Death Letter Blues
(Leadbelly version)
Words & Music:
Eddie "Son" House
The version by Leadbelly is often quoted as the
original. It apparently isn't, but
draws heavily on Son House's version.
Yes she wrote me a letter,
what do you reckon it read?
Yes she wrote me a letter,
what do you reckon it read?
"Come home sweet papa, now
that baby dead."
(narrative)
He goes to the graveyard,
he goes back home.
He goes to his friend when
he got that letter.
He goes to the depot and he
catch the longest train he's seen.
And he didn't stop at no
short stops.
He read something got it in
the hand.
And when he got home he
went and told his mama:
(sung)
"Yes, I went to the depot;
caught the train that blowing.
I went to the depot caught
a train that blowing.
When he walked in Lord, she
was long laid down."
(narrative)
His mama met him at the
doorstep.
Papa ran to the bedside and
told his daughter
And his daughter-in-law
goodbye.
(sung)
My mama's dead, papa's
dead, goodbye.
My mama's dead early,
papa's dead, goodbye.
Poor boy couldn't do
nothing, but hang your head and cry.
(narrative)
He went to the bedside and
looked down at his baby's face.
She didn't know him from
nobody else because it's too late.
When he looked down in her
face, here's what he said to his mama:
(sung)
"Yes, I went to the
bedroom, looked down in her face.
Yes, I went to the bedroom,
looked down in her face.
Lord, I love you pretty mama, just can't take your place."