This is NOT from memory; I actually listened to a recording (that I heard on Spotify) and made these corrections:


BLACK EYE BLUES
As sung by Ma Rainey

VERSE: Down in Hogan's alley lived Miss Nancy Ann,
Always fussin', squabblin' with her man.
Then I heard Miss Nancy say:
"Why do you treat your gal that way?"
I went down the alley, other night.
Nancy an' her man had just had a fight.
He beat Miss Nancy 'cross the head.
When she rose to her feet she said:

CHORUS: "You low-down alligator, just watch me; soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down.
You 'buse me an' mistreat me.
You dog me 'round an' beat me.
Still I'm gonna hang around.
Take all my money, black up both o' my eyes,
Give it to another woman, come home an' tell me lies.
You low-down alligator, just watch me; soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down,
I mean,
Gonna catch you with your britches down.

REPEAT CHORUS


(If you ask me, the title of this thread should be changed to "Lyr Req: Black Eye Blues (Ma Rainey)". Then this song will be easier to find by anyone who is searching for either "Black Eye Blues" or Ma Rainey songs—but then nobody ever asked me.