1927

The Cryin’ Blues

Four Negro Songs Song Collection

"The Cryin' Blues" is the second song in Carpenter's Four Negro Songs.

Text

“The Cryin’ Blues” lyrics come from the following poem:

Blues Fantasy
by Langston Hughes

Hey! Hey!
That’s what the
Blues singers say.
Singing minor melodies
They laugh,
Hey! Hey!

My man’s done left me,
Chile, he’s gone away.
My good man’s left me,
Babe, he’s gone away.
Now the cryin’ blues
Haunts me night and day.

Hey!…Hey!

Weary,
Weary,
Trouble, pain.
Sun’s gonna shine
Somewhere
again.

I got a railroad ticket,
Pack my trunk and ride.

Sing ’em, sister!

Got a railroad ticket,
Pack my trunk and ride.
And when I get on the train
I’ll cast my blues aside.

Laughing
Hey!…Hey!
Laugh a loud,
Hey! Hey!

–The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, p. 91

Sheet Music

John Alden Carpenter

1. Shake Your Brown Feet, Honey!
2. The Cryin' Blues
3. Jazz-Boys
4. That Soothin' Song