Got the Blues
B.B. King Lyrics


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I wake up and think of her
No matter what I do
She's always on my mind
A time a day or two

Seems to me the things you've loved the most
You always lose
But once you've got them
You've always got the blues

In time, well you may find someone else
That can comfort you
But not someone to light the fire
No, not the way she used to do

You lose the things that made it
What it was when it was new
And once you've got them
You've always got the blues

That new love only can replace
Just so much of you
That leaves a lot that gets lost between
Number one and number two

In time, well you may find someone else
That can comfort you
But not someone to light the fire
No, not the way she used to do

You lose the things that made it
What it was when it was new




And once you've got them
You've always got the blues

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of B.B. King's song "Got the Blues" are a reflection on the pain and heartbreak that comes with losing someone you love deeply. The opening lines express the all-consuming nature of this pain, as the singer wakes up every day with thoughts of his lost love. He is unable to escape her memory, even after trying to move on.


The chorus of the song is the most poignant and bittersweet, as the singer acknowledges the inevitability of this heartbreak. He muses that the things we love the most are often the things that we lose, but once we've lost them, we're left with the lingering pain, the blues. This line is a powerful commentary on the nature of love and loss, and how we never quite get over those intense and meaningful connections that we've formed.


The final verse of the song reflects on the idea that while we may find someone else to comfort us, they can never quite fill the void left by a lost love. That person was the one who lit the fire, and no one can ever do it the same way again. Even if we try to replace what we've lost, we are left with a sense of emptiness, and a permanent sense of the blues.


Overall, "Got the Blues" is a profoundly moving song that captures the essence of heartbreak and the pain of losing someone you love. The lyrics are beautifully crafted, and the melody perfectly captures the melancholic yet hopeful spirit of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

I wake up and think of her
The singer cannot stop thinking about the person they lost.


No matter what I do
The singer has tried unsuccessfully to distract themselves from their thoughts.


She's always on my mind
The person they lost is constantly present in the singer's thoughts.


A time a day or two
Even brief moments of distraction cannot keep the artist's thoughts from returning to the person they lost.


Seems to me the things you've loved the most
The artist believes that the things they have loved the most are the things they are most likely to lose.


You always lose
The singer has experienced loss in their life.


But once you've got them
Despite the likelihood of loss, the singer believes that the things they love are worth pursuing.


You've always got the blues
The pain of losing something or someone you love will stay with you forever.


In time, well you may find someone else
The artist acknowledges the possibility of finding love again in the future.


That can comfort you
The artist will never forget the person they lost, but another person may be able to provide some level of comfort.


But not someone to light the fire
No one will be able to fully replace the person they lost or the feelings they once had.


No, not the way she used to do
The artist is still longing for the way things used to be with the person they lost.


You lose the things that made it
The singer recognizes that what once made their love special is now gone.


What it was when it was new
The love they had with the person they lost was unique and cannot be replicated.


And once you've got them
Despite the recognition of potential loss, the singer still believes that love is worth pursuing.


You've always got the blues
The pain of losing someone you love will stay with you forever.


That new love only can replace
A new love can never fully replace the love they had with the person they lost.


Just so much of you
A new love can only fill a small part of the void left by their loss.


That leaves a lot that gets lost between
There is still much pain and emptiness that cannot be filled by a new love.


Number one and number two
The artist is comparing the person they lost to a new love interest.




Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@brando555555

RIP.... great musician. After all the cowboy chords, a lot of BB's licks were the first thing I learned on the guitar.

@valdobarbosa

Muito bom

@dhanimcca411

BB King no se quedaría atrás, es ahí donde adopta el nombre de Rey del Blues

@AndrewsOpinion15

I LOVE B.B. KING !!!!!!!!!!!!

@csarasek

maestro b.b. king

@woodrailking

Sounds like Peter Gunn ten years later

@reneetaylor1630

My grandma own a restaurant in West Monroe call soul food cafe i use to help her ruin it me and my brothers and sisters my mom also use to work in it all we listening to is bb King

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