Ma Rainey — Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues

[Verse 1] Black cat on my doorstep, black cat on my windowsill Black cat on my doorstep, black cat on my windowsill If one black cat don't cross me, another black cat will [Verse 2] It's bad luck if I'm jolly, bad luck if I cry It's bad luck if I'm jolly, bad luck if I cry It's bad luck if I stay here, it's still more bad luck if I die [Verse 3] Last night a hootin' owl came and sat right over my door Last night a hootin' owl came and sat right over my door A feelin' seems to tell me, I'll never see my man no more [Verse 4] I feel my left eye jumpin', my heart a-bumpin' I'm on my P's and Q's I feel my brain a-thumpin', I got no time to lose Mama's superstitious, tryin' to overcome these blues