I am surprised the lyrics to this are not in the DT or the forum already. Nor could I find them with a quick search of the usual suspects on the net. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I've typed out the transcription in the booklet to a Michael Cooney LP on Sandy's label. Leadbelly evidently had an early fascination with the seamier side of life. Fannin Street was the red light district of political boss Mr Tom Hughes' town, Shreveport, Louisiana. Leadbelly sings of the chippies, or prostitutes, working the streets.

FANNIN STREET

My mama told me
My sister too
Said, 'The Shreveport women, son,
Will be the death of you'

Said to my mama,
'Mama, you don't know
If the Fannin Street women gonna kill me
Well, you might as well let me go'

Follow me down,
Follow me down,
Follow me down
By Mr Tom Hughes town

I went to my mama
Fell down on my knees
Said, 'Oh, mama, won't you forgive me, please?'

She started to cry:
Follow me down,
Follow me down,
Follow me down
By Mr Tom Hughes town

I got a woman
Lives on Stony Hill
She used to sit down and gamble with
Mr Buffalo Bill

He's a bad man

You got a woman
Gamble with Buffalo Bill
Two chances in one, babe,
You ain't done got killed

She started to cry:

Follow me down,
Follow me down,
Follow me down
By Mr Tom Hughes town

I got a woman
Lives back of the jail
Makes an honest livin'
By the wigglin' of her tail

Cry for me

Anyone should ask you
Who made up this song
Tell 'em Huddie Ledbetter
Done been here and gone

Follow me down,
Follow me down,
Follow me down
By Mr Tom Hughes town

Source: transcription in booklet to Michael Cooney 'The Cheese Stands Alone' Folk Legacy LP FSI-35.

--Stewie.