Barrel House Bessie from Basin Street - Anita O'Day

They call her Barrelhouse Bessie from Basin Street

She used to yodel cadenzas for the social elite

And then she happened to meet

The kid with the drum and the Dixieland beat

He was a barrelhouse baron from Macon, GA

His name was Muggles McGregor and he wore a toupee

He taught poor Bessie to care

But she couldn’t swing so he gave her the air

He left poor Bessie with a union card and seven years of unpaid dues

That’s when she gave up her cadenzas and began to sing the Basin Street Blues

But don’t feel sorry for Bessie she’s now on the screen

Her cat its' collar is ivory and she’s rolling in green

Poor Bess the world’s at her feet

Barrelhouse Bessie from Basin Street

She’s doin' alreet!

They call her Barrelhouse Bessie from Basin Street

I’m the gal who met the drummer with the Dixieland beat

That’s the drummer with the Dixieland beat

He left poor Bessie and never paid his dues (Well how 'bout him?)

That’s when she gave up tryin' to sing them blues, blues, blues

But don’t feel sorry for Bessie she’s now on the screen

Her cat its' collar is ivory and she’s rolling in green

Poor Bess the world’s at her feet

She’s the Barrelhouse Bessie from Basin Street (Hey boy)

She’s doin' alreet!