Matchbox Blues by Blind Lemon Jefferson 

[This song was recorded many times, and has many 
verses,
with many variations on the words in the verses,
so depending on which recording you have, the verses
will vary. There are also different spoken 
introductions.
Below is one version, followed by some of the alternate 
verses and intros. 

His diction was idiosyncratic, so some of the words 
given are guesses.]

============

MAIN VERSION

How far to the river, mama, walk down by the sea
How far to the river, walk down by the sea
I got those tadpoles and minnows all in over me

Standing here wonderin' will a matchbox hold my clothes
I'se sittin here wonderin' will a matchbox hold my 
clothes
I ain't got so many matches but I got so far to go

Lord, Lord, who may your manager be?
Hey, mama, who may your manager be?
Reason I ask so many questions, can't you make friends 
match for me?

I got a girl cross town she crochet all the time (or is 
it "coochies" as in hoochi-coochie?)
I got a girl cross town crochet all the time
Mama if you don't quit crochet-in you gunna lose your 
mind.

I wouldn'y mind marryin', but I can't stand settlin' 
down
I Don't mind marryin', but Lord, settlin' down
I'm gonna act like a preacher so I can ride from town 
to town

Well, I'm leavin' town, but that won't make me stay
I leavin' town, cryin' won't make me stay
baby, the more you cry, the farther you drive me away.

=================

Other verses and raps (who says rap is a modern art?):

Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear
Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear
Put a string on me and I'll follow you everywhere

[Got] a peg leg woman man she can't hardly get outdoors
I say a peg leg woman just can't hardly get outdoors
I [left] ... [eight o'clock] last night ... [I'm 
sellin'] jellyroll

I don't see why these women treats me so mean
I don't see why these gals treat me so mean
Sometime I think I'm some man these women ain't never 
seen

Lord I got up this morning with my sho' 'nuff [i.e., 
sure enough] on my mind
Got up this mornin' same thing on my mind
The woman I love she keep a good man workin all the 
time

I'm settin' here wonderin' would a matchbox hold my 
clothes
I'm settin' here wonderin' would a matchbox hold my 
clothes
I ain't got so many matches but I got so far to go

Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear
Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear
Put a string on me and I'll follow you everywhere

[Got] a peg leg woman man she can't hardly get outdoors
I say a peg leg woman just can't hardly get outdoors
I [left] ... [eight o'clock] last night ... [I'm 
sellin'] jellyroll

I don't see why these women treats me so mean
I don't see why these gals treat me so mean
Sometime I think I'm some man these women ain't never 
seen

Lord I got up this morning with my sho' 'nuff [i.e., 
sure enough] on my mind
Got up this mornin' same thing on my mind
The woman I love she keep a good man workin' all the 
time

Now tell me mama who may your manager be
Now tell me who may your manager be
Reason I ask so many questions can't you make 
'rangements for me 




Now, this tune here should be easy for you to deal with
All you gotta do is, is remember back home, you know 
what I mean
When you was sitting out behind the house
Or practicing on your own guit feble
Tryin' to get things together
And you couldn't make in up your mind
You kinda half-way knew what you wanted to do
But, but you didn't have it all together, you know

But you didn't know you wanted to travel
Ain't that right!
Yeah, I remember them days real good
I know

Didn't have really many clothes
I didn't know nobody to call, to sing for you
So you had to get out there in no time
You know, so

You don't make no tiffanies, you say, "I'm goin'
And I know I got a great time, but I'm goin' anyway"
Whatever happens, what happens?
Whatever happens, I gotta pay my dues somewhere
Listen

Dreamed that I was lucky
But I woke up cold in hand, yeah
Hey, I dreamed that I was lucky, darlin'
But I woke up cold in hand, yeah, yeah

I dreamed I had you all by myself
But now I know you found you another man, yeah

Oh, that's why I wonderin'
Will a matchbox hold my clothes?
Hey, sometimes I wonder, darlin'
Will a matchbox hold my clothes? Yeah, yeah

You know I haven't got so many
But I got so far to go, yeah

Yes, you got a good woman
You better pin her to your side, yeah
Hey, if you gotta good lady, fellow
You better pin'er up to your side, yeah, yeah

Because if she flag my train, buddy
I'm bound to let her ride well

Oh, that's why I wonder
Will a matchbox hold my clothes?
Hey, sometimes I wonder, darlin'
Will a matchbox hold my clothes? Yeah, yeah

You know I haven't got so many
But I got so far to go, yeah, ain't that right?

I see you might do something with it
I hope so
Yeah, take it
You know, fix it like it you want


Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear
Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear
Put a string on me and I'll follow you everywhere

[Got] a peg leg woman man she can't hardly get outdoors
I say a peg leg woman just can't hardly get outdoors
I [left] ... [eight o'clock] last night ... [I'm 
sellin'] jellyroll

I don't see why these women treats me so mean
I don't see why these gals treat me so mean
Sometime I think I'm some man these women ain't never 
seen

Lord I got up this morning with my sho' 'nuff [i.e., 
sure enough] on my mind
Got up this mornin' same thing on my mind
The woman I love she keep a good man work

Now tell me mama who may your manager be
Now tell me who may your manager be
Reason I ask so many questions can't you make 
'rangements for me


Im sitting here wonderin, will a matchbox hold my 
clothes.
Im sitting here wonderin will a matchbox hold my 
clothes.
I aint got so many matches but I got so far to go.

I say fair brown, who may your man to be.
Oh Mama, who may your man to be.
People ask so many questions can't you make gladness 
for me.
(Babe you ask so many questions can't you make friends 
with poor me.)

I got a girl cross town, she Crow Jane all the time.
I got a girl cross town she Crow Janes all the time.
Mama if you dont quit Crow Jane, you gonna lose your 
mind.

I can't count the time, I stoled away and cried.
I cant count the time I stole away and cried.
You gonna throw rain on me, same thing goin on round.

If you want your lover, you better pin her to your 
side,
I said you want your baby, pin her to your side.
If you flag my train, papa never saw let her ride.

I aint seen my good gal, in three long weeks today.
I aint seen my good gal in three long weeks today.
Gal its been so long, seem like my heart gon break.

Excuse me mama, for knockin on your door.
Well excuse me mama, for knockin on your door.
My mind dont change, Im lovin that gal no more.