Van Ronk apparently drew on this song as well, in constructing his version of "Standing by My Window." Morton said he learned it from Desdoumes, and it was the first blues song he ever learned.


MAMIE'S BLUES (a.k.a. 2:19 BLUES)
Words & Music: Mamie Desdoumes* (c1900)
As recorded by Jelly Roll Morton (1939)

Two-nineteen done took my baby away.
Two-nineteen took my babe away.
Two-seventeen bring her back someday.

Stood on the corner with her feets just soakin' wet [Spoken:] Her feets was wet.
Stood on the corner with her feet soakin' wet,
Beggin' each and ev'ry man that she met:

"If you can't give a dollar, give me a lousy dime.
Can't give a dollar, give me a lousy dime.
I want to feed that hungry man of mine."

[* Some sources spell her name differently: Desdumes, or Desdunes.]