Betty Roe's Madam's Three callers. Danka Milacic, voice/ Lyssa Davidsson, cello

"Madam's three callers", published 1987.
Betty Roe, British composer,(1930 - ).
lyrics, Langston Hughes(1902-1967)

*Madam and the Census Man

The census man,
The day he came round,
Wanted my name to put it down.
I sad, JOHNSON, ALBERTA K.
But he hated to write the K that way.
He said, what does K stand for?
I said, K. K!
And nothing more.
He said, I'm gonna put it K-A-Y,
I said, if you do, you lie.
My mother christiend me ALBERTA K.
You leave my name just that way!
He said, Mrs. (with a snort),
Just a K makes your name too short.
I said, I don't give a damn, don't give a, give a damn!
Leave me and my name
just like I am.
Further more, rub out that MRS, too.
I'll have you know I'm Madam to you!

* Madam and a wrong visitor

A man knocked three times.
I never seen him before.
He said, Are you Madam?
I said, What's the score?
He said, I reckon
You don't know my name,
But I've come to call
On you just the same.
I stepped back
Like he had a charm.
He said, I really
Don't mean no harm.
I'm just Old Death
And I thought I might
Pay you a visit
Before night.
He said, You're Johnson—
Madam Alberta K.?
I said, Yes—but Alberta
Ain't goin' with you today!
No sooner had I told him
Than I awoke.
The doctor said, Madam,
Your fever's broke—
Nurse, put her on a diet,
And buy her some chicken.
I said, Better buy two—
Cause I'm still here kickin'!


* Madame and the Minister

Reverend Butler came by my house last week.
He said, Have you got a little time,
a little, little time to speak?
I am interested in your soul.
Has it been saved or is your heart stone cold?
I said, Reverend, I'll have you, have you know,
I was baptised, baptised,
long time ago.
He said, What have you done since then?
I said, None of your business, business, business,
None of your business friend.
He said, Sister, Sister,
Have you backslid?
I said, It felt good if I did!
He said, Sister, come time, come time to die,
The Lord will surely ask you why?
I'm gonna pray pray for you!
Good buy, good buy!
...I felt kinda sorry, kinda sorry I talked that way
after Reverend Butler went away.
So I ain't in no mood,
No mood for sin,...
...today.

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