Illinois Blues
Journey to Illinois Bliss: Skip James' Musical Odyssey
Lyrics
You go to Banglin', tell my boys
Request to convey a message to the speaker's friends in Banglin'
You go to Banglin', tell my boys
Reiteration of instructing someone to inform the speaker's friends
What times I'm havin' up in Illinois
Expressing the experiences or situations the speaker is going through in Illinois
In Illinois, up in Illinois
Repetition emphasizing the significance of the speaker's experiences in Illinois
When I gin2 my little cotton I'm going to sell my seed
Plan to sell the harvested cotton seeds after ginning
When I gin my little cotton and sell my seed
Reiteration of the intention to sell cotton seeds after ginning
I'm gonna give my baby, everything she need
Promise to provide everything the speaker's baby needs
Everything she need, ev'rything she need
Repetition emphasizing the commitment to fulfill the baby's needs
I'm gonna give my baby everything she need
Reiteration of the commitment to provide for the baby's needs
You know, I been in Texas and I been in Arkansas
Reference to the speaker's past experiences in Texas and Arkansas
I been in Texas and I been in Arkansas
Reiteration of the speaker's experiences in Texas and Arkansas
But I never had a good time till I got to Illinois
Highlighting that the speaker had a good time only upon reaching Illinois
Up in Illinois, up in Illinois
Repetition emphasizing the positive experiences in Illinois
The people will treat you just so-so so'3
Describing the treatment received from people in Illinois as average
You'll never go back to old Banglin' no more
Suggesting that after the experience in Illinois, there's no desire to return to Banglin'
Never no more, never no more
Reiteration of the decision not to return to Banglin'
I been to Chicago and I been to Detroit
Recalling visits to Chicago and Detroit
I been to Chicago and I been to Detroit
Reiteration of the speaker's visits to Chicago and Detroit
But I never had a good time till I got up in Illinois
Stating that the speaker had a good time only upon reaching Illinois
In Illinois, up in Illinois
Repetition emphasizing the positive experiences in Illinois
When you go down in Banglin', will you tell my boys
Requesting to inform the speaker's friends when going back to Banglin'
When you go down in Banglin', tell my boys
Reiteration of instructing someone to inform the speaker's friends
What a good time's a-waitin' up in Illinois
Describing a good time awaiting in Illinois
Up in Illinois, up in Illinois
Repetition emphasizing the anticipation of a good time in Illinois
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