Mr. Pawnbroker
B.B. King Lyrics


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I'm a pawnbroker, what do you want on your ring
I'm a pawnbroker, what do you want on your ring
See like every woman I loaned, they want the same old thing

Have to use my tester and see if will stand the test
Have to use my tester and see if will stand the test
Yes, I'm a pawnbroker, don't have nothing but the best
18 carat is o.k., but 14 carat will make the grade
18 carat is o.k., but 14 carat will make the grade
Yes, I'm a ring pawnbroker, don't have nothing but the best that's made

Yes, I'm a payin' pawnbroker, I pay the best price in town
Yes, I'm a payin' pawnbroker, I pay the best price in town
Well, if you don't believe me, baby, just lay your ring down

Yes, you may need money, baby, on your ring some day




Yes, you may need money, baby, on your ring some day
Well, you can't ever tell, what bad luck may come your way

Overall Meaning

The song "Mr. Pawnbroker" by B.B. King is all about the life of a pawnbroker who specializes in pawned rings. Throughout the song, he talks about using a tester to make sure the ring is real and will "stand the test." He also mentions that he only deals in the best rings, either 18 or 14 carat, and that he pays the best prices in town.


The chorus is a call-and-response style between the pawnbroker and his customers, with the pawnbroker asking "what do you want on your ring?" and the customer responding with the same phrase. The lyrics suggest that the women who pawn their rings are always asking for the same thing, implying that many of them are in financial trouble and need quick cash.


Overall, the song paints a picture of a seedy, but necessary, business that exists to help people in tough times. Despite the negative connotations that often surround pawn shops, "Mr. Pawnbroker" suggests that there are good people who work in this industry and who care about their customers.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a pawnbroker, what do you want on your ring
As a pawnbroker, I offer my services to you, so what kind of ring are you looking for?


See like every woman I loaned, they want the same old thing
I've noticed that most women who come to me for loans typically have similar requests.


Have to use my tester and see if will stand the test
Before accepting any jewelry as collateral, I have to use my tester to ensure that it's genuine and valuable enough for my purposes.


Yes, I'm a pawnbroker, don't have nothing but the best
As a pawnbroker, I take pride in providing only the highest quality jewelry and other items.


18 carat is o.k., but 14 carat will make the grade
While 18 carat jewelry is acceptable, it's the 14 carat pieces that are considered the best for pawning in my business.


Yes, I'm a ring pawnbroker, don't have nothing but the best that's made
Since I specialize in rings, I only deal with the finest pieces that are made.


Yes, I'm a payin' pawnbroker, I pay the best price in town
I am a fair pawnbroker and pay the best prices in town for the valuable items I accept.


Well, if you don't believe me, baby, just lay your ring down
If you're skeptical about how much I'm willing to pay, you can always lay your ring down on my counter and I'll tell you what it's worth.


Yes, you may need money, baby, on your ring some day
I understand that sometimes people need cash quickly, which is why pawning a valuable ring can be a good option.


Well, you can't ever tell, what bad luck may come your way
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes bad things happen unexpectedly. Pawning a ring can provide some financial security in case of such situations.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JULES BIHARI, RILEY B. KING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Françoise Dupré

Superb album, superb musicians.

Harmonica Joe Ryan

I love this album, it's obvious it was a huge influence on Anson.

H. Johnson

The first time I ever saw Anson he played about five songs from this LP.. I asked him on break about the "My Kind Of Blues" LP and he told me it was one of his favorites.

pipotherium

Amusingly enough I came here because of Anson

Ricky Tucker

I listen to this daily! Love the blues!

grosper

Great!

Roosevelt Davis

I have this 8-track tape. On the united label.

Matt Brown

RIP

screwmaster404

It's my kind too.