, bull cow, where you been so long?
Ay, bull cow, where you been so long?
I've been all out in the country
With my big bell on.

Now, this man had a wife
And she thought she hasn't gotten
Ev' dollar that he had
But she was mistakin!
He had lots of money when he married her
But he's sittin' with his head hung down
She walk by an says
'Daddy' says, 'What's the matter with you?'
And here what he told his wife

He said, 'Down here wonderin'
Would a matchbox hold my clothes?
He said, 'Down you're wonderin'
Would a matchbox hold my clothes?
He said, 'Down here wonderin'
Would a matchbox hold my clothes?

She says, 'Daddy, don't be worried like that!'

An he walk back tell her again
Y'all, what he tol' that gal

'I don't wanna be bother
No big trunk on my do'
I don't wanna be by
No big trunk on my do'
Don't wanna be by no
Big trunk on my do'

He sit down and 'gin to think
He said, 'I'm goin' out to my friend's house
An' see what would he do
When his wife packin' up her trunk?

He goes to his friends
Ya'll, here what he said

'Now, what would you do
Baby packin' up her trunk?'
'What would you do
When yo' baby packin' up her trunk?'
'What would you do
When your gal's packin' up her trunk?'

Here's the best advise his friend could give 'em

Get ya half a gallon whiskey
An get on you a big drunk
Get you a half a gallon a whiskey
And get on you a big drunk
Get you a half a gallon a whiskey
And get on you a big drunk

She goes on back, again
An she looks at him

'Lord, have mercy on me
Oh Lord, Lord, have mercy on me
Oh Lord, Lord, have mercy on me'.

Oh, Roberta tell me how long, how long
Oh, Roberta tell me how long, how long
Are you gonna keep me down here, baby
Singing this same ol' song

I'm down on the river
Sitting down on the ground
I'm down on the river
Sitting down on the ground
I'm gonna stay right here
Until that steamboat come down

Way up the river
Just as far as I can see
Way up the river
Just as far as I can see
I thought I spied my old time used to be

She's a brown-skinned woman
And she got long, black wavy hair
She's a brown-skinned woman
And she got long, black wavy hair
That woman looks so good, baby
She can lead me most anywhere

I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police
(what you gonna tell him?)
I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police
Tell him that Roberta done quit me
I can't see no peace

Oh, Roberta, don't you hear me callin' you?
Oh, Roberta, you hear me callin' you?
I got just one more thing, baby
I want you to do

Oh, Roberta tell me how long, how long
Oh, Roberta tell me how long, how long
Are you gonna keep me down here, baby
Singing this same ol' song

I'm down on the river
Sitting down on the ground
I'm down on the river
Sitting down on the ground
I'm gonna stay right here
Until that steamboat come down

Way up the river
Just as far as I can see
Way up the river
Just as far as I can see
I thought I spied my old time used to be

She's a brown-skinned woman
And she got long, black wavy hair
She's a brown-skinned woman
And she got long, black wavy hair
That woman looks so good, baby
She can lead me most anywhere

I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police
(what you gonna tell him?)
I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police
Tell him that Roberta done quit me
I can't see no peace

Oh, Roberta, don't you hear me callin' you?
Oh, Roberta, you hear me callin' you?
I got just one more thing, baby
I want you to do

Now, he jumped on the Pea
This is a man, he's seventy-five years old and leaves home
When he leaves home he stay away three long years
Then he come a-rackin back
And while he was gone he had two little chillen
Lil boy an a lil girl, wife at home

Wife lies down an she dreams tonight
That husband was comin' back
She sit up on the side the bed one night
She 'gan to sing, here what she said

Dreamed last night and all night, night befo'
Lord, I dreamed last night and all night, night befo'
She dreamed last night and-a all night, night befo'

Little boy jumped up and go in to his mama
Said mama, said, 'What did you dream?
Here what she says
'Heard your papa, knockin' on my do'
Thought I heard your papa knockin' on my do'
Heard your papa, knockin' on my do'

She asked 'fore she would take him back
And she was a good Christian
She told her preacher, said
'I wouldn't take him back when he comes'

But when he calmly walks to the do' to commence
Knocks on his do' and commence to cryin'

Cryin' babe, have I ever done you wrong?
Lordy cried, my babe have I ever done you wrong?
Lovin' babe, have I ever done you wrong?
You know good 'n well, I'd had to have done wrong
Been gone three long years and never wrote a speck
Sent her a nickel of money

And he sit down a'gin an cry a'gin
Ya'll he said

Ever I have honey, will you forgive me, please?
Lord, ever have, will you forgive me , please?
Ever I have Lord, will you forgive me, please?

