Chains And Things
B.B. King Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woke up this morning
After another one of those crazy dreams
Oh, nothing is going right this morning
The whole world is wrong it seems
Oh, I guess it's the chain that binds me
I can't shake it loose, these chains and things

Got to work this morning
Seems like everything is lost
I got a gold-hearted, wrong-doing woman
And a slave-driving ball
I can't loosen these chains that bind me
Can't shake them loose, these chains and things
Just can't loosen these chains and things

Well, you talk about hard luck and trouble
Seems to be my middle name
All the odds are against me
Yes, I can only play a losing game
These chains that bind me
Can't loosen these chains and things
Just can't loosen these chains and things

Oh I would pack up and leave today, people
But I ain't got nowhere to go
Ain't got money to buy a ticket
And I don't feel like walking anymore




These chains that bind me
I can't lose, I can't lose these chains and things

Overall Meaning

B.B. King's "Chains And Things" is a tragic blues song that portrays the singer's frustration of being tied to an endless cycle of struggle and misery. In the first verse, the lyrics depict the artist waking up to another day where everything is wrong in the world. The singer feels powerless as if he is trapped by chains that continue to bind him with things that make him feel uneasy. The second verse highlights the despair even more with the artist recognizing that he has a gold-hearted, wrong-doing woman and a slave-driving ball that reminds him of his place in the world. The singer becomes resigned to his fate - unable to shake loose from these chains and things that keep him feeling stuck.


The third verse reiterates a familiar theme of the song- how the singer has the misfortune of being unlucky and consigned to a losing game. It seems that he can't overcome the challenging situation that he's found himself in, and there's no winning at all. Despite all this, the artist would like to leave his gloomy past behind, but then he seemingly has nowhere to go- he is trapped, not even having the means to escape or start afresh. The song conveys deep-rooted pain and despair, and it seems like the chains and things are a metaphor for the circumstances and obstacles that face many people. King's heartfelt voice and bluesy guitar strummings elevate this already poignant song into a haunting masterpiece.


Line by Line Meaning

Woke up this morning
Started the day


After another one of those crazy dreams
Following a night of restless sleep


Oh, nothing is going right this morning
Negative feelings about the day


The whole world is wrong it seems
Pessimistic attitude towards the world


Oh, I guess it's the chain that binds me
Acknowledgement of being trapped


I can't shake it loose, these chains and things
Unable to escape from negative situation


Got to work this morning
Started working day


Seems like everything is lost
Feeling of hopelessness


I got a gold-hearted, wrong-doing woman
In a difficult relationship


And a slave-driving ball
Being forced to work hard


I can't loosen these chains that bind me
Unable to escape from negative situation


Can't shake them loose, these chains and things
Unable to break free from negative influences


Just can't loosen these chains and things
Persistent entrapment in negative situation


Well, you talk about hard luck and trouble
Common experience of misfortune


Seems to be my middle name
Misfortune is a defining characteristic


All the odds are against me
Feeling of being unlucky


Yes, I can only play a losing game
Unable to win


These chains that bind me
Negative situations that keep me trapped


Can't loosen these chains and things
Unable to break free from negative influences


Just can't loosen these chains and things
Persistent entrapment in negative situation


Oh I would pack up and leave today, people
Desire to escape from the situation


But I ain't got nowhere to go
Lack of options


Ain't got money to buy a ticket
Lack of financial resources for escape


And I don't feel like walking anymore
Lack of motivation for escape


These chains that bind me
Negative situations that keep me trapped


I can't lose, I can't lose these chains and things
Inability to break free from negative influences




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: B.B. KING, DAVE CLARK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@fahimfaysal7934

Woke up this morning
After another one of those crazy dreams
Oh, nothing is going right this morning
The whole world is wrong it seems
Oh, I guess it's the chain that binds me
I can't shake it loose, these chains and things
Got to work this morning
Seems like everything is lost
I got a cold-hearted, wrong-doing woman
And a slave-driving ball
I can't loosen these chains that bind me
Can't shake them loose, these chains and things
Just can't lose these chains and things
Well, you talk about hard luck and trouble
Seems to be my middle name
All the odds are against me
Yes, I can only play a losing game
These chains that bind me
Can't loosen these chains and things
Just can't lose these chains and things
Oh I would pack up and leave today, people
But I ain't got nowhere to go
Ain't got money to buy a ticket
And I don't feel like walking anymore
These chains that bind me
I can't lose, I can't lose these chains and things



@bluepearllouisiana5985

Woke up this morning
After another one of those crazy dreams
Oh, nothing is going right this morning
The whole world is wrong it seems
Oh, I guess it's the chain that binds me
I can't shake it loose these chains and things
Got to go to work this morning
Seems like everything is lost
I got a cold hearted wrong doing woman
And a slave driving ball
I can't loose these chains that bind me
Can't shake them loose these chains and things
Just can't loose these chains and things
Well you talk about hard luck and trouble
Seems to be my middle name
All the odds are against me
Yes, I can only play a losing game
These chains that bind me
Can't lose these chains and things
Just can't loose these chains and things
Oh, I would pack up and leave today people
But I ain't got nowhere to go
Ain't got no money to buy a ticket
And I don't feel like walking anymore
These chains that bind me
I can't lose
I can't lose these chains and things



All comments from YouTube:

@DarkGengar1969

I was never into blues but my late mother died and I first discovered this song through a rap sample by both RZA and Ice Cube and became my favorite BB King song.  In order for those two rap artists to sample a legendary blues artist that is telling you a lot that they respect Mr. King's achievements!!! RIP BB King and give my late mother one hell of a concert in Heaven!!! Shalom!!!

@HighRyza

I know the cube song but which rza song ?

@RDJ1997

RZA samples this is Can’t Lose and Cube sampled this in A Bird In The Hand as you already knew. Probably one of the best beats of the early 90s in my opinion

@pogback7086

Same for me, but with a Kendrick's song

@crk8197

@pogback last song standing?

@bamthompkins8268

When cube used it I had the c.d but always fast ward it. Now it's the best song eva

3 More Replies...

@nigelturner7424

I personally think this is perhaps the greatest blues song of all time... perfect.

@ipimees

so much passion in his voice, so much talent in his guitar playing. A legend indeed

@guare456

THIS SONG IS AN ABSOLUTE GEM.. REST IN PEACE TO THE LEGEND B.B. KING

@douglaswright2610

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