This song was written for a 1941 film that was originally entitled Hot Nocturne, though the film’s producers later changed it to Blues in the Night. It was sung by William Gillespie and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.
My mama done tol' me, when I was in knee-pants
My mama done tol' me, "Son
A woman'll sweet talk and give ya the big eye
But when the sweet talkin's done
A woman's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave ya to sing
The blues in the night."
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train's a-callin
"Whooee!"
(my mama done tol' me) hear dat lonesome whistle
Blowin' 'cross the trestle
"Whooee!"
(my mama done tol' me) a-whooee-ah-whooee ol' clickety-clack's a-echoin' back th' blues in the night
The evenin' breeze
'll start the trees
To cryin' and the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word
The mockingbird
'll sing the saddest kind o' song
He knows things are wrong
And he's right
From Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns an' heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A woman's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave ya to sing
The blues in the night
My mama was right
Blues In the Night was written by Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen.