Roberta Part II
Lead Belly
King Of The Twelve-String Guit
Roberta Part II---Lead Belly
This man he was runnin' after Roberta
And Roberta was runnin' on a passenger train
And every station she would pass
This rascal'd be sittin' right down there lookin' for her
She got tired of lookin' at the rascal
She goes and run on the steamboat
And when the steamboat was passin' along
He's sitting down on the ground
And so when the steamboat'd get to the landin'
The rascal would be right there lookin' in Roberta's face
So when Roberta come off the steamboat
He looked up and he walked up and he talked to her
Oh Roberta! What in the world you mean?
Tell me Roberta! What in the world you mmmm?
Honey, way you treat me, sure I ever seen
]He looked at Roberta and he talked to her
Roberta wouldn't pay him no attention
He tore up to the police station
And he told the chief police
When he got there here what he said to the chief police
Lord I'm goin' to the station
Go tell the chief police
Yes I'm goin' to the station
Go tell the chief police
Roberta done quit me
I can't see no peace
[holler]The police asked him
"How in the world you gonna know Roberta from any other brown skin?
'Cause all of 'em is brown skin now
The black women is brown skin
They got so much high brown powder
you can't tell a black woman from a brown skin"
He looked at the police and here what he said
She's a brown skin woman! Got black wavy hair
She's a brown skin woman! Got black wavy hair
And I can describe her
A-prob'ly most anywhere
The police man goes on down to the landing with him
And walked up and talked to Roberta.
Here' what the police told her
Tell me Roberta! What's the matter with you?
Tell me Roberta! What's the matter with you?
This man ain't got nobody
To take his troubles to