House Rent Blues

I'ma tell you a story about the house rent blues I had a good job, sho'nuff, for five long years Lord have mercy The old landlady was so lovey-dovey for five long years She was so nice and kind in every way Every Friday evening, I'd come home with my paycheck She'll smile, she was so lovey-dovey My meals on time, my bath water be ready Everything be ready He rocked on One Friday evening I come home I said, "Landlady" She said, "What, Johnny?" "I done lost my job" She said, "What?" "I done lost my job" And I begin to notice then, when I come home in the evening time She wouldn't smile, acted all sad And I asked her, "What's wrong?" Said, "I ain't feelin' good" I said, "Lord have mercy" He rocked on One Friday evening, I come in She said, "Where you been?" "I've been looking for a job" She said, "You ain't been tryin' to find no job" I said, "Yes, I am" And she told me, the other evening, she passed by She saw me on the corner leaned against a post I said, "I guess my feet was tired, I've been walking all day" I'm tired, I just can't find no job She say, "Yeah" She say, "I wants my rent" I said, "I ain't got no job" And rocked on I go towards the streets, to a friend of mine He had been so lovey-dovey to me for so long And I told him, I say, "Hey" He said, "What, Johnny?" "I done lost my job" He say, "Yeah" I say, "I'm gonna stay here for a little while until I can get a job" He said, "I don't know, let me go upstairs and see my wife, you know" He goes upstairs, he comes back down He said, "You know what? You know, she a little funny" I said, "Yeah, and you funny, too; everybody's funny When you ain't got no money, when you run out of money Everybody's funny wit' ya" Then I go back towards the streets, you know, back to old landlady I go fool her, you know, to get my clothes out of the house I said, "Hey" She said, "What?" "I got a job" She said, "Yeah, yeah, sho'nuff, sho'nuff, yeah When you start the work?" I said, "Oh baby, I start tomorrow" She said, "Oh yeah? You hungry?" I said, "Yeah" She goes to the store, you know I rush upstairs to get my clothes out, she talkin' 'bout the front rent She'll get nothin', she'll get the back rent and will get none of it I'm gone