I had some cards printed The other day. They cost me more Than I wanted to pay. I told the man I wasn't no mint But I hankered to see My name in print. MADAM JOHNSON, ALBERTA K. He said, Your name looks good Madam'd that way. Shall I use Old English Or a Roman letter? I said, Use American. American's better. There's nothing foreign to my pedigree: Alberta K. Johnson -- American that's me.
Three Madam Songs
Song Cycle by Betty Roe (b. 1930)
1. Madam's Calling Cards  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Madam's Calling Cards"
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Madam and the Fortune Teller  [sung text not yet checked]
Fortune teller looked in my hand. Fortune teller said, Madam, It's just good luck You ain't dead. Fortune teller squeeze my hand. She squinted up her eyes. Fortune teller said, Madam, you ain't wise. I said, Please explain to me What you mean by that? She said, You must recognize Where your fortune's at. I said, Madam, tell me -- for she was Madam, too -- Where is my fortune at? I'll pay some mind to you. She said, Your fortune, honey, Lies right in yourself. You ain't gonna find it On nobody else's shelf. I said, What man you're talking 'bout? She said, Madam! Be calm -- For one more dollar and a half, I'll read your other palm.
Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Madam and the Fortune Teller", appears in One-Way Ticket, first published 1949
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Madam and her Might‑Have‑Been  [sung text checked 1 time]
I had two husbands. I could have had three - But my Might-have-been Was too good for me. When you grow up the hard way Sometimes you don't know What's too good to be true, Just might be so. He worked all the time, Spend his money on me - First time in my life I had anything free. I said, Do you love me? Or am I mistaken? You're always giving And never taking. He said, Madam, I swear All I want is you. Right then and there I knowed we was through! I told him, Jackson, You better leave - You got some'n else Up your sleeve: When you think you got bread It's always a stone - Nobody loves nobody For yourself alone. He said, In me You've got no trust. I said, I don't want My heart to bust.
Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Madam and her Might-Have-Been"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]