Shave Em Dry Blues by Ma Rainey Lyrics

[Verse 1]
There's one thing I don't understand
Why a good-lookin' woman likes a workin' man
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 2]
Going away to wear you off my mind
You keep me hungry and broke, daddy, all the time
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 3]
Don't see how them hungry women can sleep
They shimmies all day without a bite to eat
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 4]
Going downtown to spread the news
State Street women wearin' brogan shoes
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 5]
If it wasn't for their powder and their store-bought hair
State Street gals couldn't go nowhere
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry
[Verse 6]
There's one thing I can't understand
Some women [?] State Street like a man
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 7]
Went to the show the other night
Everybody on State Street was tryin' to fight
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 8]
Ain't crazy 'bout my yellow, I ain't wild about my brown
You can't tell the difference when the sun goes down
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 9]
When you see two women runnin' hand to hand
Bet your life one's got the other's man
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry

[Verse 10]
Run here, daddy, lay in my arms
When your wife comes, tell her I don't mean no harm
Hey, hey, hey, daddy, let me shave 'em dry