Down Hearted Blues

A 1923 popular song.
Words by Alberta Hunter
Music by Lovie Austin


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

1. Gee, but its hard to love someone
When that someone don’t love you
I’m so disgusted, heart broken, too
I’ve got the down hearted blues
Once I was crazy about a man
He mistreated me all the time
The next man I get
He’s got to promise to be mine all mine

Chorus
‘Cause he mistreated me and he drove me from his door
Yes he mistreated me and he drove me from his door
But the good book says you’ll reap just what you sow

Got the world in a jug got the stopper in my hand
Got the world in a jug got the stopper in my hand
If you want me you must come under my command

2.If I could only find the man
Oh! how happy I would be
To the good Lord ev’ry night I pray
Please send my man back to me
I’ve almost worried myself to death
Wond’ring why he went away
But just wait and see
He’s gonna want me back some sweet day

Chorus

Say I ain’t never loved but the three men in my life
Say I ain’t never loved but the three men in my life
‘Twas my father, brother and the man

Oh, it may be a week and it may be a month or two
Oh, it may be a week and it may be a month or two
All the dirt you did to me will come home to you

Oh, I walked the floor and I wrung my hands and cried
Yes I walked the floor and I wrung my hands and cried
Had the down hearted blues and couldn’t be satisfied


Sung here by Fred Feild: