Little Queen Of Spades (Robert Johnson)

Sources:

Gissing, Werner: Mississippi Delta Blues: Formen und Texte von Robert Johnson (1911-1938). (Beiträge zur Jazzforschung. Studies in Jazz Research). Graz, 1986

Sheet Music:

King of Spades Music

Recordings:

1937 - Robert Johnson - Dallas, Texas - June 20, 1937 - Vocalion 04108 (2 takes) - Robert Johnson (voc, g)

1982 - Robert Lockwood Jr. - on: Plays Robert And Robert

2000 - Eddie Martin - on: Keep On Working

2000 - Peter Green Splinter Group - on: Hot Foot Powder

2001 - Peter Green Splinter Group - on: Me & The Devil

2004 - Eric Clapton - on: Me And Mr. Johnson

 

Version take 1:

Now, she is a little queen of spades,
And the men will not let her be.
Mmm mmm mmm, she is the little queen of spades,
And the men will not let her be.
Everytime she makes a spread,
Hoo, fair brown, cold chill just runs all over me.

I'm goin' get me a gamblin' woman,
If it's the last thing that I do.
Eee hee ee, gon' get me a gamblin' woman,
If it's the last thing that I do.
Well, a man don't need a woman,
Hoo, fair brown, that he got to give all his money to.

Everybody say she got a mojo,
Now, she's been usin' that stuff.
Ooh mmm, everybody says she got a mojo,
'cause she been usin' that stuff.
But she got a way trimmin' down,
Hoo, fair brown, and I mean it's most too tough.

My little girl, since I am the King,
Baby, and you is a queen,
Ooo hoo eee, since I am the King,
Baby, and you is a queen,
Le's us put our heads together,
Hoo, fair brown, then we can make our won money green.

Version take 2:

Hmm, she is a li'l queen of spade,
And the men will not let her be.
Hooh, she's a li'l queen of spade,
And the men will not let her be.
Ever'time she makes a spread,
Hooh, cold chill' just runs all over me.

An' I'm goin' get me a gamblin' woman,
The last thing that I do.
Hooh, goin' get me a gamblin' woman,
The last thing that I do.
A man don't need a woman,
Hooh, fair brown, he got to give all of his money to.

An' everybody say, she got a mojo,
Baby, you been usin' that stuff.
Hooh, everybody say, she got a mojo,
'Cause she been usin' that staff.
She got a way tremblin' down,
Hooh, well, babe, amd I mean it's 'most too tough.

Well. well, li'l girl, b'lieve I'm the king,
Fair brown, and you is the queen.
Hooh, says I'm the king,
Baby, and you is the queen.
Let's we put our heads together,
Hooh, fair brown, then we can make our won money green.