Pony Blues
by 
Charley Patton 
recording of 1929-1934 
from 
Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020) 
Baby, saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare 
Baby, saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare 
I'm gonna find a rider, baby, in the world somewhere 
"Hello central, the matter with your line?" 
"Hello central, matter, Lord, with your line?" 
"Come a storm last night an' tore the wire down" 
Got a brand new Shetland, man, already trained 
Brand new Shetland, baby, already trained 
Just get in the saddle, tighten up on your reins 
And a brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat 
Brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat 
But a jet black woman, don't put your hands on me 
Took my baby, to meet the mornin' train 
Took baby, meet that mornin' train 
An' the blues come down, baby, like showers of rain 
I got somethin' to tell you when I gets a chance 
Somethin' to tell you when I get a chance 
I don't wanna marry, just wanna be your man 
__________ 
Note: Patton recorded two versions of this song. The first was entitled "Pony Blues" while the second changed to " 
Stoney Pony Blues 
This is one of Patton's most popular pieces. Most 
Delta 
musicians had a version of "Pony Blues" in their repertoire, Son House recorded a "Pony Blues" in his 1942 Library of Congress recordings. Tommy Johnson's "Bye Bye Blues" and Willie Brown's "M&O Blues" are both derivatives from the same source. As to which came first has never been clearly established.