What's Your Mama's Name, Child Songtext
von Bobby Bare

40 some odd years ago, a young man came to Memphis
Asking about a rose that used to blossom in his world
People never took the time to mind the young man′s questions
Until one day they heard him ask a little green-eyed girl

What's your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama's name?
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans?
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson?
What′s your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama′s name?

20 some odd years ago a drunkard down in Memphis
Lost a month of life and labor to the county jail
Just because he asked a little green-eyed girl a question
And offered her a nickel's worth of candy if she′d tell


What's your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama's name?
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans?
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson?
What′s your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama′s name?

A year and some odd days ago an old man died in Memphis
Just another wayward soul the county had to claim
Inside the old man's ragged coat they found a faded letter
It said you′ve got a daughter and her eyes are Wilson green

What's your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama's name?
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans?
Has she ever mentioned a man named Buford Wilson?
What′s your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama′s name?

What's your mama′s name, child?
What's your mama′s name?
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans?
Has she ever mentioned...