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Empty Bed Blues

by Rory Block

on A Woman's Soul: A Tribute to Bessie Smith (2018)

I woke up this morning with an awful aching head
Said, I woke up this morning with an awful aching head
You know that my new man had left me just a room and an empty bed

I said he bought me a coffee grinder, he got the best one that he could find
I said he bought me a coffee grinder, he got the best one that he could find
And now he's grindin' all my coffee, because he had a brand new grind

Now, he's a deep-sea diver, with a stroke that can't go wrong
Now, he's a deep-sea diver, he's got a stroke that can't go wrong
Now you know that he can stay down at the bottom, 'cause his wind holds out so long

Now, he knows just how to thrill me, he thrills me night and day
I said, he knows just how to thrill me, he thrills me night and day
You know he's got a brand-new way of loving, it takes my breath away

Now, he came home one evening with his spirit way up high
Now, he came home one evening with his spirit way up high
Now, what he had to give me made me ring my hands and cry

That man gave me a lesson that I never had before
Well, he gave me a lesson so sweet that I never had before
And when he got through teachin', from my elbow down was sore

Now, he bought me a cabbage and he cooked it awful hot
Now, he bought me a cabbage and he cooked it awful steamin' hot
And when he put in the bacon, it overflowed the pot

And he got that sweet something and I told my girlfriend Lou
Well, he got that sweet something and I told my girlfriend Lou
But now from the way that she's been ravin', she must have gone and tried some too

Now my bed's gone empty, it makes me feel mean and blue
When my bed gets empty, makes me feel so mean and blue
Because my springs are getting' rusty, sleepin' single as I do

Now, when you find good lovin', don't you go and spread the news
And when you find good lovin', don't you go and spread no news
'Cause your man would double-cross you and leave you with this empty bed blues