Girl, she wouldn't take him back
When she heard him singin' out there
She walked through the do'
With her hands a-high in the air
And she looked up to the God in the sky
Here what she says

You's a long time comin'
A-honey but you will come here
You's a long time comin'
A-hon but you will come here
You's a long time comin'
Baby, but you will come here

She sit down an tol her little boy
His wife says, I want son to play the piano a piece
Since you been gone so long
Let him know what he's done learned
Since you been gone

And the little boy sit down, begin to play
His little piano a piece
(guitar sound piano)

She sit down, she commence to cryin'
Lordy, have mercy on me
Oh Lord-y, have mercy on me
Oh, someday another
Lord, I may be free

She had her another piece, little girl
She told her little girl
Get on the piano and play her piece
But the last piece, the little girl comes out
And kept playin' this.

Well the boll weevil and the little black bug
Come from a-Mexico they say
Came all the way to Texas
Just a-lookin' for a place to stay
Just a-lookin' for a home, just a-lookin' for a home
(Doo-doo-wop-wop)
Well the first time that I seen the boll weevil
He was a-sittin' on the square
Well the next time that I seen him
He had his a-family there
Just a-lookin' for a home, just a-lookin' for a home
(Doo-doo-wop-wop)
Well the farmer took the boll weevil
And he put him on the red hot sand
Well the weevil said this is a-mighty hot
But I take it like a man
This will be my home, this will be my home

Well the farmer took the boll weevil
And he put him on a keg of ice
Well the weevil said to the farmer
This is mighty cool and nice
This will be my home, this will be my home
(Doo-doo-wop-wop)
Well if anybody should ask you
Who it was who sang this song
Say a guitar picker from a-Oklahoma city
With a pair of blue jeans on
Just a-lookin' for a home, just a-lookin' for a home
(Doo-doo-wop-wop)

I told her no!
Baby you know I don't wanna go
Justine I ain't goin'
Down to no Red Cross store

She come down Justine, tell me I wanna talk with you in just a little while
Ain't you goin' down and fight for your wife and child?

She come down here and she shook my hand
She said Daddy I want you to go down there and fight for me like a man

She said the Red Cross people they treat you mighty fine
They mixing everything up with whiskey and wine

She come down here talkin' to me about the war
I told her baby I ain't done nothing to go there for

She come down here and she fell down on her knees
I said baby I have to look somewhere for your butter and cheese

She said Daddy I just come down here to tell you so
You better go running down to that Red Cross store

You don't know my, don't know me,
You don't know my mind, hey daddy,
You don't know me, you don't know my mind,
When you see me laughin',
I'm laughin' just to keep from cryin'.

You don't know my, don't know me,
You don't know my way, hey papa,
You don't know me, you don't know my way,
When I say get out of here,
Maybe that's just the time to stay.

You don't know my, don't know me,
You don't know my name, hey, hey,
You just don't know me, you don't know my name,
When I say I'm comin',
I may be leaving just the same.

You don't know my, don't know me,
You don't know my way,
You don't know me, you just don't know my way,
Hey I say come tomorrow,
Maybe I mean today.

Oh, you don't know my, don't know me,
And you never will, hey daddy,
You don't know me and you never will,
If you bother me, you know,
You gonna get somebody killed.

Oh, you don't know me, you don't know me,
Don't care if you do, hey papa,
You don't know me, I don't care if you do,
I can do what I want to,
And I never made a fool of you.

Oh you don't know me, you don't know me,
Don't know me at all, hey daddy,
You don't know me, you don't know me at all,
When I say take it easy,
Maybe that's not the time to stall.

Oh you don't know me, you don't know me,
You don't know my mind,
You don't know me, you don't know my mind,
When you see me laughin',
Maybe I'm laughin' to keep from cryin'.

Let it shine on me
let it shine on me
let your light from the lighthouse shine on me
Let it shine on me
let it shine on me
let your light from the lighthouse shine on me

(Incomprehensible)

Hitler started out in 1932
Yeah, he started out in 1932
When he started out, takin' them homes from the Jews

Thats one thing Mr. Hitler did do wrong
Thats one thing Mr. Hitler did do wrong
When he started out drivin' them Jews from their homes

We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down today

We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground someday

Instead of God in Heaven (?)
He gonna rule the world, he said so (?)
Instead of God in Heaven (?)
He gonna rule the world (?)
But we American people tell he will be shot down just like a squirrel

Mr. Hitler, we gonna tear your playhouse down
Mr. Hitler, we gonna tear your playhouse down
You been flying mighty high but you on your last go-round

We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down today

We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground someday

(Incomprehensible)
(Incomprehensible)
But the American people tell Mr. Hitler is got to stop

Mr. Hitler he think he's so keen
Mr. Hitler he think he's so keen
But the American people know he's the biggest ol' liar you ever seen

We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down today

We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground someday

Mr. Hitler, he nothin' but a agitator
Mr. Hitler, he nothin' but a agitator
(Incomprehensible)

We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down
We're gonna tear Hitler down today

We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground
We're gonna bring him to the ground someday

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell ya what it all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell ya what it all about

I'm gonna talk to Joe Louis
And it all angered me
Don't even try to think about it
Alabama ree

