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Better Not Look Down
B.B. King Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I´ve been around and i´ve seen some things
People moving faster than the speed of sound
Faster than the speeding bullet
People living like superman
All day and all night
And i won´t say if it´s wrong or if it´s right
I´m pretty fast myself
But i do have some advice to pass along
Along in the chorus of this song

Better not look down
If you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down
Keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back
Or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving
If you don´t look down

An old girl friend of mine showed up the other day
That girl have lived in love and for love
And over love, and under love all her life
If the arrows from cupid´s bow that had
Passed through her heart had been sticking
Out of her body she would have looked like
A porcupine, and she asked me
B.b. do you think i´ve lived my life all wrong?
And i said: the only advice i have to pass
Along in the chorus of this song
Girl

Better not look down
If you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down
Keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back
Or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving
If you don´t look down

I was walking down the street at sunrise one morning
In london, england
And there was a very large rolls royce limousine
Pulling slowly along the street
And in that rolls royce was the queen of england
Looking tired
Just go back from a party, and the queen leaned out and
She said: aren´t you b.b. king? she said:
Oh b.b., sometimes it´s so hard to pull things together
Could you tell me what you think i ought to do?
And i said:

Better not look down
If you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down
Keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back
Or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving
If you don´t look down

Overall Meaning

In B.B. King's song Better Not Look Down, he reflects on his life experiences and observations of others. He talks about people moving at a breakneck pace and living like they are invincible. Although he does not judge if it's right or wrong, he advises listeners to keep going and not to look back. He tells stories of an ex-girlfriend who wonders if she has lived her life wrong, and a conversation with Queen Elizabeth II where she asks him for advice. In all these situations, B.B. King advises to keep moving forward and not to dwell on the past or worry too much about the future.


Line by Line Meaning

I´ve been around and i´ve seen some things
I have a lot of experience and have seen many things in my life


People moving faster than the speed of sound
People are in such a hurry that they move faster than the speed of sound


Faster than the speeding bullet
People are so fast that they move faster than a speeding bullet


People living like superman
People live extravagant and excessive lives like superheroes


All day and all night
They live their excessive lives every day and night


And i won´t say if it´s wrong or if it´s right
I won't judge if their lifestyle is right or wrong


I´m pretty fast myself
I also move quickly in my life


But i do have some advice to pass along
However, I do have some advice to share


Along in the chorus of this song
Which is included in the chorus of this song


Better not look down
Don't look at the ground


If you want to keep on flying
If you want to continue to succeed


Put the hammer down
Speed up and don't hold back


Keep it full speed ahead
Keep going at full speed


Better not look back
Don't dwell on the past


Or you might just wind up crying
Or you may become emotional and upset


You can keep it moving
Keep moving forward


If you don´t look down
If you don't focus on your mistakes or fears


An old girl friend of mine showed up the other day
An ex-girlfriend of mine recently came to see me


That girl have lived in love and for love
She has always lived her life for love and in pursuit of love


And over love, and under love all her life
Love has been a constant theme and motivator in her life


If the arrows from cupid´s bow that had
If all the times she has been in love


Passed through her heart had been sticking
Were physically visible on her body


Out of her body she would have looked like
She would have looked like


A porcupine,
A porcupine


and she asked me
And she asked me


B.b. do you think i´ve lived my life all wrong?
Do you think I have lived my life incorrectly?


And i said: the only advice i have to pass
And I replied: the only advice I have to give


Along in the chorus of this song
Which is included in the chorus of this song


Girl
Girl


I was walking down the street at sunrise one morning
One morning, I was walking down the street at sunrise


In london, england
In London, England


And there was a very large rolls royce limousine
I saw a large Rolls Royce limousine


Pulling slowly along the street
Slowly driving on the street


And in that rolls royce was the queen of england
The Queen of England was in the car


Looking tired
Appearing exhausted


Just go back from a party,
Having just left a party


and the queen leaned out and
The Queen leaned out and


She said: aren´t you b.b. king? she said:
She asked: Aren't you BB King?


Oh b.b., sometimes it´s so hard to pull things together
Oh BB, sometimes it's very difficult to gather oneself


Could you tell me what you think i ought to do?
Can you give me advice on what I should do?


And i said:
And I replied:


Better not look down
Don't focus on your mistakes or fears


If you want to keep on flying
If you want to continue to succeed


Put the hammer down
Speed up and don't hold back


Keep it full speed ahead
Keep going at full speed


Better not look back
Don't dwell on the past


Or you might just wind up crying
Or you may become emotional and upset


You can keep it moving
Keep moving forward


If you don´t look down
If you don't focus on your mistakes or fears




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE SAMPLE, WILL JENNINGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Craig

I loved him like a favourite uncle.
I was blessed to get to tell him to his face :D
He smiled, slightly nodded at me, and touched his heart.


:)

And he stood up to greet my mother.

GENTLEMAN. Look it up.

:)



magicnubs

Lyrics
I´ve been around and i´ve seen some things
People moving faster than the speed of sound
Faster than the speeding bullet
People living like superman
All day and all night
And i won´t say if it´s wrong or if it´s right
I´m pretty fast myself
But i do have some advice to pass along
Along in the chorus of this song

Better not look down
If you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down
Keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back
Or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving
If you don´t look down

An old girl friend of mine showed up the other day
That girl have lived in love and for love
And over love, and under love all her life
If the arrows from cupid´s bow that had
Passed through her heart had been sticking
Out of her body she would have looked like
A porcupine, and she asked me
B.b. do you think i´ve lived my life all wrong?
And i said: the only advice i have to pass
Along in the chorus of this song
Girl

Better not look down
If you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down
Keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back
Or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving
If you don´t look down

I was walking down the street at sunrise one morning
In london, england
And there was a very large rolls royce limousine
Pulling slowly along the street
And in that rolls royce was the queen of england
Looking tired
Just go back from a party, and the queen leaned out and
She said: aren´t you b.b. king? she said:
Oh b.b., sometimes it´s so hard to pull things together
Could you tell me what you think i ought to do?
And i said:

Better not look down
If you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down
Keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back
Or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving
If you don´t look down

I looked up the lyrics to this song, and figured others listening to the song might want to see them as well. I just copy+pasted from Google music, so I assume these are right, but if they aren't take it up with Google lol.



All comments from YouTube:

Barry Markwick

I took up guitar because of this man, if i get any good it will be down to him. Simply brilliant when you watch him he bares his soul. Thank you BB King

Tommy Leverett

The torch has been passed. Carry it far, my man! 🎸😎

olusheyi banjo

Something about this song is soothing to my spirit. Especially when i'm going through a heartbreak

Richard Nish

Play it again forever.

Freddie Trotter

BB King is the greatest that ever picked up a guitar or sing the blues. That's it and that's all

imari2305

My all time favorite song by BB. RIP BB King you will surely be missed.

Seraiah Daniella

I have this on repeat today. What a beautiful song. Thank you, B.B.

NavyLeaguer

Have loved BB's music for many decades. He touches souls so well.

Monique

THANK YOU!!!!! For posting this song, This is one of my all time favorites!!! Also GREAT JOB on the Bio so things about him I didn't know. Great Job as well with the slide show. You did BB King a great service with your tribute. Thank you again for the song I LOVE BB KING!!!!!!! I started listening to him when I was a little girl riding with my father. Thanks again.

Craig

I loved him like a favourite uncle.
I was blessed to get to tell him to his face :D
He smiled, slightly nodded at me, and touched his heart.


:)

And he stood up to greet my mother.

GENTLEMAN. Look it up.

:)

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