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