Preaching the Blues - Bessie Smith, James P. Johnson

Down in Atlanta, GA, under the viaduct ev’ry day, drinking corn and hollerin'

hooray

Pianos playing till the break of day

But as I turned my head, I loudly said, «Preach 'em blues, sing them blues»

They certainly sound good to me

I’ve been in love for the last six months and ain’t done worrying yet

Moan’em blues, holler them blues

Let me convert your soul

'Cause just a little spirit of the blues tonight

Let me tell you, girls, that your man ain’t treating you right

Let me tell you I don’t mean no wrong

I will learn you something if you listen to this song

I ain’t here to try to save your soul, just want to teach you how to save your

good jelly roll

Going on down the line a little further now

There’s many a poor woman down

Read on down to chapter nine

Woman must learn how to take their time

Read on down to chapter ten

Taking other women’s men, you are doing a sin

Sing’em, sing’em, sing them blues

Let me convert your soul

Now one sister by the name of Sister Green

Jumped up and done a shimmy you ain’t never seen

Sing’em, sing’em, sing them blues

Let me convert your soul