Born To Be Blue
Chet Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but they are such a chosen few
and clovers being green
is something i've never seen
'cause i was born to be blue
When there's a yellow moon above me
they say there's moonbeams i shoul view
but moonbeams being gold
are something i can't behold
'cause i was born to be blue
When i met you
the world was bright and sunny
when you left the courtain fell
i'd like to laugh
but nothing strikes me funny
now my world's a faded pastel
I guess i'm luckier than some folks
i've known the thrill of loving you
but that alone is more
than i was created for
'cause i was born to be blue
When i met you
the world was bright and sunny
but when you left the courtain fell
i'd like to laugh
but there's nothing that strikes me funny
now my world's a faded pastel
I guess i'm luckier than some folks... (repeat)
The lyrics to Chet Baker's song Born to Be Blue tell the story of an individual who feels a deep sense of melancholy and despair, as they believe that they were born to lead a life of sadness and disappointment. The opening lines of the song suggest that some people are simply meant to live a life of luxury and happiness, represented by the clover, while others are not so fortunate. The singer of the song sees himself as one of the latter, and feels that his life has been marked by a sense of emptiness and sadness.
The second verse of the song describes a similar feeling of inadequacy, as the singer laments his inability to appreciate the beauty of the world around him. He sees the moonbeams above him as inaccessible, a symbol of his own limitations and weaknesses. The third and final verse suggests that the singer's feelings of sadness and despair are due in large part to a lost love, which has left him feeling alone and helpless.
Overall, Born to Be Blue is a deeply poignant and introspective song, one that captures a sense of sadness and despair that many people can relate to. It speaks to the human experience of feeling trapped by one's own limitations and shortcomings, and the difficulty of finding meaning and purpose in the face of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Some folks were meant to live in clover
Some people are destined to live a life of luxury and abundance
but they are such a chosen few
Only a select few are blessed with such a life
and clovers being green
Clovers are often associated with good fortune and wealth, symbolized by their green color
is something i've never seen
The artist has never experienced such good fortune
'cause i was born to be blue
The artist is destined to live a sad, melancholy life
When there's a yellow moon above me
During moments of beauty and wonder
they say there's moonbeams i should view
People suggest enjoying the magical and surreal aspects of life
but moonbeams being gold
The beauty of these aspects is often fleeting and elusive
are something i can't behold
The artist is unable to appreciate or enjoy these moments
'cause i was born to be blue
The artist is meant to live a life devoid of happiness and wonder
When i met you
The singer fell in love
the world was bright and sunny
The artist's outlook on life was positive and optimistic
when you left the curtain fell
The end of the relationship caused a significant shift in the singer's emotions
i'd like to laugh
The singer wishes they could find joy and humor in life
but nothing strikes me funny
The singer is unable to find humor in the world around them
now my world's a faded pastel
The artist's world feels dull and lifeless
I guess i'm luckier than some folks
The artist realizes that despite their sadness, they have experienced love
i've known the thrill of loving you
The singer experienced the excitement and joy of being in love
but that alone is more
However, even that experience doesn't make up for the singer's overall sadness
than i was created for
The artist feels as though they were never meant to be truly happy
'cause i was born to be blue
The artist believes that their destiny is to live a sad, melancholy life
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronniekahn6941
The first time I met Chet Baker, he was playing at a little neighborhood club called Strykers on 97th & Columbus Avenue on Manhattan's Upper West Side. He was coming back after years of an extended period of absence, having diligently devoted himself to re-learning to play trumpet with dentures, which everybody told him could not be done. But he persevered and prevailed, and this was one of his first comeback gigs. Awesome! I never heard any trumpet sound like that! I don't think it could ever be captured on a recording: So intimate tender innovative & personal...sometimes just whispering & breathing infinite silence space&timelessness into his trumpet...He just loved music & making music so deeeeeeeeeply & innately: just making the purest finest most beautiful sounds and blissful ethereal effects. Chet Baker was truly a great Maestro of the highest degree, a natural-born precocious musical genius like Mozart!
