what s your mama s name child what s your mama s name thirty some odd years ago a young man came to memphis askin bout a rose that used to blossom in his world people never took the time to mind 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 buford wilson what s your mama s name child what s your mama s name twenty some odd years ago a drunk 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 nickel s 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 buford 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 