Statesboro Blues
by 
Blind Willie McTell 
recording of 1928 
from 
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1927-1931) (Document 5006, 5007, 5008) 
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low 
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low 
Have you got the nerve to drive papa McTell from your door 
My mother died and left me reckless, my daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild 
Mother died and left me reckless, daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild 
No, I'm not good lookin', I'm some sweet woman's angel child 
You're a mighty mean woman, to do me this a-way 
You're a mighty mean woman, to do me this a-way 
Going to leave this town, pretty mama, going away to stay 
I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen 
I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen 
Treat me like I was a king and she was a doggone queen 
Sister, tell your brother, brother tell your auntie, auntie, tell your uncle, uncle tell my cousin, cousin tell my friend 
Goin' up the country, mama, don't you want to go? 
May take me a fair brown, may take me one or two more 
Big Eighty 
left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop 
You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot 
Reach over in the corner, hand me my travelin' shoes 
You know by that, I got them Statesboro blues 
Sister got 'em, daddy got 'em 
Brother got 'em, mama got 'em 
Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues 
I looked over in the corner, grandpa and grandma had 'em too 
__________ 
Note 1: Big Eighty, probably the name of a railroad line.