Jim Jackson’s Kansas City Blues

Jim Jackson’s Kansas City Blues – Part 1

Words and music by Jim Jackson.


I woke up this morning feelin’ bad;
Thought about the good times I once have had.

I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City;
I’m gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

My mother told me, Daddy told me too,
Everybody grins in your face son ain’t no friend to you.

You oughta move to Kansas City; you oughta move to Kansas City;
You oughta move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

I’ve got me a bulldog, shepherd and two greyhounds;
Two high yellas, three blacks and one brown.

We gonna move to Kansas City; we gonna move to Kansas City;
We gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you;

It takes a rockin’ chair to rock, a rubber ball to roll;
Nice lookin’ teasin’ brown to satisfy my soul.

Then I’ll move to Kansas City; then I’ll move to Kansas City;
I’m gonna move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

T is for Texas, T’s for Tennessee;
Boll weevil’s got the Mississippi, and the women wants me.

I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City;
I’m gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

You can always tell when your good girl wanta flirt;
Wanta pair red slippers to match that old matchin’ skirt.

Then she’ll move to Kansas City; Then she’ll move to Kansas City;
Then she’ll move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.


Collected from Vocalion 1144, as sung by Jim Jackson, recorded October 10, 1927.


Jim Jackson’s Kansas City Blues – Part 2 [alt take]

Words and music by Jim Jackson.


I was first on Main Street, started down Beale;
I’se lookin’ for the woman they call Lucille.

She done moved to Kansas City; she done moved to Kansas City;
She done moved, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

The Mississippi river, so long, deep, and wide;
I can see my good gal  standin’ on the other side.

She done moved to Kansas City; she done moved to Kansas City;
She done moved, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

I left off o’ Beale Street, started down Vance;
I’m lookin’ for the woman they call Lizzie Mance.

She done moved to Kansas City; she done moved to Kansas City;
She done moved, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you;

If you don’t like my peaches, don’t shake my tree;
I ain’t after your woman, man, she’s after me.

We gonna move to Kansas City; we gonna move to Kansas City;
We gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

I’ve got one girl in Texas, and two in Tennessee,
But the women here in this town, Lord, takes on over me.

We gonna move to Kansas City;  we gonna move to Kansas City;
We gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.

I’m gonna tell all o’ you men what we mustn’t do:
Don’t never love one woman like she says she loves you.

She’ll call you honey, and she’ll call you pie;
She’ll let things get a-loose, lord, on the sly.

Then she’ll move to Kansas City; then she’ll move to Kansas City;
Then she’ll move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.


Collected from Vocalion 1144, as sung by Jim Jackson, recorded October 10, 1927.