What's your mama's name child What's your mama's name Thirty some odd years ago a young man came to Memphis Asking 'bout a rose that use 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 Twenty some odd years ago a drunkard down in Memphis Lost a month of life and labored to the county jail Just because he asked a little green eyed girl a question
And offered her a nickels worth of candy if she'd tell 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 mans ragged coat they found a faded letter It said you have 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