Robert Johnson (1911-1938)

" I got a kind hearted woman
Do anything in this world for me
I got a kind hearted woman
Do anything in this world for me
But these evil-hearted women
Man, they will not let me be
I love my baby
My baby don't love me
I love my baby, oooh
My baby don't love me
But I really love that woman
Can't stand to leave her be
A-ain't but the one thing
Makes Mister Johnson drink
I's worried 'bout how you treat me, baby
I begin to think
Oh babe, my life don't feel the same
You breaks my heart
When you call Mister So-and-So's name
She's a kindhearted woman
She studies evil all the time
She's a kindhearted woman
She studies evil all the time
You well's to kill me
As to have it on your mind "

" I'm gon' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room
I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know (2x)
If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe, I know
I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet (2x)
She's a no good doney, they shouldn't 'low her on the street
I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x)
You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home
And I'm gettin' up in the morning, I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
Girlfriend, the black man that you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room
I'm gon' call up Chiney, she is my good girl over there (2x)
If I can't find her on Philippine's Island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere "

" Oh baby don't you want to go
Oh baby don't you want to go
Back to the land of California
to my sweet home Chicago

Oh baby don't you want to go
Oh baby don't you want to go
Back to the land of California
to my sweet home Chicago

Now one and one is two
two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded baby
I'm booked I gotta go

Cryin baby
honey don't you want to go
back to the land of California
to my sweet home Chicago

Now two and two is four
four and two is six
You gonna keep monkeyin round here friend-boy
you gonna get your business all in a trick

But I'm cryin baby
honey don't you wanna go
Back to the land of California
to my sweet home Chicago

Now six and two is eight
eight and two is ten
Friend-boy she trick you one time
she sure gonna do it again

But I'm cryin hey hey
baby don't you want to go
back to the land of California
to my sweet home Chicago

I'm goin to california
from there to Des Moines Iowa
Somebody will tell me that you
need my help someday

cryin hey hey
baby don't you want to go
back to the land of California
to my sweet home Chicago "

" I got ramblin', I got ramblin' on my mind
I got ramblin', I got ramblin' all on my mind
Hate to leave my baby, but you treats me so unkind

I got mean things, I got mean things all on my mind
Little girl, little girl, I got mean things all on my mind
Hate to leave you here, babe, but you treats me so unkind

Runnin' down to the station, catch the first mail train I see
(spoken: I think I hear her comin' now)
Runnin' down to the station, catch the old first mail train I see
I got the blues about Miss So-and-So and the child got the blues about me

And I'm leavin' this mornin', with my arm' fold' up and cryin'
And I'm leavin' this mornin', with my arm' fold' up and cryin'
Hate to leave my baby, but she treats me so unkind

I got mean things, I've got mean things on my mind
I got mean things, I got mean things all on my mind
I got to leave my baby, well, she treats me so unkind "

" When you got a good friend, that will stay right by your side (2x)
Give her all of your spare time, try to love and treat her right
I mistreated my baby, but I can't see no reason why (2x)
Anytime I think about it, I just wring my hands and cry
Wonder, could I bear apologize, or would she sympathize with me
Mmm, or would she sympathize with me
She's a brownskin woman, just as sweet as a girlfriend can be
Mmm, baby I may be right or wrong
Baby, it your opinion, I may be right or wrong
Watch your close friend, baby, then you enemies can't do you no harm
When you got a good friend that will stay right by your side (2x)
Give her all of your spare time, love and treat her right "

" You'd better come on in my kitchen
babe it going to be rainin outdoors
Ah the woman I love
took from my best friend
Some joker got lucky
stiole her back again
You'd better come on in my kitchen
babe it going to be rainin outdoors
Oh-ah she's gone
I know she won't come back again
I've taken the last nickel
out of her nation sack
You'd better come on in my kitchen
babe it going to be rainin outdoors
When a woman gets in trouble
everybody throws her down
Lookin for her good friend
none can be found
You'd better come on in my kitchen
babe it going to be rainin outdoors
Winter time's comin
its gonna be slow
You can't make the winter babe
thats dry long so
You'd better come on in my kitchen
babe it going to be rainin outdoors "