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“I have—one time,” I said “On Beale Street in Memphis”

Sho done been blue

Since my man done left this town…

“You like the way she sings?” Moody said

“I do,” I said “I like it a lot”

Moody shrugged, like she didn’t much care which way I answered her question

“I’time music,” I told her

“You a what?” said Moody “A deevo—what did you say?”

“Adtime”

“No, that word you used—as it again?”

Moody had a bold way of speaking Iaddressed by a colored girl without the customary “yes, sir” and “no, sir”

“Devotee,” I said “One who is devoted to so I think it’s from the French”

“That’s a pretty word,” she said, “wherever it come from”

He beat me, then he leave me

And now he ain’t been co round