Blues in the Night
Nocturnal Lament: Unveiling the Bittersweet Realities in Blues
Lyrics
My mama done tol' me,
Introduction: The speaker recalls advice from their mother.
When I was in knee pants,
Reflecting on childhood ("knee pants").
My mama done tol' me, Son!
Mother's advice emphasizing caution about women.
A woman'll sweet talk
Warning about deceptive sweet talk from women.
And give ya the big eye;
Describing the allure of a woman's gaze.
But when the sweet talkin's done,
After the sweet talk, women can reveal a different, less pleasant side.
A woman's a two face
Characterizing a woman as having two faces.
A worrisome thing
Women can be worrisome and problematic.
Who'll leave ya t'sing
They can leave you singing the blues (feeling sad).
The blues in the night
Summarizing the impact of a woman's actions as "blues in the night."
Now the rain's a-fallin',
Setting the scene with rain falling.
Hear the train a-callin'
Evoking the sound of a distant train.
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Reiteration of mother's advice amid atmospheric sounds.
Hear that lonesome whistle
Describing the haunting sound of a train whistle.
Blowin' `cross the trestle,
Emphasizing the loneliness in the sound.
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Reiteration of the mother's advice amidst train sounds.
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, ol' clickety clack's
Describing the rhythmic sounds of the train.
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
The echoes reinforce the emotional impact of "blues in the night."
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
Atmosphere changes; nature seems to respond to emotional distress.
And the moon'll hide its light
Suggesting a dark and gloomy mood with the hiding moon.
When you get the blues in the night
Reiterating the emotional impact of having the blues at night.
Take my word, the mockin' bird'll
Advising to trust the mockingbird, which symbolizes sorrow.
Sing the saddest kind o' song
Highlighting the sorrowful nature of the mockingbird's song.
He knows things are wrong and he's right
Acknowledging the bird's understanding of the world's wrongs.
From Natchez to Mobile,
Naming various locations, emphasizing the widespread nature of the theme.
From Memphis to St. Jo,
Emphasizing that the blues are felt in different places.
Wherever the four winds blow,
Indicating that the blues are universal, wherever one goes.
I been in some big towns,
Personal experience in large towns.
An' heard me some big talk,
Recalling hearing boastful talk in those towns.
But there is one thing I know
Expressing certainty in the speaker's understanding.
A woman's a two face,
Reiteration of the dual nature of women as troublesome.
A worrisome thing
Re-emphasizing the potential for worry caused by women.
Who'll leave ya t'sing the blues in the night.
Restating the emotional impact of women's actions as singing the blues.
My mama was right,
Affirming the mother's wisdom about the presence of blues in the night.
There's blues in the night.
Final confirmation of the blues' existence in the night.
Comment