"Down Hearted Blues" is a blues song composed by musician Lovie Austin, with lyrics by American jazz singer Alberta Hunter. The first line sets the theme for the song: "Gee but it's hard to love someone when that someone don't love you." Hunter sang it during her engagement at the Dreamland Cafe, in Chicago, where she performed with Joe "King" Oliver's band. Blues singer Bessie Smith recorded the song with piano accompaniment by Clarence Williams. It was released as her first single (backed with "Gulf Coast Blues") and 780,000 copies were sold in the first six months.