"Match Box Blues" lyrics - LEAD BELLY

Now, this man had a wife
And she thought she hasn't gotten
Ev' dollar that he had
But she was mistakin!
He had lots of money when he married her
But he's sittin' with his head hung down
She walk by an says
'Daddy' says, 'What's the matter with you?'
And here what he told his wife

He said, 'Down here wonderin'
Would a matchbox hold my clothes?
He said, 'Down you're wonderin'
Would a matchbox hold my clothes?
He said, 'Down here wonderin'
Would a matchbox hold my clothes?

She says, 'Daddy, don't be worried like that!'

An he walk back tell her again
Y'all, what he tol' that gal

'I don't wanna be bother
No big trunk on my do'
I don't wanna be by
No big trunk on my do'
Don't wanna be by no
Big trunk on my do'

He sit down and 'gin to think
He said, 'I'm goin' out to my friend's house
An' see what would he do
When his wife packin' up her trunk?

He goes to his friends
Ya'll, here what he said

'Now, what would you do
Baby packin' up her trunk?'
'What would you do
When yo' baby packin' up her trunk?'
'What would you do
When your gal's packin' up her trunk?'

Here's the best advise his friend could give 'em

Get ya half a gallon whiskey
An get on you a big drunk
Get you a half a gallon a whiskey
And get on you a big drunk
Get you a half a gallon a whiskey
And get on you a big drunk

She goes on back, again
An she looks at him

'Lord, have mercy on me
Oh Lord, Lord, have mercy on me
Oh Lord, Lord, have mercy on me'.