Goodnight Irene
Leadbelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good night, Irene, good night, Irene
I'll get you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump in to the river and drown
Irene, good night, Irene, good night
Good night, Irene, good night, Irene
I'll get you in my dreams
Stop rambling and stop gambling
Quit staying out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Sit down by a fireside bright
Irene, good night, Irene, good night
Good night, Irene, good night, Irene
The song "Goodnight Irene" is a blues/folk song written by Texas blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly. The song is about a man named Irene who is leaving the singer, and he's saying goodbye to her in his own way, hoping that he will meet her in his dreams. The first verse has the refrain "Irene, good night, Irene, good night, good night, Irene, good night Irene; I'll get you in my dreams." It's a hauntingly beautiful melody that is complex in its simplicity.
The next two verses highlight the singer’s depression and suicidal thoughts. He sometimes lives in the country, sometimes in town, and sometimes he has a great notion to jump into the river and drown. But then he repeats the chorus, indicating that he'll be okay as long as he sees Irene in his dreams.
In the last verse, the singer speaks to a friend, probably of the same gender, giving advice on how to live their life. The friend is rambling and gambling, staying out late at night, and neglecting home and family life. The singer tells them to go home, sit by the fireside, and be with their loved ones. He then reassures the friend that he too will see Irene in his dreams.
Overall, "Goodnight Irene" is a timeless classic that speaks to the human condition, highlighting the complexities of relationships, mental health, suicide, and friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
Irene, good night, Irene, good night
Saying goodbye to Irene, wishing her a good night
Good night, Irene, good night, Irene
Repeating the goodbye message to emphasize it
I'll get you in my dreams
Will think of Irene while sleeping and dreaming
Sometimes I live in the country
Occasionally living in rural areas
Sometimes I live in town
Occasionally living in urban areas
Sometimes I have a great notion
Occasionally having an urge
To jump in to the river and drown
To end one's life by drowning in a river
Stop rambling and stop gambling
Stop wandering aimlessly and stop gambling
Quit staying out late at night
Stop staying out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Return home to spend time with one's spouse and children
Sit down by a fireside bright
Relax and enjoy the warmth of a fireplace
Irene, good night, Irene, good night
Repeating the goodbye message to emphasize it
Good night, Irene, good night, Irene
Saying goodbye to Irene, wishing her a good night
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
[Chorus]
Irene good night
Irene good night
Good night Irene
Good night Irene
I guess you in my dreams
[Verse 1]
I asked your mother for you (what she tell him?)
She tole me that you was too young (she's 18 years old)
I wish to the good Lord that I'd never seen your face
I'm sorry that you ere were born (it broke his heart)
[Chorus]
Irene good night
Irene good night
Good night Irene
Good night Irene
I guess you in my dreams
[Verse 2]
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I haves a great notion
Jumping in to the water and drown
[Chorus]
Irene good night
Irene good night
Good night Irene
Good night Irene
I guess you in my dreams
[Verse 3]
Stop ramblin', and stop gamblin'
Quit staying out late at night (what ya gonna do?)
Go home to your wife and family (where you ought to be)
Sit down by the fireside bright (and keep a comin')
[Chorus]
Irene good night
Irene good night
Good night Irene
Good night Irene
I guess you in my dreams
[Verse 4]
I love Irene God knows I do (too late)
I love her til the sea runs dry
If Irene turns her back on me (what you gonna do?)
I'm gonna take a morphine and die (she said go on and kill yourself then)
[Chorus]
Irene good night
Irene good night
Good night Irene
Good night Irene
I guess you in my dreams
@Unus_Annus_
Irene goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene,
I guess you’s in my dreams.
-
I asked your mother for you (what she tell him)
She told me that you was too young
(she’s 18 years old)
I wish, dear lord, that I never seen your face
I’m sorry you ever was born
(she broke his heart)
-
Irene Goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I guess you’s in my dreams
-
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump in the river and drown
-
Irene Goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I guess you’s in my dreams
-
Quit ramblin’ and stop gamblin’
Quit Stayin out late at night (what you gonna do?)
Go home to your wife and your family where you outta be
Sit down by the fireside bright (and keep a comin’ now)
-
Irene Goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I guess you’s in my dreams
-
I love Irene, god knows I do
Love her till the seas run dry
If Irene turns her back on me
(what you gonna do?)
I’m gonna take morphine and die
(She said go ahead and kill yourself then)
-
Irene Goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I guess you’s in my dreams
@KeiVisual
2023. My grama always says "goodnight Irene" before we hang up the phone.
I asked her "why do you say that?" And she told me about this song.
It's crazy that the internet can preserve things from so long ago. My grama is 97 now, and she doesn't understand the concept of "google" or just typing something in & finding it.
But she loves hearing her favourite songs! The ones you can't buy anymore, & the ones she can't remember.
What a wild time we live in.
@josephlemko3027
I remember my father singing this song when I was a child. He was a big Leadbelly fan. 👍
@jgrillo638
Who is listening in 1935?
@melindalemmon2149
My dad was. And played for me in my crib. And Harry Belafonte and Burl Ives.
@TheKASINOINC
I thought of an invention, its silly, but it would be cables that send fast information, to places that then just radiate them to everyone. I call it the "Connection"
@jeanclaudechalifour8348
TheKASINOINC k
@borediideath6526
Technically the song wasn’t released until 1943
@spencersebring3619
h
@zirkalda9502
I once heard a group of guys singing this at a bar together. Unique experience.
@Sebastian-mr1ik
I would go out to bars more often if shit like that happened more often, but instead we are stuck listening to shitty pop music surrounded by kids drinking white claws