Ma Rainey — Shave Em Dry Blues

[Verse 1] There's one thing I don't understand Why a good-lookin' woman likes a workin' man Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 2] Going away to wear you off my mind You keep me hungry and broke, daddy, all the time Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 3] Don't see how them hungry women can sleep They shimmies all day without a bite to eat Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 4] Going downtown to spread the news State Street women wearin' brogan shoes Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 5] If it wasn't for their powder and their store-bought hair State Street gals couldn't go nowhere Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 6] There's one thing I can't understand Some women [?] State Street like a man Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 7] Went to the show the other night Everybody on State Street was tryin' to fight Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 8] Ain't crazy 'bout my yellow, I ain't wild about my brown You can't tell the difference when the sun goes down Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 9] When you see two women runnin' hand to hand Bet your life one's got the other's man Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry [Verse 10] Run here, daddy, lay in my arms When your wife comes, tell her I don't mean no harm Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry