What's Your Mama's Name Child

(album: I Hate Goodbyes / Ride Me Down Easy - 1973)

Forty some odd years ago a young man came to Memphis
Asking about a rose that used to blossom in his world
People never took the time to mind the young man's questions
Till one day they heard him ask a little green eyed girl.

What's your mama's name child, what's your mama's name
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson
What's your mama's name child, what's your mama's name?

Twenty some odd years ago a drunkard down in Memphis
Lost a month of life and labored to the country jail
Just because he asked a little green eyed girl a question
And offered her a nickel's worth of candy if she'd tell.

What's your mama's name child, what's your mama's name
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson
What's your mama's name child what's your mama's name?

A year and some odd days ago an old man died in Memphis
Just another wayward soul the county had to claim
Inside the old man's ragged coat they found a faded letter
That said you've got a daughter and her eyes are Wilson green.

What's your mama's name child, what's your mama's name
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson
What's your mama's name child what's your mama's name?

What's your mama's name child, what's your mama's name
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson
What's your mama's name child what's your mama's name?...