Cleveland Flats Blues
Cleveland Flats: A Musical Journey Through Life's Blues
Lyrics
The Cleveland flats, some dive-ass bar
The Cleveland flats refer to a specific area, likely a neighborhood, hosting a low-quality bar.
Some white kids playing blues guitar
There are young Caucasian individuals performing blues music on guitars at this bar.
Bartenders high, the whiskey's bottom shelf
The bartenders are intoxicated, and the quality of whiskey available is low.
The bartender won't shut his face
The bartender is talkative and not willing to stop talking.
This probably is not the place
The place seems unsuitable for the speaker's current emotional state when feeling down.
To come when I feel sorry for myself
The speaker acknowledges that this bar isn't the right place to visit when feeling sorry for oneself.
Been a bad couple decades
The speaker reflects on a difficult period spanning a couple of decades.
And my head shrinkers message is
The therapist's advice is about owning up to one's actions and situations.
It's time to take responsibility
The therapist suggests taking responsibility for one's life.
And I explain why I'm impaired
The speaker tries to explain their impairments to the therapist.
She says save it for somebody who cares
The therapist dismisses the speaker's explanation, implying it's not worth discussing.
Roll up your sleeves man
Encouragement to make an effort and get to work.
You might have one more chance
There might be a chance for redemption or improvement.
Maybe one more chance
Reiterating the possibility of having another opportunity.
My fifties were a whiskey blur
The speaker's fifties were a period where they were heavily involved in drinking alcohol.
I had a couple jobs, I'm sure
The speaker had some jobs but might not remember all of them due to the effects of alcohol.
There was a girl I lost along the way
There was a romantic relationship lost during this time.
She left me in a jazz cafe
A specific incident where the partner left the speaker in a jazz cafe.
In New Orleans on New Year's Day
This event occurred on New Year's Day in New Orleans.
The band was playing St. James Infirmary
The band was performing a song called "St. James Infirmary."
My sixties, well I'm trying hard
In the speaker's sixties, they made an effort to change by joining a band and playing the guitar.
I joined a band, was playing guitar
The speaker attempted to pursue music but faced challenges due to excessive drug use.
But there was way too much weed, whites and wine
The substances (weed, cocaine, and alcohol) were significantly impacting the speaker's life.
So I came back to Cleveland town
The speaker returned to Cleveland from their pursuit of music elsewhere.
The Cuyahoga's running brown
Reference to the polluted Cuyahoga River, indicating little change in the environment.
And everything is pretty much the same
The situation in Cleveland remains largely unchanged despite the speaker's efforts.
My birthday's in October
The speaker's birthday month is October, and they aim to celebrate it without being under the influence.
And I hope to get there sober
The hope is to reach their birthday while being sober.
My head shrinker thinks I mighthave a chance
The therapist holds a belief that there might be a chance for the speaker to change.
I might have one more chance
Reiteration of the possibility of having one more opportunity for change or redemption.
The Cleveland flats, some dive ass bar
Repetition of the setting at the Cleveland flats, highlighting the consistent nature of the environment.
Some White kid's playing bluesguitar
Reiteration of young Caucasian individuals performing blues on guitars in the bar.
Bartender's high, the whiskey bottom shelf
Similar description of the intoxicated bartenders and low-quality whiskey available.
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