as rec by Bessie Smith w James Price Johnson (piano)
Aug 20th 1929 New York

Had a dream last night that I was dead,
Had a dream last night that I was dead,
Evil spirits around my bed!

The Devil came and grabbed my hand,
The Devil came and grabbed my hand,
Took me 'way down to that red hot land!

Mean blue spirits stuck their forks in me,
Mean blue spirits stuck their forks in me,
Made me moan and groan in misery!

Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames,
Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames,
Showin' their teeth, oh they was glad I came!

Demons with the eyelash drippin' blood,
Demons with the eyelash drippin' blood,
Draggin' sinners through that brimstone flood!

"This is [bad word] ", I cried, cried with all my might,
"This is [bad word] ", I cried, cried with all my might,
Oh my soul, I can't bear the sight!
 [bad word] , 'cause it is my cup, [bad word] , 'cause it is my [bad word] so fast till someone woke me up!