Lyrics:

Cell Bound Blues (Gertrude ‘Ma’ Rainey)

Hey, hey, jailer, tell me what have I done
Hey, hey, jailer, tell me what have I done
You’ve got me all bound in chains, did I kill that woman’s son?

All bound in prison, all bound in jail
All bound in prison, all bound in jail
Cold iron bars all around me, no one to go my bail

I’ve got a mother and father, livin’ in a cottage by the sea
I’ve got a mother and father, livin’ in a cottage by the sea
Got a sister and brother, wonder do they think of poor me

I walked in my room the other night
My man walked in and begin to fight

I took my gun in my right hand,
“Hold him, folks, I don’t wanta kill my man”

When I did that, he hit me ‘cross my head
First shot I fired, my man fell dead

The paper came out and told the news
That’s why I said I got the cell bound blues
Hey, hey, jailer, I got the cell bound blues.