Lyrics
Black cats creep across my path
Experiencing superstitions and bad omens, symbolized by black cats crossing the path.
Until I'm almost mad
Feeling on the verge of insanity due to persistent challenges.
I must have 'roused the devil's wrath
Suspecting that unfortunate events are a result of angering or attracting negative forces.
Cause all my luck is bad
Believing that luck is consistently unfavorable.
I make a date for golf and you can bet your life it rains
Encountering setbacks, such as rain ruining plans, even when making arrangements.
I try to give a party and the guy upstairs complains
Facing obstacles, like complaints from neighbors, when attempting to celebrate or enjoy life.
I guess I'll go through life
Expressing resignation and acceptance of a life filled with challenges.
Just catchin' colds and missin' trains
Summarizing a pattern of catching colds and missing trains, emphasizing the recurrent nature of misfortune.
Everything happens to me
Reflecting on the theme that everything negative seems to happen to the speaker.
I never miss a thing
Stating that the speaker is never exempt from experiencing difficulties.
I've had the measles and the mumps
Listing various illnesses experienced, highlighting a history of challenges.
And every time I play an ace
Expressing a sense of futility, as even success is undermined by unforeseen obstacles.
My partner always trumps
Describing a consistent pattern of being thwarted, even in favorable situations.
Guess I'm just a fool who never looks before he jumps
Admitting to impulsivity and a lack of caution, resulting in negative consequences.
Everything happens to me
Reiterating the theme that everything tends to go wrong for the speaker.
At first my heart thought you could break this jinx for me
Initially hoping that love could break the cycle of misfortune.
That love would turn the trick to end despair
Believing that love could bring an end to despair and improve the situation.
But know I just can't fool this head that thinks for me
Realizing that love alone is not enough to overcome the challenges and negative circumstances.
I've mortgaged all my castles in the air
Acknowledging the loss of dreams and investments made in hopeful, but unrealistic, plans.
I've telegraphed and phoned
Describing attempts to communicate and reach out to the source of hope (presumably a lover).
I send an "Airmail Special" too
Using imagery of telegraphing and phoning to emphasize the effort made to connect.
Your answer was "Goodbye"
Receiving a clear and final rejection or farewell.
And there was even postage due
Noting the additional emotional cost, as represented by "postage due" even after the breakup.
I fell in love just once
Recalling a singular experience of falling in love, emphasizing its rarity.
And then it had to be with you
Indicating that the one love experienced had to be with a person who brought challenges and misfortune.
Everything happens to me
Summing up the idea that misfortune continues to be a constant presence in the speaker's life.
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