Careless Love Blues- Bessie Smith (TN) 1925
[From: Columbia recording Co 14083-D New York, May 26 1925. Copyright by W.C. Handy, with new words by Spencer Williams and Martha Koenig. [first of two takes].
The new words by Spencer Williams and Martha Koenig kept a few lines from Handy's Loveless Love otherwise the text is different. Text adapted by Smith, who made minor changes.
This text was covered by Blind Boy Fuller in 1937.
R. Matteson 2017]
CARELESS LOVE BLUES (sung by Bessie Smith, Columbia recording, Co 14083-D; New York, May 26, 1925)
Love, oh love, oh careless love
You fly to my head like wine
You wrecked the life of a-many poor girl
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love, oh love, oh careless love
In your clutches of desire
You made me break a-many true vow
Then you set my very soul on fire.
Love, oh love, oh careless love
All my happiness I've left[1]
You fill my heart with them worried old blues
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself.
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Trusted you now it's too late
You made me throw my only friend down
That's why I sing this song of hate.
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Night and day I weep and moan
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
For my sins till judgement I'll atone.
1. original text "bereft"