Lewis Alexander, "Barefoot Blues" (1928)
Ma feet flat on de groun'.
It was dead winter time
And ma feet was flat on de groun'
A've been all ovah town
And no work can be foun'..
Went to de lunch room
To try to git a bite to eat,
Ah went to de lunch room
To try to git a bite to eat,
Because ah had no money
De man he put me in de street.
'Cause ah had no room rent
De lady had ma stuff fo' sale,
'Cause ah had no room rent
De lady had ma stuff fo' sale,
And when ah tried to git it
De man he put me in de jail.
Now ah'm blue, weary and blue,
Barefooted and in de jail.
Ah mean blue, oh so blue,
Barefooted and in de jail.
Ah'll shut mah mouf an' stay here
'Cause ain' nobody goin' mah bail.
Published in Carolina Magazine, May 1928