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 'bout a rose that use 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 drunkard down in Memphis Lost a month of life and labored to the county jail Just because he asked a little green-eyed girl a question And offered her a 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 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?