I'm gon' tell you people about my vamp
Hung around St. Louis 'til I got these miss-meal cramps
REFRAIN: That's why I'm going up the country, I'm going up the country
I'm going up the country, St. Louis don't mean me no good
If you've got plenty money, don't want none
Hang around St. Louis with those Ninth Street bums
REFRAIN: But I'm going up the country, I'm going up the country
I'm going up the country, St. Louis don't mean me no good
SOLO
I walked up Mott Street, then out past Ann
Everybody I saw was holding out their hand
REFRAIN: That's why I'm going up the country, I'm going up the country
I'm going up the country, St. Louis don't mean me no good
You can hustle down Bell Street, Franklin Avenue
Everybody beat you doin' just what you're trying to do
REFRAIN: That's why I'm going up the country, I'm going up the country
I'm going up the country, St. Louis don't mean me no good
SOLO
If you've got plenty money, don't want to have it long
Hang around St. Louis and drink this Jones Lounge corn
REFRAIN: And you'll be bound for the graveyard, you'll be bound for the graveyard
You'll be going to the graveyard, St. Louis won't mean you no good