(1) 
No chord 
Thirty some odd years ago,a 
(Eb) young man came to(Bb)Memphis 
(Eb)Askin''bout a(Bb)rose that,use to 
(Eb)blossom in his(Bb)world. 
(Bb)People never(Ab)took the time to 
(Ab)mind the young mans(Bb)questions. 
(Ab)Till one day they(Bb)heard him ask a 
(Ab)little green eyed(Bb)girl. 
(2) 
(Bb)What's your mamas(Eb)name child? 
(Ab)Whats your mamas(Bb)name? 
(Bb)Does she ever(Ab)talk about a 
(Eb)place called(Bb)New Orleans? 
(Bb)Has she ever(Gb)mentioned a  
(Eb)man named Buford(E)Wilson? 
(Bb)What's your mamas(Eb)name child? 
(Ab)Whats your mamas(Bb)name? 
(3) 
Twenty some odd years ago, 
A drunkard down in Memphis. 
Lost a month of life and labor. 
To the county jail. 
Just because he asked a little 
Green eyed girl a question. 
And offered her a nickle's  
worth of candy if she'd tell. 
(4) 
A year and some odd days ago, 
An old man died in Memphis, 
Just another wayward soul, 
The county had to claim. 
Inside the olds mans coat 
They found a ragged letter, 
It said he had a daughter 
and her eyes were emerald green. 
(repeat 2)