Oh Stingy Ginny saved up all her pennies
Straight to the bank she would go
The sharks would have their hands around her
But none could get her dough
Ginny's fellow was a slick high yellow
Sent away to jail one day
He cried for bail, then turned real pale
When I(*) heard Ginny say
Oh I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away
It's in demand
They wants it every day
I've been saving it up for a long long time
To give it away would be more than a crime
Your eyes may roll, your teeth may grit
But none of my money will you git
You can look at my bank book
But I'll never let you feel my purse
Cause I'm a woman, believes in safety first, safety first
Said if you want my money, here's my plan
I'm saving it up for a real good man
I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away
She said I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away
It's in demand
Folks cryin' for it every day
I've been saving it up for a long long time
To give it away would be more than a crime
Your eyes may roll, your teeth may grit
But none of this small change will you git
You can look at my bank book
But I'll never let you put your hands on my purse
Lord I'm a woman, believes in safety first, safety first
Say if you want my money, here's my plan
I'm not savin' it up for no naked(?) man
I've got what it takes
But it breaks my heart to give it away
(*) Bessie distinctly says I though I think it should be he.
I've Got What It Takes (but It Breaks My Heart To Give It Away)
Bessie Smith
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Lyrics by Bessie Smith
'tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do 'tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do A Good Man is Hard to Find After You've Gone Aggravatin Papa Aggravatin' Papa Aggravatin' Papa Ain't Misbehavin' Alexander's Ragtime Band Any Woman's Blues At the Christmas Ball Baby Doll Baby Won't You Please Come Home Baby Won't You Please Come Home Back Water Blues Back-Water Blues Backwater Blues Beale Street Mama Black and Blue Bleeding Hearted Blues Blue Spirit Blues Body and Soul Boweavil Blues Cake Walking Babies (from Home) Cake Walking Babies from Home Careless Love Careless Love [Take 1] Careless Love [Take 2] Careless Love Blues Careless Love Blues (Alternate Take) Careless Love Blues 1925 Cemetery Blues Chicago Bound Blues Dear Old Southland Devil's Gonna Get You Devil's Gonna Git You Devil's Gonna Get You Dirty No-gooder's Blues Dirty No-gooder's Blues Dixie Flyer Blues Do Your Duty Don't Cry Baby Don't Cry Baby Down Hearted Blues Down in the Dumps Downhearted Blues Easy Come Easy Go Blues Eavesdropper's Blues Eavesdropper's Blues Empty Bed Blues Empty Bed Blues, Pt. 1 Gimme A Pig Foot And A Bottle Of Beer Gimme A Pigfoot Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer Golden Rule Blues Graveyard Dream Blues Gulf Coast Blues Hard Time Blues I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle I Ain't Got Nobody I Ain't Got Nobody I Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl I Used To Be Your Sweet Mama I Want Every Bit of It I'm Wild About That Thing I've Got What It Takes I've Got What It Takes (But It Breaks My… I've Got What It Takes, But It Breaks My Heart To ... I'm Wild About That Thing I've Got What It Takes (but It Breaks My Hear... If You Don't I Know Who Will If You Don't, I Know Who Will It Won't Be You Jail House Blues Jail-House Blues Jeepers Creepers Keep It To Yourself Keeps On A-Rainin' (Papa, He Can't Make No Time) Kitchen Man Lady Luck Blues Lost Your Head Blues Lou'siana Low-Down Blues Mama's Got the Blues Mama's Got The Blues me and my gin Mean Old Bedbug Blues Mistreating Daddy Mountain Top Blues Muddy Water Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan) My Man Blues My Sweetie Went Away My Sweetie Went Away (She Didn't Say Where, When O... Need a Little Sugar In My Bowl New Gulf Coast Blues Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mi... Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out Oh Daddy Blues Outside of That Please Help Me Get Him Off My Mind Please Help Me Get Him Out Of My Mind Poor Man's Blues Poor Man's Blues Preachin' The Blues Preachin' The Blues Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) Reckless Blues Rocking Chair Blues Royal Garden Blues Safety Mama Sam Jones Blues See If I'll Care See If I'll Care Send Me To The 'lectric Chair Send Me To The 'lectric Chair Shipwreck Blues Sing Sing Prison Blues Someday You'll Be Sorry Sorrowful Blues Squeeze Me St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues [DVD] St. Louis Blues [Original Circle Recording] St. Louis Blues Soundtrack: Band Intro/Crap Game/C... St. Louis Gal Standin' In The Rain Blues Standin' In The Rain Blues Take Me for a Buggy Ride The St. Louis Blues There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonigh... Thinking Blues Weeping Willow Blues What's The Matter Now What's the Matter Now? Whoa Tillie Take Your Time Worn Out Papa Blues Worried Life Blues Yellow Dog Blues Yes Indeed He Do! Yodling Blues You've Got To Give Me Some You've Got To Give Me Some Young Woman's Blues Young Woman's Blues
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