Black Eye Blues
Ma Rainey Lyrics


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Down in Hogan's Alley lives Miss Nancy Ann
Always always fuss and fighting with her man
Than I heard miss Nacy say
Why do you treat your girl that way

I went down the alley other night
Nancy and her man just had a fight
He hit miss Nancy 'cross her head
Then she rose to her feet and she said

You low-down alligator
Just watch me soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down

You abuse me and you mistreat me
You dog around and beat me
'til I'm gonna hang around

Take all my money, blacken both of my eyes
Give it to another woman come home and tell me lies

You low-down alligator
Just watch me soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down
I mean
Gonna catch you with your britches down

You low-down alligator




Just watch me soon or later
Gonna catch you with your britches down

Overall Meaning

Ma Rainey's "Black Eye Blues" is a song about an abusive relationship between Miss Nancy Ann and her man. The lyrics describe how the two are always fighting, and how Nancy Ann gets physically abused. The chorus is about how she plans to catch her man with his pants down, or in other words, catch him in the act of cheating or doing something wrong. It's a warning that her man should watch his back because she's going to get revenge.


The lyrics highlight themes of domestic violence and infidelity. Nancy Ann is in a toxic relationship where she's constantly being mistreated and cheated on, but she's stuck in the cycle of abuse. She's angry and desperate for a way out, as evidenced by the chorus. The line "take all my money, blacken both of my eyes" signifies how Nancy Ann is being exploited by her man, who takes her money and beats her without remorse.


Ma Rainey's "Black Eye Blues" is a powerful blues tune that speaks to the experiences of many women who have been stuck in abusive relationships. The lyrics are raw and honest, revealing the pain and frustration that comes with being in such a scenario. It's a reminder that there are consequences for abusive behavior and that women deserve better.


Line by Line Meaning

Down in Hogan's Alley lives Miss Nancy Ann
There's a woman named Miss Nancy Ann living in Hogan's Alley


Always always fuss and fighting with her man
Nancy Ann's always arguing and fighting with her man


Than I heard miss Nacy say
Then I heard Miss Nancy say


Why do you treat your girl that way
Asking why her man treats her badly


I went down the alley other night
One night, I went down the alley


Nancy and her man just had a fight
Nancy and her man just had a fight


He hit miss Nancy 'cross her head
Her man hit Nancy across the head


Then she rose to her feet and she said
Then Nancy got up and said


You low-down alligator
Insulting her man by calling him a low-down alligator


Just watch me soon or later
Threatening to catch him in the act soon or later


Gonna catch you with your britches down
Threatening to catch him in the act of cheating


You abuse me and you mistreat me
Accusing her man of abusing and mistreating her


You dog around and beat me
Accusing her man of cheating and beating her


'til I'm gonna hang around
Feeling stuck in the situation


Take all my money, blacken both of my eyes
Accusing her man of stealing her money and physically abusing her


Give it to another woman come home and tell me lies
Accusing her man of giving her money to another woman and lying about it


You low-down alligator
Repeating the insult to her man


Just watch me soon or later
Repeating the threat to catch him in the act soon or later


Gonna catch you with your britches down
Repeating the threat to catch him in the act of cheating


I mean
Reemphasizing the statement


You low-down alligator
Repeating the insult to her man


Just watch me soon or later
Repeating the threat to catch him in the act soon or later


Gonna catch you with your britches down
Repeating the threat to catch him in the act of cheating




Writer(s): Thomas A. Dorsey

Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ladyleesutter

Down in Hogan's Alley lived Miss Nancy Ann, 
Always fussin', squabbling with her man; 
Then I heard Miss Nancy say, 
"Why do you treat your gal that way?"

I went down the alley, other night, 
Nancy and her man had just had a fight; 
He hit Miss Nancy 'cross the head, 
When she rose to her feet, she said,

"You low down alligator, just watch me sooner or later,
Gonna catch you with your britches down. 
You 'buse me and mistreats me, you dog me around and beat me, 
Still I'm gonna hang around.

"Take all my money, blacken both of my eyes,
Give it to another woman, come home and tell me lies; 
You low down alligator, just watch me sooner or later,
Gonna catch you with your britches down, I mean it, 
Gonna catch you with your britches down."



All comments from YouTube:

@Gracenotesmusic

Today we celebrate Ma Rainey (4-26-1886) She was the earliest known professional blues singer & the first of such singers to record. She was billed as The Mother of the Blues. She mentored younger blues women, such as Bessie Smith! Since we have no videos from back then, thanks to Jazz onTheTube for this

@journeyer58

One of the best renditions of Hot Tamale was done by Robert Johnson. It was recorded on the Smithsonian label. I love that song but also know that he didn't write it. Borrowing songs was a part of the early blues and made sense since singers and song writers were few and far between.

@johninman7545

Kudos to the REAL EMPRESS OF THE BLUES,herd this on 'Miles Stone in 1970

@brianwings6908

Mother not empress. A greater title by far imo.

@oker59

Tampa Red's best stuff is in collaboration with others who are great - such as Ma Rainey and Big Maceo.

@fearfeasa1

This great recording was made in September 1928 !

@lhdollbaby

The best!

@MrSuperbatone

GREAT transfer. I've never heard "Ma" so clearly. BUT BUT BUT! WHY do you fade it out before the end?? AUGH! That's just nasty. Also: 1930? I have it on good authority that her last record was "Ma and Pa Poorhouse Blues," recorded in 1929.

@ladyleesutter

Down in Hogan's Alley lived Miss Nancy Ann, 
Always fussin', squabbling with her man; 
Then I heard Miss Nancy say, 
"Why do you treat your gal that way?"

I went down the alley, other night, 
Nancy and her man had just had a fight; 
He hit Miss Nancy 'cross the head, 
When she rose to her feet, she said,

"You low down alligator, just watch me sooner or later,
Gonna catch you with your britches down. 
You 'buse me and mistreats me, you dog me around and beat me, 
Still I'm gonna hang around.

"Take all my money, blacken both of my eyes,
Give it to another woman, come home and tell me lies; 
You low down alligator, just watch me sooner or later,
Gonna catch you with your britches down, I mean it, 
Gonna catch you with your britches down."

@itoral

Per DAHR (ADP) this was composed by Rainey but recorded w steel guitar by Jimmie Tarlton in Atlanta on 12/4/1930 toward issue on Columbia 15651-D.

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