The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #17914   Message #729529
Posted By: greg stephens
13-Jun-02 - 06:30 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: alligator song
Subject: Lyr Add: BLACK EYE BLUES (Ma Rainey)
Coming in two years late here, but the original request refers to Ma Rainey's "Black Eye Blues".
I quote from memory):

BLACK EYE BLUES
(Ma Rainey)

Down in Hogan's alley lived Miss Nancy Ann
Always fussing and squabbling with her man
I heard Miss Nancy say
Girl why do you treat your man this way
Went down the alley the other night
Nancy and man were just having a fight
He beat Miss Nancy round the head
When she rose to her feet and said

CHORUS
You low down alligator Gonna get you soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down
You 'buse me and mistreat me
You dog me round and beat me
Still I'm gonna hang around
Take all my money black both my eyes
Give it another woman come home and tell me lies
You low down alligator gonna get you soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down.

I remember it well because I used to work as the blues singer Delia Glaister's accompanist many moons ago, and she always sang it. original recording Ma rainey, accompanied Georgia Tom Dorsey piano and Tampa Red guitar I think. Not as lyrical an alligator song as Pontchartrain, but not at all bad.