Poor Kelly Blues Lyrics & Chords By Big Maceo

Poor Kelly Blues 3:17 Trk 12
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Alfred Elkins - im. bass
Recorded: Friday Dec. 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio A
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


I went up on the mountain
To see what po' Kelly done
He killed his woman
And didn't even 'tempt to run

Up on the mountain
Just to see what po' Kelly done
Well, he killed his woman
And he didn't even 'tempt to run

When I found po' Kelly
He was standing in the do'
With a 32.20
And a forty-fo'

When I found po' Kelly
He was standin' in the do'
With a 32.20
An a hard-hitting, forty-fo'


I ask him was he sorry?
He say, 'Nobody know'
'Just can't stand the way she was
Treatin' me any mo'

'Just couldn't stand
Way she was doin' me, any mo'
She's a dirty mistreater
She won't jive me, no mo'

He said, 'I know I love her
Better than I did myself
She misused me
For somebody else'

'She know I loved her
Better than I did myself
Still, she tried to misuse me
For somebody else'

'I know they gonna get me'
He said, 'But I know I don't care'
They may even send me
To the 'lectric chair'

'I know they gonna get me
But baby, I don't care'
There is one consolation
They won't leave my woman, here.

~