Blues in the Night
Nocturnal Echoes: Unveiling the Heartache in Blues
Lyrics
My mama done tol' me,
Advisory from the speaker's mother about life or relationships.
When I was in knee pants,
Reflecting on childhood ("knee pants") when the advice was given.
My mama done tol' me, Son!
Reiteration of the mother's advice with emphasis ("Son!").
A woman'll sweet talk
Warning about deceptive flattery from women.
And give ya the big eye;
Describing the seductive gaze or flirtation of a woman.
But when the sweet talkin's done,
Highlighting the temporary nature of sweet talk in relationships.
A woman's a two face
Asserting that a woman can have a dual, deceptive nature.
A worrisome thing
Describing women as a source of worry or trouble.
Who'll leave ya t'sing
Anticipating the pain and sorrow caused by a woman.
The blues in the night
Expressing the emotional aftermath – singing the blues at night.
Now the rain's a-fallin',
Setting the scene with rain falling and a train in the distance.
Hear the train a-callin'
Noting the sound of a train, possibly symbolizing life's journey.
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Recalling the mother's advice amidst the atmospheric elements.
Hear that lonesome whistle
Describing the haunting sound of a distant train whistle.
Blowin' `cross the trestle,
Emphasizing the mournful quality of the train sound.
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Reiterating the mother's advice in the context of the train.
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, ol' clickety clack's
Imitating the rhythmic sound of a moving train.
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
Connecting the train sounds to the blues, creating a metaphor.
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
Describing the emotional impact of the evening breeze.
And the moon'll hide its light
Depicting a sorrowful atmosphere with a hidden moon.
When you get the blues in the night
Linking the described elements to experiencing the blues.
Take my word, the mockin' bird'll
Using the mockingbird as a symbol for singing sad songs.
Sing the saddest kind o' song
Attributing the sad song to an awareness of things going wrong.
He knows things are wrong and he's right
Emphasizing the correctness of the mockingbird's perception.
From Natchez to Mobile,
Referencing various locations, suggesting a wide experience.
From Memphis to St. Jo,
Emphasizing the extensive geographical scope of experience.
Wherever the four winds blow,
Indicating the unpredictable nature of life's journey.
I been in some big towns,
Reflecting on experiences in significant and large cities.
An' heard me some big talk,
Recalling encounters with boastful or pretentious talk.
But there is one thing I know
Stating a universal truth about the dual nature of women.
A woman's a two face,
Reiterating the problematic nature of women in relationships.
A worrisome thing
Re-emphasizing the worrisome and troubling aspect of women.
Who'll leave ya t'sing the blues in the night.
Connecting the deceptive nature of women to singing the blues at night.
My mama was right,
Acknowledging the wisdom in the mother's advice.
There's blues in the night.
Concluding with a reaffirmation that the blues are an inherent part of life.
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