During the break I came up to Chet to thank & enthusiastically congratulate him. In my over-enthusiasm I started telling Chet how much I also dug & admired & had been imitating his singing for years, and automatically went into my little imitation of him singing “I Wish I Knew” till I caught myself & felt embarrassed & silly & said,“Oh no! Here I am doing my Chet Baker imitation for Chet Baker!” He just smiled & said “You don't look old enough to remember that record.” (1955 LP called “Chet Baker Sings& Plays")
He looked gaunt & emaciated, almost like a derelict. But his voice and manner were very polite mellow kind & refined, sensitive gentle very personable sweet good-natured & very likable, casual cultured & very well-bred. I asked him if he would sing during his second-set after the break. He thanked me for asking but apologized & explained why he really couldn't because he was working with just a bassist & drummer & no piano...
He excused himself when his band-mates summoned him to prepare for their second set. There were just a few other people at that very small dimly-lit cellar club that night. My date was a nice girl who had the same last name as me though we were otherwise unrelated, I barely remember her, but we were both blown-away by Chet!
When Chet came back from the break, he opened his set singing “Just Friends” Bless his heart! Still feels good that he honored my request & was singing just for me! His singing always kinda reminds me of Alfalfa from “Our Gang”
I still listen to Chet's music almost every day now, often listening to him continually all day long, and when I try listening to something else for a change, I find myself missing his familiar soothing sound which is so much an integral part of me, I find myself unable to listen to anything else & hafta sink right back into that sweet fine&mellow transcendent celestial atmosphere he creates so effortlessly & endlessly...
PS: I had given Chet my business card that night, and to my surprise & amazement—first thing in the morning--he called me! But that's another story for another time now...
@ape2reginaforse504
Some folks were meant to live in clover
But they are such a chosen few
And clovers being green
Is something I've never seen
'Cause I was born to be blue
When there's a yellow moon above me
They say there's moonbeams I should view
But moonbeams being gold
Are something I can't behold
'Cause I was born to be blue
When I met you
The world was bright and sunny
When you left the courtain fell
I'd like to laugh
But there's nothing strikes me funny
Now my world's a faded pastel
Well, I guess I'm luckier than some folks
I've known the thrill of loving you
And that alone is more
Than I was created for
'Cause I was born to be blue
When I met you
The world was bright and sunny
When you left the courtain fell
I'd like to laugh
But nothing strikes me funny
Now my world's a faded pastel
Well, I guess I'm luckier than some folks
I've known the thrill of loving you
And that alone is more
Than I was created for
'Cause I was born to be blue
'Cause I was born to be blue
'Cause I was born to be blue
@curious1curious
The Lyrics:
Some folks were meant to live in clover
but they are such a chosen few
and clover being green
is something I've never seen
'cause I was born to be blue
When there's a yellow moon above me
they say there's moonbeams i should view
but moonbeams being gold
are something I can't behold
'cause i was born to be blue
When i met you the world was bright and sunny
when you left the curtain fell
I'd like to laugh
but there's nothing that strikes me funny
now my world's a faded pastel...well,
I guess I'm luckier than some folks
I've known the thrill of loving you
and that alone is more
than I was created for
'cause I was born to be blue
'cause I was born to be blue
'cause I was born to be blue
@notimeforyeet3233
Some folks were meant to live in clover
but they are such a chosen few
and clover being green
is something i've never seen
'cause i was born to be blueWhen there's a yellow moon above me
they say there's moonbeams i shoudl view
but moonbeams being gold
are something i can't behold
'cause i was born to be blue When i met you the world was bright and sunny
when you left the courtain fell
i'd like to laugh
but there's nothing strikes me funny
now my world's a faded pastel Well I guess i'm luckier than some folks
i've known the thrill of loving you
and that alone is more
than i was created for
'cause i was born to be blue When i met you the world was bright and sunny
but when you left the courtain fell
i'd like to laugh
but nothing that strikes me funny
now my world's a faded pastel Well I guess i'm luckier than some folks... i've known the thrill of loving you
and that alone is more
than i was created for
'cause i was born to be blue 'cause i was born to be blue 'cause i was born to be blue
@ronniekahn6941
The first time I met Chet Baker, he was playing at a little neighborhood club called Strykers on 97th & Columbus Avenue on Manhattan's Upper West Side. He was coming back after years of an extended period of absence, having diligently devoted himself to re-learning to play trumpet with dentures, which everybody told him could not be done. But he persevered and prevailed, and this was one of his first comeback gigs. Awesome! I never heard any trumpet sound like that! I don't think it could ever be captured on a recording: So intimate tender innovative & personal...sometimes just whispering & breathing infinite silence space&timelessness into his trumpet...He just loved music & making music so deeeeeeeeeply & innately: just making the purest finest most beautiful sounds and blissful ethereal effects. Chet Baker was truly a great Maestro of the highest degree, a natural-born precocious musical genius like Mozart!
