NOTE: Frank Stokes' interjections of the rhythmic syllable "a" are pronounced "uh". "Nehi", in the song's title, is a misunderstanding of the homophone "knee-high".
White man take the blues, he walk to the river and set down
White man take the blues, he walk to the river and set down
If the blues get too heavy, he'll jump overboard and drown
Colored man take the blues, he walk to the river and set down
Gets stuck by a knee-high mama and he turn right short around
Now mama, I wonder what's goin' on, mama, since I left town
Now, East and West, North and South
Why, the knee-high women have done turned me out
REFRAIN: 'Cause they can Eagle Rock me, they can stop me
A-from the thing that I used to do
I've got the knee-high blues, mama, don't know what in the world to do
A-now, T for Texas, T for Tennessee
S is a mighty bad letter for they stole her 'way from me
REFRAIN: 'Cause she can Eagle Rock me, she can stop me
A-from the thing that I used to do
I've got the knee-high blues, mama, don't know what in the world to do
SOLO
Now, down on the Third Street, the corner of Beale
Where the knee-high women have got a terrible spiel
REFRAIN: 'Cause they can Eagle Rock you, they can stop you
A-from the thing that you used to do
I've got the knee-high blues, don't know what in the world to do
Now, Papa got to singin', my folks got to cryin'
The knee-high women stays on my mind
REFRAIN: 'Cause they can Eagle Rock Me, they can stop me
A-from the thing that I used to do
I've got the knee-high blues, don't know what in the world to do
SOLO
Now, listen, that's the police, layin' on my door
The knee-high women keep me everywhere I go
REFRAIN: 'Cause they can Eagle Rock me, they can stop me
A-from the thing that I used to do
I've got the knee-high blues, mama, don't know what in the world to do
SOLO X 2, ending with
I've got the knee-high blues, don't know what in the world to do