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell ya all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell ya all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Even the old nigger here
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
And try to live

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Gon' tell ya all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell ya all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell ya all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Livin' in Harlem swing
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
Just try to sing

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Gon' tell ya all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell it all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Livin' in Harlem swing
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
Just try to sing

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell what it's all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
Tell what it's all about

Well-a Shorty George, he ain't no friend of mine
He's taken all the women and left the men behind
Well-a Shorty George, he done been here and gone
Yes, Shorty George, he done been here and gone
Lord he left many a poor man a great long way from home
Well my baby caught the Katy, I caught the Santa Fee
Well she caught the Katy, I caught the Santa Fee
Well, you can't quit me, baby, can't you see
Well I went to Galveston, work on the Mallory Line
Went to Galveston, Lord on the Mallory Line
Babe you can't quit me, ain't no use tryin'
Shorty George, travelin' through the land
Shorty George, he's travelin' through the land
Always looking to pick some woman's poor man
When I get back to Dallas, I'm gonna walk and tell
When I get back to Dallas, gonna walk and tell
That the Fort Bend Bottom is a burning hell

Black girl, black girl
Don't you lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night

'Neath the pines, 'neath the pines
Where the sun never shines
And I shivered in the cold, deadly cold*

Her husband was a railroad man
He died a half mile out of town

His head was found 'neath the driving wheel
But his body was never, ever found

Black girl, black girl
Don't you lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night

'Neath the pines, 'neath the pines
Where the sun never shines
And I shivered in the cold, deadly cold*

Good mornin' blues, blues how do ya do?
Good mornin' blues, blues how do ya do?
Well I'm doin' alright this mornin', how are you?

I woke up this mornin'
Couldn't get outta my bed
Oh I woke up this mornin'
Couldn't get you outta my bed
Went to eat my breakfast and
The blues was all in my bread

Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do?
Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do?
Well I'm doin' alright this mornin' how are you?

Well the blues ain't nothin' but a poor workin' man feelin' down
Lord, the blues ain't nothin' but a poor workin' man feelin' down
That's about the meagerest feelin' I done ever had

Why I'm singin' good mornin', blues blues how do you do?
(yeah yeah)
Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do? (yeah yeah)
Well I'm doin' alright this mornin', how are you?

Sent for you yesterday, here you come walkin' today (hey)
I sent for you yesterday, here you come walkin' today
Yeah, your mouth's wide open
You don't know what to say

(I say) Goodmornin' blues, blues how do you do? (yo yeah)
Well goodmornin' blues, blues how do you do? (hoo yeah)
Well I'm doin' alright, blues how are you?
Yeeeeeaaaah!

Well, las' Monday mornin', Lawd, Lawd, Lawd,
Well, las' Monday mornin', Lawd, Lawd, Lawd

My daddy went a-huntin'
Well, he carried along his zulu1
Well, along come a grey goose
Well, he throwed it to his shoulder,
an' he ram his hammer' way back

Well, he pulled on de trigger
Well, down he come a-windin'
He was six weeks a-fallin'
He was six weeks a-findin'
An' he put him on de wagon,
An'he taken him to de white house

He was six weeks a-pickin'
Lordy, your wife an'my wife,
Oh, they give a feather pickin'
An' they put him on to parboil2
He was six months a-parboil',
An' they put him on de table,

Now, de fork couldn' stick him,
An' de knife couldn't cut him
An' they throwed him in de hog-pen,
An' he broke de ol'sow's jawbone

An' they taken him to de sawmill,
An' he broke de saw's teeth out
An' de las' time I seed him,
Well, he's flyin' across de ocean,
Wid a long string o' goslin's,
An' they all goin': quank quink-quank

Laura is the face in the misted light
Footsteps that you hear down the hall
The love that floats on a summer night
That you can never quite recall

Have you seen Laura on the train that is passing through
Those eyes, how familiar they seem
She gave your very first kiss to you
That was Laura, but she's only a dream

Have you seen Laura on the train that is passing through
Those eyes, how familiar they seem
She gave your very first kiss to you
That was Laura, but she's only a dream

The meeting at the building will soon be over
Soon be over, soon be over
The meeting at the building will soon be over all over this world
All over this world, all over this world
The meeting at the building will soon be over all over this world

The preaching at the building will soon be over
Soon be over, soon be over
The preaching at the building will soon be over all over this world
All over this world, all over this world
The preaching at the building will soon be over all over this world

The cryin' at the building will soon be over
Soon be over, soon be over
The cryin' at the building will soon be over all over this world
All over this world, all over this world
The cryin' at the building will soon be over all over this world

The lovin' at the building will soon be over
Soon be over, soon be over
The lovin' at the building will soon be over all over this world
All over this world, all over this world
The lovin' at the building will soon be over all over this world

The meeting at the building will soon be over
Soon be over, soon be over
The meeting at the building will soon be over all over this world
All over this world, all over this world
The meeting at the building will soon be over all over this world
[repeat x 2]