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I Believe I'll Dust My Broom
Robert Johnson Lyrics


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I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room

I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe, I know

I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
She's a no-good honey, they shouldn't allow her on the street

I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I believe, I believe I'll go back home
You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home

And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room

I'm gonna call up Chiney, see if my good girl over there
I'm gonna call up China, see if my good girl over there
If I can't find her on Philippine's island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere

Overall Meaning

In Robert Johnson's song "Dust My Broom," the singer is expressing his frustration with his unfaithful girlfriend. He begins the song by saying that he is going to get up in the morning and dust his broom, which is a slang expression meaning that he is going to leave town and move on from the relationship. He then tells his girlfriend that the man she has been seeing can have his room once he is gone.


The singer then says that he is going to write letters and make phone calls to try to find his girlfriend if she is not in the town where he expects her to be. He expresses his disdain for her promiscuity and says that she is a "no-good honey" who shouldn't be allowed on the street.


The singer concludes the song by saying that he believes he will go back home, where he will not be mistreated like he has been in his current location. He repeats the line about getting up in the morning and dusting his broom, indicating that he is planning to leave for good.


Overall, the song is a classic example of the blues genre, with Johnson using metaphors and slang to express his feelings of heartbreak and betrayal.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm going to wake up early and pack my things, because I'm leaving this place.


Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room
I don't want anything to do with you anymore, and I know your new man will be happy to have what's left behind.


I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
I'm going to reach out to everyone I know, trying to find the one I'm looking for.


If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe, I know
I've searched everywhere I can think of, and if she's not in one town, she must be in the other.


I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
I'm tired of being with someone who goes after any guy she comes across.


She's a no-good honey, they shouldn't allow her on the street
She's a terrible person who should be prohibited from being out in public.


I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I'm finally leaving this place and returning to my real home.


You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home
I know you'll treat me badly while I'm here, but once I'm gone, you won't be able to hurt me anymore.


And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Again, I'm packing my things and leaving first thing in the morning.


I'm gonna call up Chiney, see if my good girl over there
I'm going to check with everyone, including those in other countries, to try and find the one I'm looking for.


If I can't find her on Philippine's island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere
No matter where she is in the world, I'm determined to find her.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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