Charley was a man, small and mean,
Worked the cotton field, when times were lean,
Drank moonshine, tried to stay clean,
Sang us a song 'bout how to be free.
Said I love Bertha Lee but she don't love me,
We'll settle down together in Dockery,
Don't the moon look pretty behind those trees,
By the Sunflower River, Mississippi.
He fought with the man and was thrown in jail,
Said the devil called from the fires of hell,
Asked to repent when they rang the church bell,
Dropped a coin in the wishing well.
Said I love Bertha Lee but she don't love me,
We'll settle down together in Dockery,
Don't the moon look pretty behind those trees,
By the Sunflower River, Mississippi.
There's a good woman waiting for me,
Wondering all night long about where I'll be,
Ain't much sense to all that worry,
Livin ain't easy, on this we agree.
Said I love Bertha Lee but she don't love me,
We'll settle down together in Dockery,
Don't the moon look pretty behind those trees,
By the Sunflower River, Mississippi.
4 comments:
I can't believe you wrote this ... it sounds like an old blues standard.
What a compliment! My first try at early delta blues, inspired by Charley Patton, hence the storyline, an artist I discovered at the beginning of the summer. His music opened my ears.
Brilliant!!! Brilliant lyrics, terrific melody that catches the spirit of bayou country. I felt myself in that atmosphere, the heat dripping off, the slow rhythms of the South, the toughness of life and love, trying to catch some happiness. Great great song!
Post a Comment