The St. Louis Blues Lyrics

von Bessie Smith

I hate's to see that evenin' sun go down
Hate's to see that evenin' sun go down
'Cause my baby she done left this town

If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
Feel tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack up my trunk and make my getaway

Saint Louis woman with her diamond rings
Pulls that man 'round by her apron strings
'Twern't for powder and her store-bought hair
The man she love wouldn't gone nowhere, nowhere

Got them Saint Louis Blues; I'm as blue as I can be
Like a man done throwed that rock down into the sea
Got them Saint Louis Blues; I'm as blue as I can be

Went to the gypsy, get her fortune tole
To the gypsy done got her fortune tole
'Cause she most wild 'bout her Jelly Roll

Now that gypsy told her, "Don't you wear no black"
She done told her, "Don't you wear no black
Go to Saint Louis: you can win him back"

If she get to Cairo, make Saint Louis by herself
Get to Cairo, find her old friend Jeff
Goin' to pin herself right there to his side
If she flag his train, she sho' can ride

And she sang

Got them Saint Louis Blues, just as blue as I can be
That man got a heart like a rock cast into the sea
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me, doggone it

I loves day, man, like a schoolboy loves his pie
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint and rye
I'll love my baby till the day I die

Now a black-headed gal makes a freight train jump the track
Said a black-headed gal makes a freight train jump the track
But a long, tall gal makes a preacher ball the jack

Lord, a blond-headed woman make a good man leave the town
I said a blond-headed woman make a good man leave the town
But a red-headed woman make a boy slap his pappy down