The band went on to record several successful albums and was popular on the late-1960s concert and festival circuit, with performances at the Fillmore West, in San Francisco; the Fillmore East, in New York City; the Monterey Pop Festival; and Woodstock. The band split in 1971.
Born In Chicago
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Lyrics
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I was born in Chicago at nineteen and forty-one
Well, my father told me
"Son, you had better get a gun"
Well, my first friend went down
When I was 17 years old
Well, my first friend went down
When I was 17 years old
Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy
He gotta go
Well, my second friend went down
When I was 21 years of age
Well, my second friend went down
When I was 21 years of age
Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy
He gotta pray
Well, now rules are alright
If there's someone left to play the game
Well, now rules are alright
If there's someone left to play the game
All my friends are going
And thing's just don't seem the same
Oh, thing's just don't seem the same, babe
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band's song Born in Chicago tells a story of a young man who was born in Chicago in 1941. From the very beginning of the song, the listener can feel the tension that exists in the city. The line, "Well, my father told me, 'Son, you had better get a gun,'" suggests that there is a need for self-protection. The song goes on to describe the loss of two friends, one when the singer was 17 and the other when he was 21. The repetition of the phrase "Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy" creates a sense of resignation, as if the singer is resigned to the fact that his friends are gone.
The second verse continues to tell the story of the singer's loss, but this time with an added layer of religious imagery. The phrase "He gotta pray" suggests that the singer's friend is no longer among the living. The final verse shifts in tone slightly. The phrase "Well, now rules are alright" suggests that rules are only relevant if there is someone left to play the game. This line could mean that in a world where the singer's friends are gone, the rules don't matter. The song ends on a somber note with the repeated refrain, "Oh, thing's just don't seem the same, babe."
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Chicago at nineteen and forty-one
I was born in Chicago during 1941
Well, my father told me
"Son, you had better get a gun"
My father advised me to own a firearm
Well, my first friend went down
When I was 17 years old
My first friend died when I was 17 years old
Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy
He gotta go
I can only say that he moved on
Well, my second friend went down
When I was 21 years of age
My second friend passed away when I turned 21
Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy
He gotta pray
All I can say is he needs our thoughts and prayers
Well, now rules are alright
If there's someone left to play the game
Rules can be okay if there are still players around
All my friends are going
And thing's just don't seem the same
Oh, thing's just don't seem the same, babe
All my friends are leaving, and everything feels different now
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICHOLAS GEORGE GRAVENITES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind