What's Your Mama's Name, Child

What's your mama's name child? What's your mama's name? Thirty some odd years ago, a young man came to Memphis Askin' 'bout a rose that used to blossom in his world People never took the time to mind the young man's questions Until one day they heard him ask a little green-eyed girl What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name? Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans? Has she ever mentioned a man named Bufford Wilson? What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name? Twenty some odd years ago, a drunkard down in Memphis Lost a month of life and labor to the county jail Just because he asked a little green-eyed girl a question And offered her a nickel's worth of candy if she'd tell A year and some odd days ago, a old man died in Memphis Just another wayward soul the county had to claim Inside the old man's ragged coat, they found a faded letter That said you've got a daughter and her eyes are Wilson green. What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name? Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans? Has she ever mentioned a man named Bufford Wilson? What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name? What's your mama's name child? What's your mama's name?