Talkin' to Myself
Whispers of Temptation: Blind Willie McTell's Musical Tale
Lyrics
Good Lord, good Lord, send me an Angel down
Expressing a plea for divine intervention, asking for help from the Lord by sending an angel.
""Can't spare you no angel but I'll sure send you a teasin' brown""
The response suggests that an angel cannot be spared, but a tempting woman ("teasin' brown") will be sent instead.
That new way of lovin', mama it must be best
Referring to a new and presumably exciting way of love, suggesting it is the best.
These-a Georgia women just won't let Mr. Samuel rest
Georgia women are portrayed as persistent in pursuing Mr. Samuel for love and attention.
Look at the crowds out on the corner, wondered who could it be?
Observing a crowd and wondering who is attracting such attention.
It wasn't a thing but the women trying to get to me
Women are actively seeking the speaker, emphasizing their desire for him.
I even went down to the depot, with my suitcase in my hand
Describing a visit to the train depot with women expressing interest as he carries his suitcase.
Crowd of women runned crying: ""Mr. Samuel won't you be my man""?
A crowd of women crying and asking Mr. Samuel to be their man, highlighting his desirability.
My Mama she told me when I was a boy playin' mumble peg
Advice from the speaker's mother about avoiding certain foods, possibly suggesting racial connotations.
""Don't drink no black cow's milk, don't you eat no black hen's egg
Cautions about accepting money from a black man, emphasizing racial stereotypes.
Black man give you a dollar mama, he won't think its nothin' strange yellow
Further exploring racial stereotypes, suggesting a black man expects change when giving a dollar.
Man will give a dollar but he'll want back ninety-five cents change
Highlighting the expectation of getting back more than given, reinforcing racial prejudices.
If they call me cheater, pretty boy I'll real cheat you
Asserting that if accused of cheating, the speaker will indeed cheat.
If you will allow me a chance, I'll gnaw your backbone half in two
Expressing a willingness to harm or deceive if given the opportunity.
I took a trip out on the ocean, want the sound of the deep blue sea
Recalling a trip to the ocean and encountering a crab attempting a dance ("shimmy").
I found a crab with a swim trying to do the shimmy
A humorous or metaphorical depiction of a crab attempting to dance in the sea.
I want to tell you something mama, seem mighty doggone strange
Describing a strange occurrence resulting from the speaker's actions, breaking a jojo string.
You done made me mess around gal and break my jojo string
Blaming the partner for making the speaker mess around and break a jojo string, suggesting a sexual metaphor.
Honey I ain't gonna be the old work ox no more
Declaring a refusal to be a hardworking "work ox" due to romantic entanglements.
You done 'mess around' let your doggone ox get hauled
Expressing frustration that the speaker's efforts have led to the ox being taken away or "hauled."
My mama she got a mojo, place she try to keep it hid
Referencing the speaker's mother possessing a mojo (magical charm) that she tries to hide.
Papa Samuel got something to find that mojo with
Suggesting that Mr. Samuel has a way to find or counter the mojo possessed by the speaker's mother.
I even heard a rumblin', deep down in the ground
Describing a rumbling, possibly metaphorical, sound deep in the ground, perhaps signifying trouble or disruption.
It wasn't a thing but the women tryin' to run me down
Reiterating the theme of women pursuing the speaker, this time with a sense of urgency ("tryin' to run me down").
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