You know, I woke up this morning, you know, just 'bout half past four
Hesitation blues was knocking on my door

Tell me, how long
Do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, baby?
Do I have to hesitate?

I was standing on the corner one morning with a dollar in my hand
I was looking for the first woman comin' along that didn't have no man

Tell me, how long
Do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, baby?
Do I have to hesitate?

Talk to me now

That's for y'all to get taught
People to learn, they get their learning, you understand?
It can force you to get your learning, you see?
When you get out in the pulpit, you know?
You learn how to do it
Yeah

I got a-hesitatin' shoes and a-hesitatin' stalking
I got me a good hesitatin' woman through my hesitatin' rocking
Tell me how long
Do I have to hesitate?
Can I get you now, baby?

Give the pie back, you know, runnin' round to everybody's house, trying to break up everybody's home

Get your pie back, here when you tell them, you know

I ain't no preacher, neither no preacher's son
But I can preach a few sermons till the preacher comes
Tell me how long do I have to wait
Tell me you wouldn't fall for this kind of devilry
Break up your good home

I ain't no rent-payer, neither no rent-payer's son
But I can pay a few rents until the rent-payer comes
Tell me how long
Do I have to wait
Can I get you now?
Do I have to hesitate?

Well I ain't never been to heaven but I been told
Says Saint Peter learnt the angels how to do the Jelly Roll
How long, whoo?
Can I get you now?

Well I hitched up my mule and my mule wouldn't pull
Took the harness off the mule and put the harness on the wolf
Tell me how long?
Can I get you now?

Here's a crooked woman, you know
I was out on my wagon, you know, trying to sell some coal
My gal was sitting 'round the corner trying her best to sell some jelly roll
Tell me how long?

Can I get you now, baby?