This song can be heard at The Red Hot Jazz Archive. (Click to play.)

I can only suggest a few more words, and they are very tentative interpretations:


RED LANTERN BLUES
As sung by Victoria Spivey

1. I saw a little red lantern moving from home to home.
I saw a little red lantern moving from home to home.
I passed by and I listened, then I heard somebody groan.

2. Every house it went to, it left all the doors painted red.
Every house it went to, it left all the doors painted red.
When he come out, I know he's left all poor souls there dead.

3. It was a ... of lightning. It shivered like jelly roll.
It was a ... of lightning. It shivered like jelly do,
And when it comes to your house, that mean it ain't nothing more to you.

4. Please keep it safe from my house, I'm prayin' on my bended knees.
Please keep it safe from my house, I'm prayin' on my bended knees,
'Cause if it takes my man, I would just(?) like the leaves on trees.

5. Keep ... sisters, were all taken one by one.
Keep ... has fallen, the windows shakin' one by one.
That night I raised my head up, till the doggone world was done.


[p.s. What is she describing here? A tornado? An earthquake? Something supernatural? Why does it appear like a little red lantern?]