Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out is a 1923 composition by Jimmy Cox, popularized by Bessie Smith in 1929, and sung by Otis, Janis, Van the Man, Eric Clapton, and many, many others. Frizz of flkrcomments did a swell banjo version the other day as well as a dobro version! and, so inspired, Bumba and Maybank wanted to join the party/chorus. Click below to hear the song, and by now you should be singing along. The lyrics:
Once I lived the life of a millionaire/Spending my money and I didn’t care/Taking my friends out for a mighty good time/Buying bootleg whiskey, champagne, and wine
Then I began to fall so low/Didn’t have no friends and I had no place to go/It’s mighty strange but there without a doubt/Nobody knows ya when you’re down and out…
When I get back on my feet again/Everybody’s gonna want to be my long lost friend/ It’s kinda strange but there ain’t no doubt/Nobody knows you when you’re down and out
Nobody knows you/When you’re down and out/In your pocket not a penny/ And all those friends you used to have… well, now you haven’t any
If I ever get back on my feet again/Gonna hold on to that dollar till the eagle grins/Yeah, it’s mighty strange/But there ain’t no doubt/Nobody knows you when you’re down and out.
An Occasional Story 
Good job! Just listened to the Bessie Smith version too, what a voice!
Yeah. She was pretty good. Thanks for the visit.
Clapton used to have the nickname ‘The Clap’ around here, I don’t think it was anyhing to do with his flightiness though.
Maybe it was something he got into.
hi Stephen, my latest version (this afternoon) of NOBODY KNOWS YOU… mixed with the piano of my friend LUZZ:
https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar/nobody-knows-you-3
The song is wonderful, and so much fun to play. It gets better and better. I’ve been humming it for days.
Smiling and singing already! 😉
I’ve played this morning as a tribute to a hero of my generation, R.I.P. JJ Cale:
https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar/jj-cale-tribute
for you: Bessie Smith
I’m glad that you shared your version here!
greetings from
https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar/dobro-nobody-knows-you
My favorite was Eric Clapton I have that CD…somewhere…
Clapton has good taste and a bit of talent. It’s a great song. I’ve never heard Bessie Smith do it. i’m sure hers is terrific too. Thanks for the visit..
Check out Frizz’s comment and try the link to the Bessie Smith version. She was a true master .