O' Clock Blues
B.B. King Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well now, it's three o'clock in the morning
And I can't even close my eyes.
Three o'clock in the morning
And I can't even close my eyes.
Can't find my baby
And I can't be satisfied.

I've looked all around me
And my baby, she can't be found.
I've looked all around me, people,
And my baby, she can't be found.
You know if I don't find my baby,
People, I'm going down to the golden ground.

Goodbye everybody,
I believe this is the end.
Oh, goodbye everybody,
I believe this is the end.
I want you to tell my baby,




Tell her please, please forgive me,
Forgive me for my sins.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Three O'Clock Blues," sung by B.B. King and Eric Clapton, describe a man's anguish and desperation as he cannot find his lover at three o'clock in the morning. The man cannot close his eyes and is dissatisfied as a result of his inability to locate his lover. He has searched all around him, yet his lover is nowhere to be found. If he does not find her soon, he feels as though he is going "down to the golden ground." This phrase generally refers to death or a hopeless situation, emphasizing the magnitude of the man's despair.


The song's chorus repeats the line "Three o'clock in the morning, and I can't even close my eyes," further emphasizing the man's emotional distress. He bids farewell to the listeners and believes that this is the end. He asks the listeners to tell his lover to forgive him for his indiscretions. The lyrics to "Three O'Clock Blues" demonstrate a sense of desperation and heartbreak that can be felt through B.B. King and Eric Clapton's soulful delivery.


Line by Line Meaning

Well now, it's three o'clock in the morning
The singer is currently experiencing the unpleasantness of being awake at three in the morning.


And I can't even close my eyes.
The singer is so troubled that they can't even fall asleep.


Three o'clock in the morning
Reiterated emphasis of the time of the night.


And I can't even close my eyes.
The artist is deeply affected and cannot fall asleep despite being exhausted.


Can't find my baby
The artist is apparently searching for their romantic partner and is unable to locate them.


And I can't be satisfied.
The inability to find their loved one has plunged the singer into despair, and they won't be content until they locate their lover.


I've looked all around me
The singer has searched for their lover far and wide.


And my baby, she can't be found.
Regrettably, the outcome of the search has been fruitless.


I've looked all around me, people,
The artist seems to be addressing the audience or those around them.


And my baby, she can't be found.
Reiteration of the unsuccessful search for the artist's lover.


You know if I don't find my baby,
The singer is indicating that without their partner, things will look bleak for them.


People, I'm going down to the golden ground.
If the artist can't locate their romantic partner, they suggest that they will die.


Goodbye everybody,
The singer is announcing their final farewell to the world.


I believe this is the end.
The singer suggests that death is ahead and the end is coming.


Oh, goodbye everybody,
Reiteration and confirmation of their farewell.


I believe this is the end.
The looming feeling of impending death is still present.


I want you to tell my baby,
The artist wants someone to deliver a message to their lover.


Tell her please, please forgive me,
The singer's requests are centered on their lover and looking for forgiveness.


Forgive me for my sins.
The singer is accepting the consequences of their past actions, and seeking some level of forgiveness for them.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@cheryljohn4257

My moma loved BB! As I listen to this song… mind you I am not crying(I am surprised) my moma passed on one month ago! Thank you “Suga” for introducing me to the blues! My moma was so classy!💔

@ChrisChurton

Shows you don't have to shred a guitar lick to play great guitar. It's all about the feel and soul you put in.

@VNCV96

However this is way harder than shredding.

@idk9637

@Vincenzo Covelli definitely not. I dont even like shred.. but if u seriously believe blues is harder then ur in denial.

@VNCV96

@VonTonSoup no man. Learn your minor scales and you shred up and down the neck, it's that easy. But for this kind of phrasing there Is a lot more. Playing over the changes with the right feel and with a extremelly soulful touch. This needs spiritual growth, introspection. This is being an artist at its purest form, without any sort of taking the easy way of speed ostentation, without fake virtuosism. Try and then tell me.

@dylanmorgan6053

@Vincenzo Covelli couldnt have said it better myself

@VNCV96

@Dylan Morgan thanks man!

4 More Replies...

@babscabs1987

Rest in Peace. You changed the world!

@ishakriah9897

How?

@iyaharris1171

google it

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