Little Cow and Calf Is Gonna Die Blues
Echoes of Life's Journey: Skip James' Little Cow and Calf Blues
Lyrics
Hey, hey-hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-hey-hey
Expressing a call or greeting, possibly an attention grabber
Hey, hey-hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-hey
Continuation of the expressive call or greeting
And every cow and calf, I believe was born to die
Suggesting a fatalistic perspective, stating a belief that every cow and calf is destined to die
I'm a-milk my heifer, milk her in a churn
Describing the act of milking a heifer in a churn
I'll milk my heifer, I'll milk her in a churn
Repeating the description of milking a heifer in a churn
If you see my rider, tell her it ain't a darn thing doin'
Asking someone to inform the speaker's rider that there is nothing happening or going on
I wringed my hands, baby, and I wanted to scream
Expressing a sense of frustration or distress, indicating a desire to scream
I wringed my hands, honey, and I wanted to scream
Reiterating the frustration and desire to scream
And when I woke up I thought it was all a dream
Reflecting on a confusing or surreal experience, possibly a dream
Hey, hey-hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-hey
Repeating the expressive call or greeting
Hey, hey-hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-hey
Continuation of the repetitive expressive call or greeting
And every cow and calf, I believe was born to die
Restating the fatalistic belief that every cow and calf is born to die
Hey, hey-hey, I ain't gonna be here long
Expressing a short lifespan, claiming not to be around for long
Hey, hey-hey, pretty mama, I ain't gonna be here long
Repeating the statement about a short presence, addressing a 'pretty mama'
That's the reason why you hear me singin' my old lonesome song
Explaining the reason for singing a lonesome song, possibly due to a brief existence
Hey, hey-hey-hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-hey
Repeating the expressive call or greeting
Hey, hey-hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-hey-hey
Continuation of the repetitive expressive call or greeting
And every cow's calf, honey, got to be dyin'
Affirming the inevitability of a calf's death
I walked the levee from end to end
Describing a journey along the levee from end to end
I walked the levee, honey, from end to end
Reiterating the journey along the levee
I was just tryin' to find, my calf, again
Expressing the search for a lost calf during the journey
I'm feelin' back to my used-to
Indicating a return to a past state or feeling ('used-to')
I feel a notïon, back to my used-to-be
Expressing a sense of nostalgia or longing for a previous state
I have a pretty mama, she don't care for me
Describing a lack of care or affection from a romantic partner
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