Packin' Trunk Blues

Lead Belly

Recorded in New York, January 23, 1935

Banner Records Ba-33359 16685-1

Spoken: This song was made about a man and a woman. This man he married a woman, she didn’t want him. But she married him anyhow. For the money that he had. And she thought that she got every dollar that he had. But she was mistaken. But she got him pretty well bent: he sat there with his head hung down. She walked by and she said: «Daddy», she said, «what’s the matter with you?» He looked at her and here’s what he said to her:

I’m sitting down here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes
I’m sitting down here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes
I’m sitting down here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes

Spoken: She asked him, she said: «Papa», she said, «What’s the matter with you?»

I don’t want to be bothered with no suitcase on my road
I don’t want to be bothered with no suitcase on my road
I don’t want to be bothered with no suitcase on my road

Spoken: He said: «I’m going to see my friend, and see what he would do when his wife’s packing up her trunk.»

Now what would you do when your baby picking up her trunk
What would you do when your baby picking up her trunk
Now what would you do when your baby picking up her trunk

Spoken: He looked at him and here’s what he told him:

You get half a gallon of whiskey, you get on your big drunk
You get half a gallon of whiskey, you get on your big drunk
You get half a gallon of whiskey, you get on your big drunk

Spoken: She said: «*Ghost*, go and play the piano a piece for me a little piece.» This *ghost* jumped down and commenced playing the piano.