Beale Street Mama
by Robinson / Roy Turk recording of March 15, 1923 from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091) Minnie Neal down in Beale , gave her papa the air Left him cold, got him told, said she didn't care Poor Joe, her beau, looked just like he would die If you were near him, you would hear him, start 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-times you Ooh-ooh, I'm blue So how come you do me like you do, I'm crying Beale Street papa, don't mess around with me There's plenty of petting that I can get in Tennessee I still get my sweet cookies constantly But not the kind you serve to me So Beale Street papa, come back home So how come you do me like you do, I'm crying Beale Street papa, don't mess around with me There's plenty of petting that I can get in Tennessee I bought a rifle, razor and a knife, a postal card can't save my life So Beale Street papa, come back home __________ Note 1: Beale Street, one of the most famous streets in Memphis and where the blues were born. It was the home to famous blues musicians such as W.C. Handy who wrote the first blues song here in 1909. Take the Beale Street Historical Tour with the Memphis Guide; Note 2: two-time you, to betray (a spouse or lover) by secret lovemaking with another.