In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Trouble In Mind
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bet you I won't be blue always
'Cause that ol' sun's gonna shine
On Jerry lee Lewis's back door step someday
I'm gonna lay my head
On somebody's lonesome railroad line
Let that ol' midnight special
Well, they tell me that old graveyard
Is a mighty lonesome place
Lo0rd they put you six feet under
Shovellin' mud directly in your face
Will, goodbye baby, may God bless you
And may He bless ol' killer a little bit too
Oh, don't meet you over yonder, baby
When they throw that Jerry right over you
Troubled in mind, when I'm little blue
Bet you I won't be blue always
Cause the sun's gonna shine
On, on my back doorstep
Some lowdown, lonesome, mother humpin' day
The song "Trouble in Mind" by Asleep at the Wheel reflects the feeling of being downhearted, which is characterized by a sense of sadness and despondency. The opening lines of the song convey that the singer is in a state of melancholy, "Troubled in mind, I'm little blue, Bet you I won't be blue always," but he hopes that this is not permanent and anticipates brighter days ahead. He believes that the sun will eventually shine, and he would eventually get away from being blue.
In the second verse, the singer expresses his desire to find solace from his troubles by laying his head on somebody's lonesome railroad line and allowing the midnight special to ease his troubled mind. He acknowledges that the graveyard is a lonesome place and that the finality of death is sad. The song's last verse is a message to a loved one, wishing her goodbye and asking God to bless her and the singer too. He hopes to reunite with her someday but only after the burial of Jerry, whom the singer knows as their mutual friend. The song ends with the singer's certainty that the sun will shine, but he emphasizes that it might take some time.
Line by Line Meaning
Troubled in mind, I'm little blue
I am troubled and feeling sad.
Bet you I won't be blue always
I believe that I won't continue feeling sad forever.
'Cause that ol' sun's gonna shine
The belief that the sun will shine eventually, and things will get better.
On Jerry lee Lewis's back door step someday
A belief that the sun will shine one day, maybe on a famous singer's doorstep.
I'm gonna lay my head
I will rest and find comfort.
On somebody's lonesome railroad line
I will find a solitary place to rest my head that is not surrounded by people.
Let that ol' midnight special
I will rely on the train called the 'Midnight Special'.
Ease my troubled mind
I hope to reduce my sadness by relying on the train to take me away from my troubles.
Well, they tell me that old graveyard
It is rumored that the graveyard is a desolate and lonely place.
Is a mighty lonesome place
The graveyard is a place where one could feel alone and isolated.
Lo0rd they put you six feet under
When you die, you are buried six feet under the ground.
Shovellin' mud directly in your face
It is a gruesome truth that when you are buried, mud is shoveled directly onto your face.
Will, goodbye baby, may God bless you
I am bidding farewell and wishing someone well.
And may He bless ol' killer a little bit too
I am also wishing that someone named 'killer' would be blessed in some way.
Oh, don't meet you over yonder, baby
I hope to not meet them in the afterlife.
When they throw that Jerry right over you
I hope to not meet them in the afterlife when someone named Jerry is buried over us.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard M. Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
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Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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