Oh, black mama, what's the matter with you? Said, if it ain't satisfactory, don't care what I do Hey, mama, what's the matter with you? Said, if it ain't satisfactory, baby, don't care what I do You take a brownskin woman'll make a rabbit move to town Say, but a jet-black woman'll make a mule kick his stable down Oh, a brownskin woman will make a rabbit move to town Oh, but a real black woman'll make a mule kick his stable down Say, t'ain't no heaven, say, there ain't no burnin' hell Say, where I'm going when I die, can't nobody tell Oh, there ain't no heaven, now, there ain't no burnin' hell Oh, where I'm going when I die, can't nobody tell Well, my black mama's face shine like the sun Oh, lipstick and powder sure won't help her none My black mama's face shine like the sun Oh, lipstick and powder, well, they sure won't help her none Well, you see my milk cow, tell her to hurry home I ain't had no milk cow since that cow been gone If you see my milk cow, tell her to hurry home Yeah, I ain't had no milk cow since that cow been gone Well, I'm going to the race track to see my pony run He ain't the best in the world, but he's a runnin' son-of-a-gun I'm going to the race track to see my pony run He ain't the best in the world, but he's a runnin' son-of-a-gun Oh, Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul Wouldn't mistreat you, baby, for my weight in gold Oh, Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul Wouldn't mistreat you, baby, for my weight in gold