James Alley Blues
Times ain't now nothing like they used to be
Oh times ain't now nothing like they used to be
And I'm tellin' you all the truth, oh take it for meI done seen better days but I'm puttin' up with these
I done seen better days but I'm puttin' up with these
I been havin' a much better time with these girls now I'm so hard to please'Cos I was born in the country she thinks I'm easy to rule
'Cos I was born in the country she thinks I'm easy to rule
She try to hitch me to her wagon, she want to drive me like a muleYou know I bought some groceries and I paid the rent
Yes I buy some groceries and I pay the rent
She try to make me wash her clothes but I got good common senseI said if you don't want me why don't you tell me so
You know, if you don't want me why don't you tell me so
Because it ain't like a man that ain't got nowhere to goI've been givin' you sugar for sugar, let you get salt for salt
I'll give you sugar for sugar, let you get salt for salt
And if you can't get 'long with me well it's your own faultHow you wanted me to love you and you treat me mean
How do you want me to love you, you keep on treatin' me mean
You're my daily thought and my nightly dreamSometimes I think that you too sweet to die
Sometimes I think that you too sweet to die
And another time I think you oughta be buried alive--- Richard 'Rabbit' Brown
Recorded New Orleans
11 March 1927
Victor Records20578