Bessie Smith

"Backwater Blues"

Lyric Snippet:

"Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go 'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more

Mmm, I can't move no more Mmm, I can't move no more There ain't no place for a poor old girl to go"

Discussion Questions:

• What do you think this song means?

• Look up blues music. What characterizes blues music?

• Does this change your initial thought about the song?

• What else could she mean when she says

"I can't move no more

There ain't no place for a poor old girl to go"?