I’s always been a workin’ girl.
I treated Albert fine.
Ain’t cut him wid no razor,
Ain’t never been unkind.
Yet it seems like always
Men takes all they can from me
Then they goes an’ finds a yaller gal
An’ lets me be.
I dressed up Albert Johnson.
I bought him suits o’ clothes,
An’ soon as he got out de barrel
Then out ma door he goes.
Yet I ain’t never been no bad one.
Can’t help it cause I’m black.
I hates them rinney yaller gals
An’ I wants ma Albert back.
Ma little, short, sweet, brownskin boy,—
Oh, God, I wants him back!