What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name?
Thirty-some odd years ago, a young man came to Memphis
Asking about a rose that used to blossom in his world
People never took the time to find the young man's questions
Until one day they heard him ask a little green-eyed girl
What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name?
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans?
Has she ever mentioned a man named Hubert Wilson?
What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name?
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 nickels worth of candy if she'd tell
A year and some odd days ago, an old man died in Memphis
Just another wayward soul the county had to claim
Inside the old man's ragged coat they found a faded letter
It said you have a daughter and her eyes are Wilson green
What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name?
Does she ever talk about a place called New Orleans?
Has she ever mentioned a man named Hubert Wilson?
What's your mama's name, child? What's your mama's name?
What's your mama's name, child?
What's your mama's name?