Back before the blues were blue

When the good ol' songs were new

Songs that may no longer please us

'Bout the darkies, about Jesus

Mississippi minstrels color of molasses

Strummed their banjos to entertain their massas
Some said garbage, others cried art
You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart

Backs broke bending digging holes to plant the seeds

The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds
Put the wood in the stove, the water in the cup

You worked so hard that you died standing up

When I was a little thing

Papa tried to make me sing

Home Sweet Home and Aura Lee

These were songs that my daddy tought me

Camptown Races and Susannah Don't You Cry

Gentle Annie still brings a tear to my eye
Label it garbage, label it art

You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart

Backs broke bending digging holes to plant the seeds
The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds
Put the wood in the stove, the water in the cup

You worked so hard that you died standing up

Sing me songs of days gone by

Watch me laugh, watch me cry

Break my female heart in two

Sing me songs that say "I love you"

Lower your eyes, raise your hand to your breast

Sing me one about the sun setting in the west

Backs broke bending digging holes to plant the seeds
The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds
Put the wood in the stove, the water in the cup

You worked so hard that you died standing up

Wood's in the stove, water's in the cup

You worked so hard that you died standing up