Thirty some odd years ago
The county had to claim
Just another wayward soul
What's your mama's name, child?
Just because he asked
People never took the time
A place called New Orleans
A young man came to Memphis
A drunkard down in Memphis
What's your mama's name?
To mind the young man's questions
A man named Buford Wilson
That said you have a daughter
Askin' 'bout a rose
What's your mama's name, child?
Does she ever talk about
What's your mama's name?
What's your mama's name?
What's your mama's name, child?
That used to blossom in his world
Does she ever talk about
A man named Buford Wilson
A year and some odd days ago
Has she ever mentioned
And labored to the country jail
They found a faded letter
Inside the old man's ragged coat
Has she ever mentioned
And offered her
An old man died in Memphis
And her eyes are Wilson green
Him ask a little green eyed girl
What's your mama's name?
A nickel's worth of candy if she'd tell
What's your mama's name, child?
A place called New Orleans
Till one day they heard
What's your mama's name, child?
Twenty some odd years ago
Lost a month of life
A little green eyed girl a question
