Beale Street Mama

Jenny Neale down in Beale

Gave her papa the air

Left him cold, got him told

Said she didn't care

Old Joe, her beau

Looked just like he would die

If you was near him, you would hear him

Sob his mournful cry

Beale Street papa

Why don't you come back home?

It isn't proper

To leave your mama all alone

Sometimes I was cruel, that was true

But papa, you know mama never two-timed you

Boo-hoo, I'm blue

So how come you do me like you do? I'm cryin'

Beale Street papa

Don't mess around with me

There's plenty pettin'

That I can get in Tennessee

I'll still get my sweet cookin' constantly

But not the kind you served to me

So Beale Street papa

Come back home

So how come you do me like you do? I'm cryin'

Beale Street papa

Don't mess around with me

There's plenty pettin'

That I can get in Tennessee

I bought a rifle, razor, and a knife

A postal card  can't save my life

So Beale Street papa

Come back home