Pinchbacks, Take 'Em Away (04-04-24) - Bessie Smith

I fell in love with a sweet man once

He said he loved me too

He said if I’d run away with him

What nice things he would do

I’d travel around from town to town

How happy I would feel

But don’t you know he would not work

Girls, take this tip from me

Get a working man when you marry

And let all these sweet men be

Child, it takes money to run a business

And with me, I know, you girls will agree

There’s one thing about this married life

That these young girls have got to know

Say, if a sweet man enter your front gate

Turn out your light and lock your door

Yes, get a working man when you marry

Let all these pinchbacks be

Child, it takes money to run a business

And with me, I know, you girls will agree

And if this panic stay on much longer

I’ll hear all these young girls say

That it’s a long way to Oklahoma

But these little pinchbacks, take them away