This is another song that is a bit out of context for Annette. Once again this was probably done for commercial value. It seems more appropriate for Ethel Waters than Annette. Another tale of a louse of a man who left his woman and went to Chicago and left her in Birmingham, Alabama. Now she is trying to get enough money together to see this man who has left her. Will Annette ever get the point? Also once again we have the vision of Annette sitting "by the weary shore" wailing her sad tune. This is similiar to the "Big City Blues" number where she is by the wharf singing her tune.

Ethel Waters first made this song famous in her rendition of "Am I Blue?" in the Warner Brothers extravaganza "On With The Show". This was a big film with one of the first uses of Technicolor and was advertised as the first,"all talking, all singing, all technicolor". Ethel Waters sang it with feeling and grace and had critical acclaim. She was attributed with singing this song in January 1929. Possibly because of the popularity of Ethel's rendition both Libby Holman and Annette then recorded it in April of that year. Again, this was probably Wally that wanted to make sure Annette only sang the "hits".

Am I Blue

I'm just a woman
a lonely woman
waiting on a weary shore
I'm just a woman
one that you should be sorry for
Got up this morning along about dawn
without a warning I found he was gone
why should he do it
How could he do it
he never done it before
Am I blue
Am I blue
Ain't these tears
in these eyes
telling you
Am I blue
you be too
if each time with your man
done fell through
Was a time
I was his only one
but now I am the sad
and lonely one
Was I gay
till today
Now he's gone
and we're through
Am I blue
He's in Chicago
He's in Chicago
And I am down here in Birmingham
trying to get the money
to see my honey, I am
indeed I am
with the blues in my heart
but my shoes want to start
but I am in jam
as blue as the sky above
Ain't these tears
in these eyes
telling you
No one feels like I do
Bo, hooo! Bo hooo!
each time with my man
done fell through
Was a time
I was his only, only, only, one
but now I am the sad
and lonely one, Lordy
Was I gay, Oh lord
till today that man went away
Now he's gone
and we're through
Am I blue
That's all