Billie's Blues
Billie's Love Chronicles: A Song of Passion and Resilience
Lyrics
I love my man
I have affection for my man
I'm a liar if I say I don't
I would be dishonest if I claimed otherwise
I love my man
Reiteration of love for my man
I'm a liar if I say I don't
Reiteration of the honesty about loving my man
But I'll quit my man
Despite my love, I would be dishonest if I said I won't leave my man
I'm a liar if I say I won't
Despite my love, I would be dishonest if I claimed I won't leave my man
I've been your slave, baby
I've been subservient to you since I became your babe
Ever since I've been your babe
Expressing a longstanding commitment and submissiveness
I've been your slave
Continued expression of being enslaved since becoming your babe
Ever since I've been your babe
Reiterating subservience with a commitment to being your babe
But before I'll be your dog
Before being treated like a dog, I'd rather see you in your grave
I'll see you in your grave
Strong declaration of refusing to be mistreated
My man wouldn't give me no breakfast
My man denied me breakfast and dinner, complained about my supper, and put me outdoors
Wouldn't give me no dinner
Highlighting neglect and mistreatment
Squawked about my supper then he put me outdoors
Describing mistreatment and being put outside
Had the nerve to lay a matchbox on my clothes
Adding insult with a matchbox on clothes
I didn't have so many
Although possessions were few, the mistreatment was unwarranted
But I had a long, long ways to go
Emphasizing the long journey ahead despite challenges
I ain't good looking
Asserting a lack of conventional attractiveness
And my hair ain't curled
Stating the absence of styled hair
I ain't good looking
Reiterating lack of conventional attractiveness
And my hair ain't curled
Reiterating the absence of styled hair
But my mother, she gave me something
Grateful for something valuable from the mother to navigate life
It's going to carry me through this world
Confidence in the support received
Some men like me 'cause I'm happy
Some men appreciate my happiness
Some 'cause I'm snappy
Others like me for my liveliness
Some call me honey
Recognition of endearment as "honey"
Others think I've got money
Assumption that some believe I have wealth
Some say me Billie
Reference to herself as Billie
Baby, you're built for speed
Complimenting a partner's speed and effectiveness
Now, if you put that all together
Summarizing qualities that make her desirable
Makes me everything a good man needs
Declaring herself as everything a good man needs
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