Blues in the Night
Unveiling the Melancholy Depths: "Blues in the Night" by Cab Calloway
Lyrics
My mamma done tol' me,
Advice received from the speaker's mother.
When I was in knee pants,
Referring to a time in childhood ("knee pants").
My mamma done tol' me, "Son!
Mother emphasizing her advice to the speaker.
A woman'll sweet talk, and give ya the big eye,
Warning about the deceptive nature of some women.
But when the sweet talkin's done,
After initial charm, women may reveal a different side.
A woman's a two-face,
Describing women as unpredictable or deceitful.
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya t' sing
Characterizing women as worrisome and capable of causing sorrow.
The blues in the night"
Expressing the consequence of encountering such women – experiencing the blues.
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Setting the scene with rain falling and a train whistle, creating a melancholic atmosphere.
Hear the train a-callin' "whoo-ee"!
Noticing the sound of a train, possibly representing a journey or escape.
(My mamma done tol' me.)
Reiteration of the mother's advice in the context of the current situation.
Hear that lonesome whistle
Hearing a lonesome whistle, emphasizing loneliness or desolation.
Blowin 'cross the trestle, "whooee,"
Describing the sound of the train blowing across the trestle.
(My mamma done tol' me.)
Repeating the mother's advice as the train whistle continues.
A whooee-a-whooee,
Onomatopoeic expression, possibly mimicking the train's sound.
Ol' clickety clack's a-echo-in' back the blues in the night
Describing the rhythmic sound of the train tracks echoing the blues.
(Hum---)
Humming sound, possibly indicating contemplation or reflection.
My mamma was right, there's blues in the night
Affirmation that the mother's warning about the blues in the night was accurate.
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