death letter

(Eddie James 'Son' House, Jr.)
I got a letter this mornin, how do you reckon it read?
It said, 'Hurry, hurry, yeah, your love is dead'
I got a letter this mornin, I say how do you reckon it read?
You know, it said, 'Hurry, hurry, how come the gal you love is dead?'
So, I grabbed up my suitcase, and took off down the road
When I got there she was layin on a coolin board
I grabbed up my suitcase, and I said and I took off down the road
I said, but when I got there she was already layin on a coolin board
Well, I walked up right close, looked down in her face
Said, the good ol gal got to lay here til the Judgment Day
I walked up right close, and I said I looked down in her face
I said the good ol gal, she got to lay here til the Judgment Day
Looked like there was 10,000 people standin round the buryin ground
I didnt know I loved her til they laid her down
Looked like 10,000 were standin round the buryin ground
You know I didnt know I loved her til they damn laid her down
Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul
I wouldnt mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold
I said, Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul
You know I wouldnt mistreat nobody, baby, not for my weight in gold
Well, I folded up my arms and I slowly walked away
I said, 'Farewell honey, Ill see you on Judgment Day'
Ah, yeah, oh, yes, I slowly walked away
I said, 'Farewell, farewell, Ill see you on the Judgment Day'
You know I went in my room, I bowed down to pray
The blues came along and drove my spirit away
I went in my room, I said I bowed down to pray
I said the blues came along and drove my spirit away
You know I didnt feel so bad, til the good ol sun went down
I didnt have a soul to throw my arms around
I didnt feel so bad, til the good ol sun went down
You know, I didnt have nobody to throw my arms around
I loved you baby, like I love myself
You dont have me, you wont have nobody else
I loved you baby, better than I did myself
I said now if you dont have me, I didnt want you to have nobody else
You know, its hard to love someone that dont love you
Aint no satisfaction, dont care what in the world you do
Yeah, its hard to love someone that dont love you
You know it dont look like satisfaction, dont care what in the world you do
Got up this mornin, just about the break of day
A-huggin the pillow where she used to lay
Got up this mornin, just about the break of day
A-huggin the pillow where my good gal used to lay
Got up this mornin , feelin round for my shoes
You know, I must-a had them old walkin blues
Got up this mornin, feelin round for my shoes
Yeah, you know bout that, I must-a had them old walkin blues
You know, I cried last night and all the night before
Gotta change my way a livin, so I dont have to cry no more
You know, I cried last night and all the night before
Gotta change my way a livin, you see, so I dont have to cry no more
Ah, hush, thought I heard her call my name
If it wasnt so loud and so nice and plain
Ah, yeah
Mmmmmm
Well, listen, whatever you do
This is one thing, honey, I tried to get along with you
Yes, no tellin what you do
I done everything I could, just to try and get along with you
Well, the minutes seemed like hours, hours they seemed like days
It seemed like my good, old gal outta done stopped her low-down ways
Minutes seemed like hours, hours they seemed like days
Seems like my good, old gal outta done stopped her low-down ways
You know, loves a hard ol fall, make you do things you dont wanna do
Love sometimes leaves you feeling sad and blue
You know, loves a hard ol fall, make you do things you dont wanna do
Love sometimes make you feel sad and blue