Swamp blues is a laid-back, slow tempo, and generally more rhythmic variation of Louisiana blues, that incorporates influences from New Orleans blues, zydeco, soul music and Cajun music. It is characterised by simple but effective guitar work and is heavily influenced by the boogie patterns used on Jimmy Reed records and the work of Lightnin' Hopkins and Muddy Waters. The sound of swamp blues was characterised by "eerie echo, shuffle beats, tremolo guitars, searing harmonica and sparse percussion".
The origins of swamp blues were based around the Louisiana state capital of Baton Rouge and particularly associated with the record producer J. D. "Jay" Miller. In the 1950s Miller realised that many blues artists around the city had not been recorded and rectified this, distributing the results through Excello Records in Nashville, Tennessee. The most successful and influential artist with whom he worked was guitarist and harmonica player Slim Harpo. His tracks included "I'm a King Bee" (1957), "I Got Love If You Want It" (1957) and "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), which were all hits on the R&B Chart. His biggest hit was a version of "Baby Scratch My Back" which reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1966. Other major artists included Lightnin' Slim, Lazy Lester, Silas Hogan, Lonesome Sundown and piano player Katie Webster. A number of their tracks, particularly those of Slim Harpo, were covered by British Invasion bands, including the Rolling Stones, The Kinks and the Yardbirds. The popularity of the genre faded in the 1970s, with many swamp bluesmen turning to zydeco which remained popular with black audiences.
Somebody Loan Me a Dime
Fenton Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need to call my old time, used to be
Somebody loan me a dime
Mmm, I need to call my old time, used to be
Ooh, little girl's been gone so long
You know it's worrying me
Hey, it's worrying, worrying me
I know she's a good girl
But at that time I just didn't understand
I know she's a good girl
But at that time I just didn't understand
Oh, you know I didn't
Somebody loan me a dime
You know I need, I need a helping hand
Somebody
Yeah, she's a good girl
But at that time I just didn't understand
Ooh, I know she's a good girl
But at that time I just could not understand
Whoa, no
Somebody better loan me that dime
To ease my worried mind
Whoa
Now, I cried, just cried
Just like a baby all night long
Ooh, you know I cried, just cried
Just like a baby, all night long
Whoa, somebody better loan me that dime
I need my baby, I need my baby here at home
Ooh, yeah
Fenton Robinson's song "Somebody Loan Me A Dime" is a blues classic that speaks to the need for connection, the pain of loss, and the longing for reconciliation. The singer is reaching out for help to call his old love who he knows is a good girl. He acknowledges that at the time they were together, he didn't understand her, but now he needs her back in his life. The sound of the blues guitar and a soulful voice can be heard throughout the song as the singer cries out for help to bring his baby back home.
The lyrics in "Somebody Loan Me A Dime" show the struggle of the singer as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his love. He talks about how the woman has been gone for so long that it worries him, and even though he knows that she's a good girl, he didn't understand her at the time. He begs for someone to loan him a dime to call his old love and hopes that she'll return. The singer cries out like a baby, hoping that someone will understand his pain and offer him solace. This song is a testament to the power of the blues to communicate the deepest emotions in a universal and profound way.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody loan me a dime
I need to borrow money in order to make a phone call
I need to call my old time, used to be
I want to call someone from my past whom I miss
Ooh, little girl's been gone so long
The girl I miss has been gone for a long time
You know it's worrying me
Her absence is a source of worry for me
Hey, it's worrying, worrying me
I am very concerned about her being gone
I know she's a good girl
I am aware that she is a good person
But at that time I just didn't understand
I lacked the understanding to appreciate her at the time she left
Oh, you know I didn't
I want to emphasize that I really didn't understand
You know I need, I need a helping hand
I am in desperate need of someone's help
Yeah, she's a good girl
I reiterate that she is a good person
Whoa, no
I want to express that I regret not appreciating her
To ease my worried mind
I want her back home to alleviate my anxiety
Now, I cried, just cried
I confess that I cried a lot
Just like a baby all night long
I cried intensely and for a long time
Whoa, somebody better loan me that dime
I urgently need the money to make the call
I need my baby, I need my baby here at home
I really want my loved one to come back home with me
Ooh, yeah
I express my longing for my loved one
Lyrics © Exceleration Music Partners, LLC
Written by: FENTON ROBINSON, JESSE (USA) ANDERSON, MILTON MIDDLEBROOK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ahmetkara7
Somebody loan me a dime
I need to call my old time, used to be
Somebody loan me a dime
Mmm, I need to call my old time, used to be
Ooh, little girl's been gone so long
You know it's worrying me
Hey, it's worrying, worrying me
I know she's a good girl
But at that time I just didn't understand
I know she's a good girl
But at that time I just didn't understand
Oh, you know I didn't
Somebody loan me a dime
You know I need, I need a helping hand
Somebody
Yeah, she's a good girl
But at that time I just didn't understand
Ooh, I know she's a good girl
But at that time I just could not understand
Whoa, no
Somebody better loan me that dime
To ease my worried mind
Whoa
Now, I cried, just cried
Just like a baby all night long
Ooh, you know I cried, just cried
Just like a baby, all night long
Whoa, somebody better loan me that dime
I need my baby, I need my baby here at home
Ooh, yeah
@MElliottHolcman
Man... this is good!
@cocojaz4478
old golds become more precious as time goes by.
@listennowbreath
Smooth as silk . Thank you for writing this song. Duane took it to Heaven!
@freakbennett2263
a bit further me thinks, jus sayin !😎🙌😎!
@lowtone9
I like Fenton on it a lot better.
@evansquid8670
You're welcome ☺☺
Love,
- Fenton Robinson
@paulinechapman9319
Ok props to all musicians re this tune...but the man here wrote it..a jumping off place for all the rest...🇨🇦🇨🇦
@musicproductionsdjentertai3343
This is some Great Blues, Brings back so many memories
@johnhendricks8140
Love how Benton plays throw chord tunarounds, i wouldnt doubt Stevie Ray Vaughn was listening to this guy.
@joeshittheragman1
Now, this is good shit. Support Alligator when ever you can.