My mama done tol' me
When I was in pigtails
My mama done tol' me, "Hon
A man's gonna sweet talk
And give you the big eye
But when the sweet-talkin's done
A man is a two-face
A worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing
The blues in the night."

Now, the rains are falling
Hear the train a-calling
Hoo-wee
My mama done tol' me
"Hear that lonesome whistle
Blowing cross the trestle."
Hoo-wee
My mama done tol' me
A hoo-wee da hoo-wee
Oh clickety clacks
A-echoin' back
The blues in the night

The evening breeze
'll start the trees
To crying
And the moon'll hide its light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word
The mockingbird
'll sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong
And he's right

From Natchez to Mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I've been in some big towns
And heard me some talk
But there is one thing I know
A man is a two-face
A worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing
The blues in the night

My mama was right
The blues in the night