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Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

For weary weeks I waited
And hoping for the best
But blues will make me ramble
And the rails are leading west

I'm feeling oh, so lonesome
Pleasure I can't find
I'm leaving you mean mama
Just to worry you off of my mind

That old kindly whistle
Just fall in line and smile
Mean, my mama haunts me
And I crave the peace of mind

I don't know where I'm going
I'm feeling kind of square
I've been from several places
And I'm going to be from here

Seems there's something missing
There's feelings in my breath
I crave to cover distance
So mean mama give me wreath

I hear the rails a singing
The sky is clear and blue
I'm going to leave you mama
When the train comes rolling through

No money in my pocket
I'm roving around so flat
And soon I'll be strolling
Down that railroad track

And when I'm miles away
Riding all the while
I think of you mean mama
I think of you and smile

Overall Meaning

In Jimmie Rodgers's Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues, he sings of his frustration and sadness in his relationship with his "mean mama." He has waited patiently and hopefully for things to improve, but the blues are too much for him to bear, and he decides to leave her. Despite feeling lonesome and uncertain of where he's going, he cannot take it anymore, and he's eager to put distance between them.


The song expresses a sense of longing for freedom from a toxic relationship, but also the pain of leaving someone behind. The image of the train represents escape and the opportunity for a fresh start, but also the sadness of leaving behind something familiar. Jimmie describes his current state as feeling "kind of square" and like there's something missing, indicating his dissatisfaction with his current situation. His desire for peace of mind and a release from his mean mama's haunting presence drives him to leave, but he can't help but think of her and smile as he rides away.


Overall, Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues is a classic blues tune that captures the struggle of being stuck in a difficult relationship and the desire to break free. It showcases Jimmie Rodgers's beautiful voice and heartfelt lyrics, conveying his longing for freedom and the bittersweet emotions that come with leaving someone behind.


Line by Line Meaning

For weary weeks I waited
I've been waiting so long, that I can't wait anymore


And hoping for the best
I've been hoping for things I can't have, and it's only caused me despair


But blues will make me ramble
When I'm feeling down, I feel compelled to travel


And the rails are leading west
The pull to move on and travel is too strong and I'm going west


I'm feeling oh, so lonesome
I'm incredibly sad and lonely


Pleasure I can't find
I can't find anything that makes me happy


I'm leaving you mean mama
I'm leaving because you have been unkind


Just to worry you off of my mind
Leaving is the only way to escape the stress and troubles you cause and it might make you reflect on your behaviour


That old kindly whistle
The train's whistle brings me comfort


Just fall in line and smile
The familiarity of train travel and the sound of its whistle is all I want right now


Mean, my mama haunts me
The negative impact that my mother has had on me keeps playing on my mind


And I crave the peace of mind
I need to find tranquility and serenity


I don't know where I'm going
I'm uncertain about my future


I'm feeling kind of square
I'm feeling unsure about myself


I've been from several places
I've been traveling to find my place in the world


And I'm going to be from here
I don't want to stay here anymore


Seems there's something missing
It feels like there's something that's not quite right


There's feelings in my breath
I feel emotional and it's hard to breathe


I crave to cover distance
I want to escape and get distance from my problems


So mean mama give me wreath
Please let me be at peace, despite our past


I hear the rails a singing
The sound of the train running is pacifying


The sky is clear and blue
The sky dominates the scenery and makes for a pleasant view


I'm going to leave you mama
The train is coming and it's time for me to leave


When the train comes rolling through
When the train finally arrives


No money in my pocket
I'm broke


I'm roving around so flat
I'm aimlessly wandering


And soon I'll be strolling
I'll be walking when I finally leave


Down that railroad track
I will be following the track on my journey


And when I'm miles away
When I'm far enough from here


Riding all the while
As I continue my journey


I think of you mean mama
I still think of you, despite all the hurt you've caused me


I think of you and smile
I remember the good times too and I'm happy to have left to get back to them




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB SAWYER, JIMMIE RODGERS, WALDO O'NEAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Joseph Smith

Nice memories!