What's your mama's name, child?
Thirty -some -odd years ago,
a young man came to Memphis
that used to blossom in his world
People never took the time
to mind the young man's questions
Until one day they heard him ask
a little green -eyed girl
What's your mama's name, child,
Does she ever talk about a
place called New Orleans?
a man named Buford Wilson?
What's your momma's name,
What's your momma's name?
A drunkard down in Memphis
Lost a month of life and labor
to the county jail, just because he asked a little green -eyed girl a
question and offered her a nickel's worth of candy if she'd tell.
A year and some odd days ago,
an old man died in Memphis.
Just another wayward soul
Inside the old man's ragged coat
they found a faded letter
It said you have a daughter
and her eyes are Wilson green
What's your mama's name, child,
Does she ever talk about a
place called New Orleans?
a man named Beaufort Wilson?
What's your mama's name, child,
What's your mama's name, child?
