From The Cradle

(by sonny thompson)

I'm tore down, i'm almost level with the ground.
I'm tore down, i'm almost level with the ground.
Well, i feel like this when my baby can't be found.

I went to the river to jump in.
My baby showed up and said, "i will tell you when."

Well, i'm tore down, i'm almost level with the ground.
Well, i feel like this when my baby can't be found.

I love you babe with all my heart and soul;
Love like mine will never grow old.
Love you in the morning and in the evening too.
Every time you leave me i get mad with you.

Chorus

I love you baby with all my might;
Love like mine is out of sight.
I'll lie for you if you want me to.
I really don't believe that your love is true.

Chorus

I'm tore down, i'm almost level with the ground.
Well, i'm tore down, i'm almost level with the ground.
Well, i feel like this when my baby can't be found.

(traditional)

If i mistreat you girl, i sure don't mean no harm.
If i mistreat you girl, i sure don't mean no harm.
Well, i'm a motherless child; i don't know right from wrong.

Please tell me pretty mama, honey where'd you stay last night?
Please tell me pretty mama, honey where'd you stay last night?
Well, you didn't come home till the sun was shining bright.

I had to go so far girl to get my ham bones boiled.
Had to go so far girl to get my ham bones boiled.
Well, he's had a lotta women, gonna let my ham bones burn.

Well, i did more for you, girl, than your daddy ever done.
Well, i did more for you, girl, than your daddy ever done.
Well, i give you my jewelry, he ain't give you none.

And when you see two women, always running hand in hand.
When you see two women, always running hand in hand.
You can bet your bottom dollar, one got the other one's man.

Lord, i'm going to the river, get me a tangled rocking chair.
I'm going to the river, get me a tangled rocking chair.
And if the blues overtake me, gonna rock away from here.

(by james lane)

Blues, blues trying to drive me away from home.
Blues, blues trying to drive me away from home.
Had the blues so bad, blues followed me all day long.

Blues, blues won't let me take my rest.
Blues, blues won't let me take my rest.
My mind is rambling like a wild geese out in the west.

Well, you're my all day steady, baby you're my midnight dream.
Yes, you're my all day steady, baby you're my midnight dream.
I love that woman better than anyone i've ever seen.

Blues, blues follow me all day long.
Blues, blues follow me all day long.
Blues, blues won't you please leave me alone.

(by james a. lane)

Lord, i'm going away just to wear you off my mind.
Lord, i'm going away just to wear you off my mind.
Well you keep me worrying 'bout it all the time.

Well, i ain't been loved but four womens in my life.
Well, i ain't ever loved but four womens in my life.
Well, my mother and my sister, sweetheart and my wife.

If you don't want me baby, please don't call me 'round.
If you don't want me baby, please don't call me 'round.
Well, just like you found me, you can put me down.

Well now goodbye baby, if you call at home.
Well now goodbye baby, if you call at home.
You can go away; swear you won't stay long.

(by freddy king and sonny thompson)

I've got to ride that lonesome train.
My heart is heavy with aches and pain.
I said but someday, someday baby,
After a while, you will be sorry.

Every day my clouds are grey;
It takes you to roll all those clouds away.
I said but someday, someday baby,
After a while, you will be sorry.

Trouble, trouble, trouble on my mind.
Trouble, trouble, way down the line.
I don't need, i don't need no sympathy,
So babe, babe, don't you, don't you pity me.

I may be blue, but i don't mind,
Because i know way down the line,
I said someday, someday baby,
After a while, you will be sorry.

(by lowell glenn and lowell fulson)

Lord have mercy, lord have mercy on me.
Lord have mercy, lord have mercy on me.
Well if i've done somebody wrong, lord, have mercy if you please.

I used to have plenty of money, the finest clothes in town,
But bad luck and trouble overtaken me, bound to get me down.
Please have mercy, lord have mercy on me.
Well if i've done somebody wrong, lord, have mercy if you please.

Keep on working now, child.
Lord every morning.

Well if i've been a bad boy, baby, i declare i'll change my ways.
I don't want bad luck and trouble to follow me all my days.
Please have mercy, lord have mercy on me.
Well if i've done somebody wrong, lord, have mercy if you please.

(by eddie boyd and willie dixon)

Got me accused of peeping, i can't see a thing.
Got me accused of petting, i can't even raise my hand.

Bad luck, bad luck is killing me.
Well i just can't stand no more of this third degree.

Got me accused of murder, i ain't harmed a man.
Got me accused of forgery, i can't even write my name.

Chorus

Got me accused of taxes, i ain't got a dime.
Got me accused of children, and ain't nary one of them was mine.

Chorus

(by eddie boyd)

Have you ever been mistreated? you know just what i'm talking about.
Have you ever been mistreated? you know just what i'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve to put me out.

I got a job in a steel mill, shucking steel like a slave.
Five long years, every friday i come straight back home with all my pay.
Have you ever been mistreated? you know just what i'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve to put me out.

I finally learned my lesson, should a long time ago.
The next woman that i marry, she gonna work and bring me the dough.
Have you ever been mistreated? you know just what i'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve to put me out.