Skip James – WASHINGTON DC HOSPITAL CENTER BLUES

recorded in 1964 Yes, I was a good man But I’m’s a po’ man You understand In the hospital, now In Washington DC Ain’t got nobody To see about me But I’m’s a good man But I’m’s a po’ man You can understand All the doctors And nurses, too They came and they asked me ‘Who in the world are you?’ I says, I’m the good man But I’m’s a po’ man You can understand The doctors and nurses They shakin’ their head Said, ‘Take this po’ man And put him to bed’ Because he’s a good man We know he’s a po’ man We can understand I didn’t go home when I had a-plenty to eat I had good treatment And a place to sleep Because I was a good man They knew I was a po’ man They could understand I met a little damsel She promised me That she would love me And always be sweet She found out I was a po’ man And I thought I was a good man She couldn’t understand, no Now, when she left me She got in the do’ She waved me, good-bye I haven’t seen her no mo’ She found out I was a good man She knew I was a po’ man She couldn’t understand The doctors and nurses They shakin’ my hand Say, ‘You can go home now, Skip You’s a sound, well man’ Because you’s a good man You’s a po’ man We can understand I’d taken my doctor And I was shakin’ his hand I’m gon’ play these, ‘Hospital Blues’ ‘Till you’s a wealthy man’ You took me as a good man You know’d I was a po’ man You could understand You know’d I was a good man But I’m’s a po’ man You-ooo can understand!