My Man's Gone Now
Journey Through Heartache: Carmen McRae's Poignant Reflections
Lyrics
My man's gone now
The speaker's man has passed away.
Ain't no use a listenin'
The speaker finds no purpose in listening anymore.
For his tired footsteps
Reference to the absence of the man's footsteps climbing stairs.
Climbin' up the stairs
Further emphasizing the absence of the man.
Old man sorrow's
Expressing the arrival of sorrow in the form of an old man.
Come to keep me company
Sorrow has become a constant companion for the speaker.
Whisperin' beside me
Sorrow whispers to the speaker, possibly symbolizing its closeness.
When I say my prayers
Sorrow is present when the speaker prays.
When I say my prayers
Repetition for emphasis on the impact of sorrow during prayers.
He come around
Referring to the return of sorrow.
He come up, he come around
Emphasizing the recurrence of sorrow's presence.
Ain't that I mind workin'
The speaker does not mind working, possibly to cope with loss.
Workin' means travelers
Work is a distraction, and it means journeying with others.
Journeyin' together
Highlighting the shared journey of people working together.
To the promised land
Working towards a promised land, a metaphorical goal.
But old man sorrow
Sorrow accompanies the speaker throughout the journey.
Mountin' all the way with me
Sorrow persists, suggesting a constant burden.
Tell' me that I'm old now
Sorrow implies aging and loss since the man's departure.
Since I lose my man
The man's absence makes the speaker feel old.
Since I lose my man
Reiteration of the speaker's sense of loss and aging.
Since I lose my man
Repetition for emphasis on the enduring impact of the loss.
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