Sheet music for this song can be seen at Mississippi State University:


HESITATION BLUES, or, OH! BABY, MUST I HESITATE?
Words and music by Scott Middleton and Billy Smythe, ©1915.

Something's surely wrong.
I'm blue all day long.
With you 'round me, no one ever as found me sad;
Was always glad.
Since you're gone away,
I've simply got to say,
"I'm blue." That's what! "I'm blue." Why'd you ever leave?
You knew I would grieve.
All I do is cry for you; I just miss you so.
Why did you go?
Why do you make me wait, hon? I got the hesitation blues.
Say what you choose.

1. I'll go down to the levee, take a rocking chair
If the blues doesn't leave me, babe, I'll rock away from here.
Oh, baby, how long I have to wait?
Can't I get you now, or must I hesitate?

2. Got a beautiful home, but there's nothing to gain
Rather live in a jail than to have a trifling Jane.
Oh, baby, ....

3. There's a gal living near, says I surely will die
Wants to cure me but I don't like the looks of her bad eye.
Oh, baby, ....

4. Tried to cheer myself, loaded up with good booze
But there's only one way that you can ever cure the blues.
Oh, baby, ....