Fixin' to Die Blues
Bukka White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Just as sho' as we livin', just as sho' we born to die, sho' we born to die
Just as sho' as we livin', sho' we born to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Your mother treated me children like I was her baby child, was her baby child
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child
That's why's I find it so hard to come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry, how my children's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Look over yonder, on the burying ground, on the burying ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down
Mother take my children back, before they let me down, before they let me down
Mother take my children back, 'fore they let me down
I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground
In Bukka White's song "Fixin' to Die Blues," the singer expresses a sense of impending death through the repetition of the refrain "I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die." He acknowledges the inevitability of death and frames it as a natural part of life: "Just as sho' as we livin', just as sho' we born to die, sho' we born to die." However, he also laments the pain and sadness that his death will cause his loved ones, particularly his children: "I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'" and "So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry." He struggles with the idea of leaving his family behind, especially given the love and care he has received from his partner's mother, which makes it difficult to return home to die.
The song takes on a spiritual dimension in the final verse, as the singer imagines himself already among the dead: "Look over yonder, on the burying ground, on the burying ground / Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down." He seeks comfort from his mother, asking her to take his children back before they witness his death, and underscoring the idea that death is cyclical and that he will join his ancestors in the afterlife: "Mother take my children back, before they let me down, before they let me down / I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die, believe I'm fixin' to die
I can feel death coming and it's affecting me physically and mentally.
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
I understand that mortality is part of life, but I don't want to leave my children grief-stricken.
Just as sho' as we livin', sho' we born to die
It's an inevitable truth that everyone dies.
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child, was her baby child
Your mother treated me with affection and care, as if I were her own child.
That's why's I find it so hard to come back home to die
The thought of leaving behind loving people makes me reluctant to die.
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
I remember how my partner would cry when we talked about death and leaving behind our children.
Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Having to say goodbye to loved ones is a painful experience.
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
I see a cemetery in the distance.
Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down
There are thousands of bodies buried in the graveyard, reminding me of my mortality.
Mother take my children back, 'fore they let me down
I don't want my children to be upset and cry at my funeral.
I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground
The thought of my children mourning over my death at my grave site is heartbreaking.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Booker T. Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fulopistvan6417
Correct lyrics for this version:
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
And I believe I'm fixin' to die
Believe I'm fixin' to die
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I'm fixin' to die yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Just as sho' we live
It is sho' we's born to die
Sho' we's born to die
Just as sho's we live
Sho' we's born to die
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Yo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That's why's I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
How my chillen's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
'Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Look over yonder
On the buryin' ground
On the buryin' ground
Look over yonder on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand
Standin' still to let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
'Fore they let me down
Ain't no need a-them screamin' an cryin'
On the graveyard ground.
@colinsbane
As previously pointed out by Keith Peterson, the lyrics supplied by Hypno Toad are by Bob Dylan. Here are Bukka's lyrics (taken from the Bob Dylan's Commentaries website) :
I’m lookin’ funny in my eyes
And I believe I’m fixin’ to die
Believe I’m fixin’ to die
I’m lookin’ funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I’m fixin’ to die, yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin’
YeahJust as sho’ we live
It’s a, sho’ we’s born to die
Sho’ we’s born to die
Just as sho’s we live
Sho’ we’s born to die
Yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin’
YeahYo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That’s why’s I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
Yeah
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen’s mother would cry
How my chillen’s mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen’s mother would cry
‘Cause I told the mother I had to say, goodbye
Look over yon-der
On the buryin’ ground
On the buryin’ ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon’ stand ten thousand
Standin’ still to let me down
Yeah
Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
‘Fore they let me down
Ain’t no need a-them screamin’ an cryin’
On the graveyard ground.
@michelguerinel9692
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die, believe I'm fixin' to die
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Just as sho' as we livin', just as sho' we born to die, sho' we born to die
Just as sho' as we livin', sho' we born to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Your mother treated me children like I was her baby child, was her baby child
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child
That's why's I find it so hard to come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry, how my children's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Look over yonder, on the burying ground, on the burying ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down
Mother take my children back, before they let me down, before they let me down
Mother take my children back, 'fore they let me down
I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground
@randykintzley5923
The blues was born in America, and America is fixin to die... but the blues is immortal like the pyramids.
@DockingFreidmanRecords
That's real
@Muziekgenot590
The Blues has its roots in African music
@commanderthorkilj.amundsen3426
Not really. Traditional African music was upbeat, music for percussion and dance. It lacked the chordal structure and scale notes of blues. Nearly any music with repetitive beat or groove from around the globe can be misconstrued as resembling blues in some way.
Blues is a distinct American art form born out of toil, misery, poverty of the Delta region of Mississippi, with some hill country influences.
@bradfordeaton6558
The first time I heard this song I played it over and over again.
@fulopistvan6417
Correct lyrics for this version:
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
And I believe I'm fixin' to die
Believe I'm fixin' to die
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I'm fixin' to die yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Just as sho' we live
It is sho' we's born to die
Sho' we's born to die
Just as sho's we live
Sho' we's born to die
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Yo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That's why's I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
How my chillen's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
'Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Look over yonder
On the buryin' ground
On the buryin' ground
Look over yonder on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand
Standin' still to let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
'Fore they let me down
Ain't no need a-them screamin' an cryin'
On the graveyard ground.
@wesleyculpepper4571
Thank you for posting the correct lyrics 💯
@vincegregoric5918
Thank you for doing this!
@matthewcoombs3282
There is it folks....the roots of rock and roll. The Rossetta Stone of rock, I can hear the Stones, Zeppelin and even the Stooges in that blues song.
@jameswebb4337
A cover/reworking of this was the first song to be played at Woodstock!!