Safety Mama
Bessie Smith Lyrics


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Let me tell you how and why what no-good man done to me
He called me pretty, young and wild, after that he let me be
He'd taken advantage of my mouth, and that you understand
So, wait a while, show you, chile, just how to treat a no-good man

Make him stay at home, wash and iron,
tell all the neighbors he done lost his mind
Give your house rent shake1 on Saturday night
Monday morning you'll hold collectors good and tight
You see a man you really like
Let him bite that monkey, brother, in his back
When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down
hold him where you got him make him stay in town,
'cause I'm a safety woman, lookin' for a safety man

Make him stay at home, help me wash and iron,
the neighbors know he done lost his mind
I give a house rent shake on Saturday night
Monday morning I held collectors good and tight
I seen a man I really like
I let him bite that monkey, brother, smack in his back
When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down
I hold it where I had it and he stayed in town,
I'm a safety woman, and I had to have a safety man

I ain't good lookin', I'm built for speed




I've got ev'rything a pigmeat needs
'Cause I'm a safety woman, lookin' for a safety man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bessie Smith's "Safety Mama" tell a story about a woman who has been mistreated by a man in the past and now shares her wisdom on how to handle "no-good men." The song starts with her recounting the story of how she was taken advantage of by a man who called her "pretty, young, and wild" before leaving her. She advises women to not let men use them and to treat them with kindness only when they deserve it.


The chorus of the song emphasizes the need for a "safety man," advising women to make a man stay at home, wash and iron, and tell the neighbors he's lost his mind. The woman in the song also gives a house rent shake on Saturday night and holds collectors good and tight on Monday morning to show that she means business. At the end of the song, the woman expresses that she's not conventionally attractive but that she's built for speed and can give a man everything he needs.


Overall, "Safety Mama" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of mistreatment and the importance of finding a partner who will treat you well. It's a message that still resonates with listeners today and speaks to the enduring legacy of Bessie Smith as an influential blues artist.


Line by Line Meaning

Let me tell you how and why what no-good man done to me
I will share with you my story of betrayal by a man who did me wrong.


He called me pretty, young and wild, after that he let me be
He flattered me with his words, then abandoned me without explanation.


He'd taken advantage of my mouth, and that you understand
He used me for his own pleasure and disregarded my feelings.


So, wait a while, show you, chile, just how to treat a no-good man
I will teach you how to properly handle a man who has wronged you.


Make him stay at home, wash and iron,
Make him help with the household chores.


tell all the neighbors he done lost his mind
Spread the word that he is not in his right mind.


Give your house rent shake on Saturday night
Throw a lively party to show your independence.


Monday morning you'll hold collectors good and tight
Make sure you have enough money left over to pay your bills the next day.


You see a man you really like
When you find a man you are interested in,


Let him bite that monkey, brother, in his back
Encourage him to take risks and be adventurous.


When his cruel heart turn, his love breaks down
When he shows his true colors and breaks your heart,


hold him where you got him make him stay in town,
Keep him close by and don't let him go.


'cause I'm a safety woman, lookin' for a safety man
I am seeking a reliable and trustworthy partner.


I ain't good lookin', I'm built for speed
I am not conventionally attractive, but I am efficient and capable.


I've got ev'rything a pigmeat needs
I have all the qualities a man desires in a partner.


'Cause I'm a safety woman, lookin' for a safety man
Because I value security and stability, I am searching for a partner who shares these values.




Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Ben McColl

So good. Thanks for positing these Ragtime!

mochawitch

Damn Bessie could wail....

lennietristanojazz

This is one of the best vocals I've ever heard.

Desiree

God I love her.

francescaemc2

GRAZIE

PinarVarina

Now here I get a better sense of how Bessie would have sounded with either magnetic or digital recording; the transfer engineers must have had better-quality 78s to work from. The delivery and projection is as powerful as ever, but here you can also catch the nuances in her enunciation and phrasing. It's a testament to the skill amassed from over twenty years of performing in public (Bessie entered professional show business around sixteen or so). A critical piece of music history.

francescaemc2

grazie

Elizabeth Meyer

Noo good so and so 😂😂😂😂😂