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Five Long Years
Eddie Boyd Lyrics


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Lord, have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Yes, have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out

I got a job at a steel mill, I'm shucking steel just like a slave
Five long years, every Friday y'all I went straight home yeah, I went straight home
Mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out

Lord but I finally learned a lesson, I should have known long time ago
The next woman I marry, she gotta have two jobs,
and she gotta go out and work long and bring some dough
Lord, said I been mistreated
And you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out

Have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Yes, have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out

I got a job at a steel mill, I'm shucking steel just like a slave
Five long years, every Friday yes y'all I went straight home,
I went straight home with all my pay
Yes, I've been mistreated
And you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out

Lord I finally learned a lesson, I should have known a long time ago
The next woman I marry, she gotta have two jobs,
and she gotta go out and work and bringing home some dough
I've been mistreated, yeah
And you, you know just what I'm talking about
I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerves to kick me out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eddie Boyd's "Five Long Years" are a raw and emotional testament to the pain and suffering of being mistreated by someone you love. Boyd speaks to the audience, asking if they have ever experienced this kind of betrayal and heartbreak. He then tells his own story of working tirelessly for five long years to support and care for a woman, only to be kicked out in the end. Boyd paints a vivid picture of his struggle, working at a steel mill like a slave and going straight home every Friday, only to be mistreated by the woman he loved and trusted.


As the song progresses, Boyd reflects on his mistakes and realizes that the next woman he marries will have to work just as hard as he does, bringing home her own income to show that she cares. Boyd's lyrics are poignant and powerful, and they speak to anyone who has ever been mistreated in a relationship. The repetitions of "have you ever been mistreated" and "you got to know just what I'm talking about" drive home the message that this kind of pain is universal and relatable.


Overall, "Five Long Years" is a deeply personal and emotional ballad that speaks to anyone who has ever been mistreated by someone they loved. Boyd's lyrics are honest and raw, and they paint a vivid picture of the kind of heartbreak that can stay with you for years to come.


Line by Line Meaning

Lord, have you ever been mistreated
Have you ever experienced being treated unfairly or with disrespect?


Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
If you have, then you can understand the pain and frustration I'm feeling.


Yes, have you ever been mistreated
I'm repeating the question to emphasize its importance.


Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
I spent five hard years working to provide for my partner, and yet she still had the audacity to end our relationship.


I got a job at a steel mill, I'm shucking steel just like a slave
I was working a demanding and physically arduous job at a steel mill, feeling like a slave to the work.


Five long years, every Friday y'all I went straight home yeah, I went straight home
For five years, every Friday after work, I went straight home without any distractions or entertainment.


Lord but I finally learned a lesson, I should have known long time ago
But eventually, I came to a realization and realized I should have known this lesson earlier.


The next woman I marry, she gotta have two jobs, and she gotta go out and work long and bring some dough
For my next partner, I need someone who will also work hard and bring in financial stability.


I've been mistreated, yeah
I have personally experienced unfair or disrespectful treatment from others.


And you, you know just what I'm talking about
And if you've been mistreated, then you can sympathize with my situation.




Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Eddie Boyd

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Scott Friedlander

Eddie Boyd - Five Long Years (with Buddy Guy, Jimmy Lee Robinson, Freddy Below) (1965)

Joe Stephan

These immortal names performing together are the Blues equivalent of a B-2 Bomber

enrique hernandez

I love those earlier gigs from Mr. Buddy guy

Clark Washington

Real down home blues. From the heart. Not only is he singing the blues, but you can tell he feel it from the soul.!!

Mc Devious

Unbelievably talented. Amazing playing and singing, Mr. Boyd. May God rest your soul, but we'll never forget your blues.

Henry Bayliss

Perfection !! One of the great performances !!

albertow1965

Eddie Boyd performed in 1967 with our most famous Dutch Blues band "Cuby and the Blizzards". Eddie stayed a while in Grollo, a small farmervillage in the east of Holland and the hometown of Cuby. The result of their cooperation was a superb album named "Praise the Blues". Every track on this album contains the blues as it should be.

dorstox

Eddie Boyd made the best blues piano music I have ever heard. His bluesy vocals fits it so nicely.

A Face in the Crowd

Someday in the future, the brilliant blues, soul, jazz and r&b music and artists that were so casually discarded after the 60s and early 70s will be rediscovered and given the honor they deserve.

realinjun

I had the privilege to meet Eddie and his lovely wife when I was still a kid, when my father brought him home after they met in a jazz club in Antwerp in the early 60’s. We met a second time at the home of a friend, who had a piano - they played all night, with only a bottle of bourbon as compensation - a true musician in heart and soul.

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