Piano in Eb, Scrapper Blackwell, guitar in A position, standard tuning, at Eb.
Mama made Papa be quiet as a mouse
So Papa climbed on top of the house
Made a lot of whoopee, made a lot of noise
Stood up and cheered with the rest of the boys
Baby's in the cradle, brother's gone to town
Sister's in the parlor, trying on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing all around
Papa's on the house top, won't come down
Instrumental verse
The Blues they've come, the Blues they've come
Nobody knows where the Blues come from
The Blues they've gone, the Blues they've gone
And everybody's happy when the old Blues gone
Baby's in the cradle, brother's gone to town
Sister's in the parlor, trying on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing all around
Papa's on the house top, won't come down
Instrumental verse
Papa saw a chicken out in the yard
Picked up a rock and hit him hard
Hit him hard, killed him dead
Now the chicken's in the gravy and the gravy's on the bread
Baby's in the cradle, brother's gone to town
Sister's in the parlor, trying on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing all around
Papa's on the house top, won't come down
Instrumental verse
Hush-a-little baby, don't you cry
Blues gonna leave you by and by
Papa came in, sure was cold
Put the baby in the cradle and the Blues outdoor
Baby's in the cradle, brother's gone to town
Sister's in the parlor, trying on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing all around
Papa's on the house top, won't come down
Instrumental verse