Lonesome Walls (03-27-39) - Ethel Waters

When my man told me when they took me away

That he would come to see me every Christmas Day

Now Christmas is over and he’s lockin' the gate

Oh, Mr. Captain, please wait, t’ain’t late

No use waitin', watchin', hopin' for a man you know’s forgettin'

And ain’t willin' to wait

There’s too many women for a man to wait

Mornin', is you still dawnin' that clean young Day?

River, river, is you still talkin' where my tear done lay?

Stars, is you still shinin' when evenin' falls

While my heart is burning

Deep in these lonesome walls?

Lonesome walls, lonesome walls

Deep in these lonesome walls

One of these mornings if I’m livin' that long

I’m gonna rise up singin' such a goodbye song

The walls’ll fly open, the sky and the see

Oh, Mr. Jailer, can it be I’m free?

Then I’ll travel, always singing to my home when tomorrow is a-waitin' for me

'Cause there’s a tomorrow that’s waitin' for me

Lonesome walls, lonesome walls…

At last I’m leavin' these here lonesome walls