Florida Bound Blues (11-17-25) - Bessie Smith

Goodbye, North.

Hello, South

Goodbye, North.

Hello, South

It’s so cold up here that the words freeze in your mouth

I’m going to Florida where I can have my fun

I’m going to Florida where I can have my fun

Where I can lay out in the green grass and look up at the sun

Hey, hey, red cap, help me with this load

Red cap porter, help me with this load

Spoken:

Help us out

Hold that steamboat, Mr. Captain, let me get on board

I got a letter from my daddy.

He bought me a sweet piece of land

I got a letter from my daddy.

He bought me a small piece of ground

You can’t blame me for leaving, Lord, I mean I’m Florida bound

My papa told me, my mama told me too

My papa told me, my mama told me too

Don’t let them bell bottom britches make a fool out of you