Famous/Highly Visible Queers

[Nat]

Ma Rainey (the Mother of the Blues)

from the Prove It On Me Blues:

Went out last night, had a great big fight
Everything seemed to go on wrong
I looked up, to my surprise
The gal I was with was gone.

Where she went, I don’t know
I mean to follow everywhere she goes;
Folks say I’m crooked.
I didn’t know where she took it
I want the whole world to know.

They say I do it,
ain’t nobody caught me
Sure got to prove it on me;
Went out last night
with a crowd of my friends,
They must’ve been women,
‘cause I don’t like no men.

It’s true I wear a collar and a tie,
Makes the wind blow all the while
Don’t you say I do it,
ain’t nobody caught me
You sure got to prove it on me.

Say I do it,
ain’t nobody caught me
Sure got to prove it on me.

I went out last night
with a crowd of my friends,
It must’ve been women,
‘cause I don’t like no men.
Wear my clothes just like a fan
Talk to the gals just like any old man

Cause they say I do it,
ain’t nobody caught me
Sure got to prove it on me.