I Used To Be Your Sweet Mama (1928)

I heard this song on my pre-war blues Pandora channel (For you blues-lovers out there, I recommend doing this. Start a channel on Pandora with one of your classic favorites--Bessie, Victoria Spivey, Memphis Minnie, etc.--and then stubbornly thumbs-down anything they give you that was recorded after 1950. You'll wind up with a wonderful listening station, and you'll probably discover some great gems--I know I have!) and I was frustrated to find it wasn't on my computer. It's my new "favorite" Bessie Smith number.

Yes, I'm mad, and have a right to be
After what my daddy did to me
I lavished all my love on him
But I swear I'll never love again
All you women understand what it is to be
In love with a two-time man
The next time he calls me sweet mama in his lovin' way
This is what I'm going to say:

I used to be your sweet mama sweet papa
But now I'm just as sour as can be
So don't come stalling around my way
Expecting any love from me.

You had your chance, and proved unfaithful,
So now I'm gonna be real mean and hateful
I used to be your sweet mama sweet papa
But now I'm just as sour as can be

I ain't gonna let no man worry me sick
Or turn this hair of mine grey
Soon as I catch him at his no good trick
I'm gonna tell him to be on his way
To the world I scream, no man can treat me mean
And expect my love all the time
When he roams away, he'd better stay
If he comes back, he'll find...

You had your chance, and proved unfaithful,
So now I'm gonna be real mean and hateful
I used to be your sweet mama sweet papa
But now I'm just as sour as can be