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