On Listening to Robert Johnson
Midnight Encounter: A Journey Through Blues and Redemption
Lyrics
It was a bleak summer night and I was walking, no particular place to go
Describes a summer night without direction, aimless walking.
I would walk into a circle, and come right back to the place I was at before
Repetition of wandering, going in circles without progress.
It was hot and had been raining, humid even at 2 a.m.
Setting the scene: hot, humid, post-rain, wet streets.
The streets were wet and the grass was soaking, there was no dry place to lay my head
Portrays discomfort, nowhere dry to rest.
Deep blue fell from the night sky, bleached to grey under the overhead lamps
Describes the night sky turning gray under street lamps.
All the shadows were 3 dimensions, like you could crawl right inside and camp
Shadows are vivid, inviting immersion.
I heard music down the avenue that punctured right through the traffic sounds
Music interrupts city noise, intriguing the narrator.
Harsh and sweet all at the same time, and I hurried to follow it down
Music is both harsh and sweet, prompting a quick pursuit.
I stopped outside a grey house near the alley, and found my way to the sound
Narrator stops near a gray house, drawn to the music.
I could hear the music clearly, and I lay myself down on the ground
Narrator lies down to better hear the music.
I was taken to meet the devil, and I trembled in the pouring rain
Narrator has a transformative encounter with the devil in the rain.
I took a ride in a fast car, next to a woman named Betty Mae
Recalls a ride in a fast car with a woman named Betty Mae.
I woke up to the blues, it was walking, blues walking like a man
Wakes up to the blues, embodying the essence of blues walking.
I was a barroom clown, I was stumbling, stones all in my path
Characterizes the narrator as a stumbling barroom clown.
I carried my baby's suitcase, down to the waiting train
Narrator carries a suitcase to a waiting train.
While the blues fell down, just like rain
Blues falls like rain, possibly reflecting emotional turmoil.
It all ended with the sunrise, I tried to get to my feet
Events conclude with sunrise, attempting to stand up.
The music still played in my aching heart, it was such perfect poetry
The enduring impact of the music on the narrator's heart.
Comment