Lover’s Return

My old time daddy
Came back home last night.
His face was pale and
His eyes didn’t look just right.

He says, “Mary, I’m
Comin’ home to you—
So sick and lonesome
I don’t know what to do.”

Oh, men treats women
Just like a pair o’ shoes—
You kicks ’em round and
Does ’em like you choose.

I looked at my daddy—
Lawd! and I wanted to cry.
He looked so thin—
Lawd! that I wanted to cry.
But the devil told me:
      Damn a lover
      Come home to die!