vocal prowress while simultaneously giving Lucille an extensive workout. The storyline speaks
for itself. This is among King's best work.
Chains And Things
B.B. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
@micha5ful
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 chains that bind 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 doin' woman
And a slave driving ball
I can't lose these chains that bind me
Can't shake them loose, these chains and things
Just can't lose these chains and things
Oh, 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 losin' game
These chains that bind me
Can't lose 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 no money to buy a ticket
And I don't feel like walkin' anymore
These chains that bind me
Oh, I can't lose, I can't lose these chains and things
@aparticularnameandthatname5719
When your whole life has been a struggle. You've been poor, beaten, down and out. One song sums it all up.
@TheColumbiakid
Two years late but it's still so true
@fluidwings2078
Remember, friction make babies, struggle makes gain, sangin' bout dem hard times brought many artists fame, it`s all in the mix, the flow.
@purvistanner6016
This is real Music
@stephendouglas4343
@@theresanelson3253 you ain't lying.
@williamjohnson7162
Yes that's true
@O.G.Ashtre
0:00 That Part Was Sampled By UGK Song: Aint That A Bitch
2:45 The Part Where He Says Can't Lose Was Sampled By RZA Song: Cant Loose
3:38 That Part Was Sampled By Ice Cube Song: A Bird In The Hand
@1LORENZOUTUBE
“Mark” car drives off with them laughing!
@O.G.Ashtre
@@1LORENZOUTUBE LMFAO!
@ericb7776
Awesome comment, The youngbucks paid homage. Respect your elders