This is my transcription. The words in parentheses are spoken to the audience in this live performance.


NOBODY LOVES ME BUT MY MOTHER
As sung by B. B. King on "How Blue Can You Get? Classic Live Performances 1964 to 1994" (1996)

1. You left me for another man, baby (this is the kind I like); tell me, what did he do for you?
Yes, you ran away with another man, baby; I want to know, what did he do for you?
Because now all of your money's gone, baby, an' he ain't got no more, no more use for you.

2. But I was your fool, baby; hey, I worked for you both night an' day.
Yes, I was your fool, baby; yes, I worked for you both night an' day.
Oh, you know I had to be a fool, baby, oh, to let you treat me this-a-way.

3. I got your letter this mornin', baby, an' I read ev'ry word you had to say.
Yes, you know, I got your letter early, early this mornin', baby, an' I read ev'ry word you had to say.
Ah, but if you loved me like you say you do, baby, then why in the world did you go away?

4. Your letter said you was doin' all right (I imagine you guys get some letters like this sometime), but then it read, "Please let me come back home."
Yes, your letter said you was doin' OK, baby, but then it read, "Please let me come back home."
So here is my answer to your letter, baby: I been doin' all right since you been gone.

[Guitar break]

5. So you love me or leave me, baby; baby, either one you want to do.
Oh, I said, love me, love me, love me, or leave me; baby, either one you want to do.
Because you see strange things is happenin', baby, and something could happen to you.

6. If you know you don't want me, baby, why won't you let me be?
Oh, if you know, if you know, if you know you don't want me, baby, why won't you let me be?
Because you see it's better to live without you, baby, than to live on in misery.

7. Ah, midnight find me cryin'; daylight catch me cryin' too.
Yes, I said, midnight, midnight, midnight find me cryin'; daylight catch me cryin' too.
You better straighten your mind, pretty baby, 'cause something could happen to you.

8. Nobody loves me but my mother, and she could be jivin' too.
Yes, nobody, nobody loves me but my mother, and she could be jivin' too.
Now you know why I act so funny with you, baby, ah, when you do the things you do.