Lonesome Desert Blues (12-09-25) - Bessie Smith

A fly will stick to jelly and wood will stick to glue

But a man won’t stick to a woman no matter what she do!

The wrong way, I’m bound to sue!

That man o' mine is triflin' and he don’t treat me right

He’s got another sweetie, he sees her late at night

That is why I’ve got those desert blues

I’m gonna travel to the desert, out in the western land

I’m gonna hid my troubles in the burnin' sand

Temptation I can’t refuse

For that man o' mine I’m bound to lose;

My mind is like a row boat out on a stormy sea

He’s with me right now, in the mornin' where will he be?

Lore-oh, lore-oh, lore-oh!

Lore-oh, lore-oh, lore-oh!

I’m so nervous, I’m quakin' in my shoes

I’m burnin' up, I’ve got those lonesome desert blues1