Blues in the Night
Nocturnal Betrayals: Unveiling the Dual Nature of Love
Lyrics
My mama done tol' me,
Advice from the speaker's mother about relationships.
When I was in knee pants,
Reflecting on childhood ("knee pants").
My mama done tol' me, Son!
Mother reiterates advice to the speaker.
A woman'll sweet talk
Warning about deceptive flattery from women.
And give ya the big eye;
Emphasis on alluring expressions and gestures.
But when the sweet talkin's done,
After sweet talk, the true nature of a woman is revealed.
A woman's a two face
Describing a woman as having a dual nature.
A worrisome thing
Characterizing women as a source of worry.
Who'll leave ya t'sing
Leaving the man to sing the "blues in the night."
The blues in the night
Reiteration of the emotional impact of betrayal.
Now the rain's a-fallin',
Setting the scene with rain falling.
Hear the train a-callin'
Train sound as a metaphor for loneliness.
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Recalling mother's advice amidst the rain.
Hear that lonesome whistle
Lonesome whistle intensifies the feeling of solitude.
Blowin' `cross the trestle,
Imagery of a train crossing a trestle.
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Reiteration of mother's advice during lonely moments.
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, ol' clickety clack's
Onomatopoeic representation of train sounds.
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
Echoing of the blues through the train sounds.
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
Nature mirrors the speaker's emotional state.
And the moon'll hide its light
Moonlight hiding signifies a deeper sadness.
When you get the blues in the night
Connection between emotional pain and the night.
Take my word, the mockin' bird'll
Symbolic role of the mockingbird in expressing sadness.
Sing the saddest kind o' song
Mockingbird sings sorrowful songs.
He knows things are wrong and he's right
Acknowledgment of the world's troubles.
From Natchez to Mobile,
Referencing various locations affected by emotional turmoil.
From Memphis to St. Jo,
Geographical spread of emotional distress.
Wherever the four winds blow,
Universal impact of emotional struggles.
I been in some big towns,
Personal experience in significant cities.
An' heard me some big talk,
Encountering boastful talk in large cities.
But there is one thing I know
Despite experiences, a universal truth remains.
A woman's a two face,
Reiteration of a woman's dual nature.
A worrisome thing
Emphasizing the worrisome aspect of women.
Who'll leave ya t'sing the blues in the night.
Confirmation of the enduring impact of betrayal.
My mama was right,
Acknowledging the wisdom in the mother's advice.
There's blues in the night.
Final affirmation of the pervasive presence of the blues.
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