In 1943, a version recorded by Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy, with vocals by June Richmond, was a hit, reaching number four on the Billboard R&B chart.

[1] Buddy Moss' "Oh Lordy Mama" is an uptempo twelve-bar blues with distinct vocal phrasing: Meet me down at the river, you can bring me my shoes and clothes Oh Lordy mama, great God almighty Said meet me down at the river, bring me my shoes and clothes Says I ain't got so many, but I got so far to go The song was performed as a solo piece, with Moss providing the vocal and guitar accompaniment.

[7] Jazz artists, such as Count Basie (1938),[8] Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven (1941),[9] and Noble Sissle and His Orchestra with Edna Williams (vocal and trumpet)[10] recorded it as "Hey Lawdy Mama".

Given the big band treatment by bandleader Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, the song was performed as an uptempo swing-blues with a full horn section and vocals by Richmond.

[19] Richmond appeared in a "soundie" (an early music video) in 1944 singing "Hey Lawdy Mama" backed by Roy Milton's Solid Senders.

[21] The song was performed in the style of a Chicago blues, with Wells (vocal and harmonica), Guy (guitar), Jack Myers (bass) and Billy Warren (drums).