How Blue Can You Get?
B.B. King Lyrics


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I've been downhearted baby
Ever since the day we met
I said I've been downhearted baby
Ever since the day we met
Our love is nothing but the blues, woman
Baby, how blue can you get?

You're evil when I'm with you
And you are jealous when we're apart
Yes, I said you're evil
You're so evil when I'm with you, baby
And you are jealous when we're apart
How blue can you get, baby?
The answer's is right here in my heart

I gave you a brand-new Ford
You said I want a Cadillac
I bought you a ten dollar dinner
You said thanks for the snack
I let you live in my penthouse
You said it was just a shack
I gave you seven children
And now you want to give them back
Yes, I've been downhearted baby
Ever since the day we met




I said our love is nothing but the blues
Baby, how blue can you get?

Overall Meaning

In B.B. King's How Blue Can You Get, the singer laments on a soured relationship with a woman who has left him feeling downhearted since the day they met. He describes their love as nothing but the blues, suggesting that it has been wrought with sadness and disappointment. The woman he is addressing is portrayed as both evil and jealous. When they are together, she is cruel, and when they are apart, she is envious.


The lyrics take a sarcastic turn as B.B King talks about his attempts to please the woman with material possessions, such as a brand-new Ford and a ten-dollar dinner, but she is never satisfied. She constantly wants more luxurious things, like a Cadillac, and gives him no appreciation for what he has already given her. The lyrics also reveal that B.B King has given her much, including seven children, and even that is not enough to satisfy her.


The overall message of the song is that love should not be a one-way street. Relationships require a give-and-take dynamic, and when one person is always taking and never giving, it can lead to feelings of emptiness and sadness. The lyrics to How Blue Can You Get serve as a warning to listeners to avoid toxic relationships and to find partners who value and appreciate them.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been downhearted baby
I have been feeling low ever since we met.


Ever since the day we met
From the day we met, I have been feeling low.


I said I've been downhearted baby
I told you that I have been feeling low.


Our love is nothing but the blues, woman
Our relationship is always filled with sadness and misery.


Baby, how blue can you get?
I wonder how much more heartbroken I can feel.


You're evil when I'm with you
You behave wickedly when we're together.


And you are jealous when we're apart
You get envious when we're not together.


Yes, I said you're evil
I have told you that you behave wickedly.


You're so evil when I'm with you, baby
When we're together, you behave extremely wickedly.


How blue can you get, baby?
How much more heartbroken can I feel because of you?


The answer's is right here in my heart
I already know the answer because I feel it in my heart.


I gave you a brand-new Ford
I gave you a new car.


You said I want a Cadillac
You said you wanted a more expensive car, a Cadillac.


I bought you a ten dollar dinner
I took you to dinner that cost $10.


You said thanks for the snack
You expressed gratitude for the low-cost dinner.


I let you live in my penthouse
I allowed you to live in my luxurious apartment.


You said it was just a shack
You complained that the penthouse was not good enough for you.


I gave you seven children
I fathered seven kids with you.


And now you want to give them back
Now you want to end our relationship and abandon our children.


Yes, I've been downhearted baby
I told you that I have been feeling low.


Ever since the day we met
From the day we met, I have been feeling low.


I said our love is nothing but the blues
I told you that our relationship brings only sadness.


Baby, how blue can you get?
I wonder how much more heartbroken I can feel.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Leonard Feather, Jane Feather

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

@mr.marcusmartin2016

As a child we went on the road for vacations & my father had a briefcase full of blues tapes...I myself liked rap. Still do..
I could only get to play maybe one or two songs & my dad took it right out...
His briefcase of blues tapes was in the backseat with me. So I had to choose one for him to listen too...
Over time I grew to have favorites...
Now, as a man, B.B.KING Gets as much play time as any rap song I may have...
I thank GOD for those long road trips..& for the gift he planted into B.B.KING.
MY Ear for music is vast...
If you don't care for blues.
If you'd rather listen to your "status quo" I hope your put into a situation that will allow you the blessing of crossing the path of the music BB.KING Left behind....
LONG LIVE THE KING.



@josefwillis6135

I remember the first time I heard B.B. King,
I just had to get my Dad to buy me a guitar
I even tried to make a guitar out of a water
Melon like BB's album cover.
Think my Dad and I got along because I loved
To sing the blues. We'd sit and play for hours
Ppl would come by and sit in.
Felt like playing at a Juke Joint.
Long Live The KING.
you'll away be in my heart



@TheRealForrestGeorge

I've been down hearted baby
Ever since the day we met
I said I've been down hearted baby
Ever since the day we met
Our love is nothing but the blues, woman
Baby, how blue can you get?

You're evil when I'm with you, baby
And you're jealous when we're apart
I said You're evil when I'm with you, baby
And you're jealous when we're apart
How blue can you get baby
The answer is right here in my heart

I gave you a brand new Ford
But you said: "I want a Cadillac"
I bought you a ten dollar dinner
And you said: "thanks for the snack"
I let you live in my pent house
You said it just a shack
I gave you seven children
And now you wanna give them back

I said I've been down hearted baby
Ever since the day we met
Our love is nothing but the blues
Baby, how blue can you get?



All comments from YouTube:

@axelamalander6415

This is what my guitar watches, when I'm not home

@VirgilTStone

Smart axe!

@jackhopkins4679

That’s funny

@wasiarrahman8251

did he get the blues?

@kingshark3503

Lol
💀🤣🤣🤣🤕💀🤣

@tywhitehead2424

😭🤣🤣🤣💀

3 More Replies...

@robertbonadio

This opening guitar solo has to be up there with the greatest live Blues guitar solos ever recorded. May He Rest In Peace.

@dlm9293

fuckin eh

@dierdrefinney

not just blues opening . but one of the best if not the best solo guitar ever.
R.I.P RILEY A.K.A B
B.B KING/ LUICELL

@charlesmelonson7966

Hey Fang,i think is is the best,or it's tied with Santana.

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