Preachin The Blues
by 
Bessie Smith 
recording of 19 
from 
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47474) 
Down in Atlanta, GA, under the viaduct ev'ry day, drinking corn and hollerin' hooray 
Pianos playing till the break of day 
But as I turned my head, I loudly said, "Preach 'em blues, sing them blues" 
They certainly sound good to me 
I've been in love for the last six months and ain't done worrying yet 
Moan'em blues, holler them blues 
Let me convert your soul 
'Cause just a little spirit of the blues tonight 
Let me tell you, girls, that your man ain't treating you right 
Let me tell you I don't mean no wrong 
I will learn you something if you listen to this song 
I ain't here to try to save your soul, just want to teach you how to save your good 
jelly roll 
Going on down the line a little further now 
There's many a poor woman down 
Read on down to chapter nine, 
woman must learn how to take their time 
Read on down to chapter ten, 
taking other women's men, you are doing a sin 
Sing'em, sing'em, sing them blues 
Let me convert your soul 
Now one sister by the name of Sister Green 
jumped up and done a shimmy you ain't never seen 
Sing'em, sing'em, sing them blues 
Let me convert your soul