Miss Lettie's Blues

It was the Mississippi Delta, on the Louisiana side,
edge-of-a-cotton-field, hole-in-the-wall blues hall it was,
where stale air moaned as Miss Lettie’s blues-lovin’ butt
belted out a woeful, ‘I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl.’

I want a little sugar in my bowl
I want a little sweetness down in my soul
I could stand some lovin' Oh so bad
I feel so funny and I feel so sad

Miss Lettie liked to wear her clothes loose when dancin’
and singin’ way down there where the blues began,  
home of a juke joint blues jam band, a place called
Junior Dupree’s Grocery, Pool Hall and House of Blues.

I want a little steam on my clothes
Maybe I can fix things up so they'll go
Whatsa matter Daddy come on, save my soul
I need some sugar in my bowl I ain't foolin'
I want some sugar in my bowl

Her thighs kissed each other as she danced on stage, sparks flew
on that hot delta afternoon, her smile wide as Willie Ray blew
his golden, mellow saxophone, I suspect she even smiled when
she slept at night, way down where the river meets the road.

You been acting different I've been told,
Soothe me, I want some sugar in my bowl
I want some steam on my clothes
Maybe I can fix things up so they'll go

Her skin was the color of coffee with two spoons of cream,
her hair was curly and black, her green eyes a soft jade
with light behind them that shone like heaven when she sang,
that sweet black angel loved to shimmy and spread her wings.

Whatsa matter Daddy
Come on save my soul
I want some sugar in my bowl
I ain't foolin', I want some
- yeah - in my bowl.

Willie Ray’s playin’ brought out the best in Miss Lettie, some said
musta’ been a preacher ‘cause he played hell outta that sax.
The music on that stage and the belly-rubbin’ on the floor was
fine shimmy-shakin’, git-down-to-the-blues, y’all, medicine.

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