Empty Bed Blues

Empty Bed Blues

1I woke up this mornin'
2with an awful achin' head,
3I woke up this mornin'
4with an awful achin' head,
5My new man left me,
6Just a room and an empty bed.
7Bought me a coffee grinder,
8The best one I could find.
9Bought me a coffee grinder,
10The best one I could find.
11Oh, he could grind my coffee,
12'Cause he had a brand-new grind.
13He's a deep, deep diver,
14With a stroke that can't go wrong.
15He's a deep, deep diver,
16With a stroke that can't go wrong.
17Oh, he can touch the bottom,
18And his wind holds out so long.
19He knows how to thrill me,
20And he thrills me night and day.
21He knows how to thrill me,
22And he thrills me night and day.
23He's got a new way of loving,
24Almost takes my breath away.
25Lord, he's got that sweet somethin',
26And I told my gal-friend Lu.
27He's got that sweet somethin',
28And I told my gal-friend Lu.
29From the way she's raving,
30She must have gone and tried it too.
31When my bed is empty,
32Makes me feel awful mean and blue.
33When my bed is empty,
34Makes me feel awful mean and blue.
35My springs are getting rusty,
36Living single like I do.
37Bought him a blanket,
38Pillow for his head at night.
39Bought him a blanket,
40Pillow for his head at night.
41Then I bought him a mattress,
42So he could lay just right.
43He came home one ev'nin',
44With his spirit way up high.
45He came home one ev'nin',
46With his spirit way up high.
47What he had to give me
48Made me wring my hands and cry.
49He give me a lesson
50That I never had before.
51He give me a lesson
52That I never had before.
53When he got through teachin',
54From my elbows down was sore.
55He boiled my first cabbage,
56And he made it awful hot.
57He boiled my first cabbage,
58And he made it awful hot.
59When he put in the bacon,
60It overflowed the pot.
61When you get good lovin',
62Never go and spread the news.
63When you get good lovin',
64Never go and spread the news.
65Else he'll double-cross you
66And leave you with them empty bed blues.
Publication Start Year
1928
Publication Notes
recording (Columbia Records, New York, NY)
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire, assisted by Ana Berdinskikh
RPO Edition
2009
Rhyme
Form