During the break I came up to Chet to thank & enthusiastically congratulate him. In my over-enthusiasm I started telling Chet how much I also dug & admired & had been imitating his singing for years, and automatically went into my little imitation of him singing “I Wish I Knew” till I caught myself & felt embarrassed & silly & said,“Oh no! Here I am doing my Chet Baker imitation for Chet Baker!” He just smiled & said “You don't look old enough to remember that record.” (1955 LP called “Chet Baker Sings& Plays")
He looked gaunt & emaciated, almost like a derelict. But his voice and manner were very polite mellow kind & refined, sensitive gentle very personable sweet good-natured & very likable, casual cultured & very well-bred. I asked him if he would sing during his second-set after the break. He thanked me for asking but apologized & explained why he really couldn't because he was working with just a bassist & drummer & no piano...
He excused himself when his band-mates summoned him to prepare for their second set. There were just a few other people at that very small dimly-lit cellar club that night. My date was a nice girl who had the same last name as me though we were otherwise unrelated, I barely remember her, but we were both blown-away by Chet!
When Chet came back from the break, he opened his set singing “Just Friends” Bless his heart! Still feels good that he honored my request & was singing just for me! His singing always kinda reminds me of Alfalfa from “Our Gang”
I still listen to Chet's music almost every day now, often listening to him continually all day long, and when I try listening to something else for a change, I find myself missing his familiar soothing sound which is so much an integral part of me, I find myself unable to listen to anything else & hafta sink right back into that sweet fine&mellow transcendent celestial atmosphere he creates so effortlessly & endlessly...
PS: I had given Chet my business card that night, and to my surprise & amazement—first thing in the morning--he called me! But that's another story for another time now...
@lindaadams4831
That is some story....so wish it were my story to tell.....I have gone through periods of my life when I too played his `stuff` continually and not been able to tear myself ...not letting any other piece of music in...bathing myself in his mellifluous tone and almost drowning in its beauty. oh the glorious , delicious, almost pain of it all..........You are one lucky guy, regards Linda.
@deaniemberry
What a great story Ronnie, next time I want the story of the phone call, what a nice man!
@xIncloseAways
Ronnie Kahn can i hear about the call
@lindaadams4831
WE are ALL waiting with bated breath for the story of that `phone call. Bearing in mind this post was made 2 years ago I sincerely hope nothing untoward has happened to prevent your relating its content.....Linda
@sabrinalocke2846
Ronnie Kahn every time I read this, it puts a smile on face!!!!!
@mountainmanasmr7899
this Chet fella sure makes being sad seem pretty cool
@booshank2327
I read that in Norm Macdonald''s voice.
@BoWspacecraft
@@booshank2327 Hahahahahahahahhahahahaaaaahahahahahaaaaaaahahahahahahaaaa.... I almost died. 🤣🤦🏻♀️😍
@kevincampbell5785
Yes, but I'd always choose happy over sad, and Chet's music makes me happy, pulls me up.