Songfacts and Lyrics of Statesboro Blues by Blind Willie McTell

The classic Piedmont Blues song was written and first recorded by Blind Willie McTell in October 17th, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia. McTell was singing about the town he considered home. The song’s original recording was just McTell unaccompanied with a twelve string guitar and very high-register vocals.

Forty years after the original release, Taj Mahal made the song famous for a whole new generation with his cheerful, deep recording on his self-titled debut album. Inspired by both versions, The Allman Brothers Band recorded a version in 1971 from The Fillmore East, which was a smash hit.

Here’s the Song’s Words:

Yes now, wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Have you got the nerve to drive poor papa Taj from your door?

Woke up this mornin’ baby, I had them Statesboro blues.
Statesboro Georgia, that is.
Woke up this mornin, had them Statesboro blues.
Looked over in the corner, well my baby had ’em too.

Mama died and left me reckless, Papa died and left me wild,
I ain’t good lookin baby, but I’m someone’s sweet angel child.
Going to the country, baby do you want to go?
I know if you can’t make it, your sister Lucille say she wanta go.

You know I loved that woman better than any woman I’d ever seen.
Yes I loved that woman better than any woman I’d ever seen.
She treat me like a king, I treat her like she was a doggone Queen.

Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low.
Have you got the nerve to drive papa Taj from your door?

Here’s Taj Mahal and Gregg Allman playing Statesboro Blues