Diego’s Blues

Mama came to the Delta, 1922
Found a new home in the county they call Yazoo

Well, her name was Juanita, born in Mexico
Mamacita Juanita, born in Mexico
Claimed she was kin to Santa Anna, famous from the Alamo

Mama met my daddy workin' her tamale stand
Well, my mama met my daddy workin' her tamale stand
My daddy was a black man, proud to work his own land

I was raised on tamales, collard greens an' blues
Raised on tamales, good collard greens an' blues
Never had much money, but we all wore store-bought shoes

Mama named me Diego - Señor Diego James Petway
My mama named me Diego James Petway
Ol' Uncle Bob taught me to barrelhouse this-a-way

Played 'round the Delta, never been to Chicago
(No, man, I've never been out there)
'Round the Delta, never been to Chicago
But I got a mind to meet my kin down in Mexico