Sob Sister Sadie

(The Vamp Cry-Baby)
A popular song from 1925
Words and music by Bob Bigelow and Chas. Bates

The sheet music:

Sob Sister Sadie – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

Sob_Sister_Sadie – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. You’ve all heard of southern beauties
    Dixie land is full of cuties
    But listen people I want to tell you
    ‘Bout a vamp in New Orleans
    She’s a gal that’s always tearful
    Even cries when she is cheerful
    She’s got a way of vamping all her own
    Her tears would melt a heart of stone

Chorus:
Sob Sister Sadie the vamp cry baby
From way down New Orleans
When you see tears in Sadie’s eyes
Just put a lock on your pocket-book and say goodbye
All her cryin’ is downright lyin’
‘Cause she don’t know what trouble means
If her room rents due, she don’t get rough
She puts a raincoat and rubbers on and does her stuff
She’s Sob Sister Sadie the vamp cry baby
From way down New Orleans

  1. Sadie’s got a reputation
    Sadie’s known throughout the nation
    But anybody whoever meets her wishes they let her alone
    Sympathy she hasn’t any
    Misery she’s given many
    And if you chance to meet this girl some day
    Just say your prayers and run away

Chorus:
Sob Sister Sadie the vamp cry baby
From way down New Orleans
Diamond rings, fancy clothes
Five minutes sobbin’ got her all of those
All her cryin’ is downright lyin’
‘Cause she don’t know what trouble means
Weeps so much that people say
She even had to waterproof her lingerie
She’s Sob Sister Sadie the vamp cry baby
From way down New Orleans

Patter:
Sadie’s eyes have caused a lot of wrecks
Sadie’s sighs disturb the stronger sex
Sadie’s sobs would make a race horse stop
But her tears would make a cripple lick a traffic cop
Sadie’s wise and she wins all her bets
Anything she cries for Sadie gets
If a Redhot papa comes about
She sheds a lot of tears and puts his fire out

Chorus:
Sob Sister Sadie the vamp cry baby
From way down New Orleans
Pretty form, dimpled knees
But she’s got more troubles than a hive has bees
All her cryin’ is downright lyin’
‘Cause she don’t know what trouble means
She can’t stop her cryin’ streak
The spirit may be willin’ but the flesh is weak
She’s Sob Sister Sadie the vamp cry baby
From way down New Orleans

Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: