Although Eric Clapton and B.B. King had a 30-plus years friendship originating with a chance meeting and subsequent jam session at New York City's Café Au Go Go in 1967, the idea for a collaborative album only crystallized during the sessions for King's 1997 album Deuces Wild. The resulting record, "Riding with the King", is a stellar event thanks to a wealth of rich material and a solid supporting cast including Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Sample and Steve Gadd.
B.B. King's extensive catalog provides a wellspring of inspiration, including signature songs such as the smoldering "Three O'Clock Blues", alongside lesser-known numbers like the ribald shuffle "Days Of Old", and the Live at the Regal chestnut "Help The Poor". Elsewhere, King and Clapton look to guitarist Big Bill Broonzy (an acoustic "Key to the Highway") and Chicago pianist Maceo Merriweather (the slow-rolling "Worried Life Blues") for inspiration. Even the non-blues numbers are delivered with a rich subtlety befitting these guitar icons' consummate musicianship. John Hiatt's title track becomes a mid-tempo exchange between old friends, while their honeyed vocals on the standard "Come Rain or Come Shine" are worthy of Ray Charles' 1959 version.
"Riding with the King" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
Official website for B.B. King: www.bbking.com
Official website for Eric Clapton: www.ericclapton.com
Three O'Clock Blues
B.B. King & Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't even close my eyes
Oh, three o' clock in the mornin', baby
Can't even close my eyes
Well, I can't find my baby
Lord, and I can't be satisfied
Lord, I've looked around me
Whoa, looked all around me, people
Whoa, my baby can't be found
Well, if I don't find my baby
I'm goin' down to the boilin' ground, that's where the mens hang out
Well, I'm bound to find her
Yeah
Come here, baby
Well, goodbye, everybody
Lord, I believe this is the end
Oh, goodbye, everybody
Lord, I believe this is the end
Well, you can tell my baby
To forgive me for my sins
The lyrics to B.B. King's Three O'Clock Blues convey the feeling of heartache and the desperation that comes with not being able to find a loved one. The singer is awake at three in the morning, unable to close his eyes, lamenting that he cannot find his baby and as a result, cannot be satisfied. He looks around him, but his baby is nowhere to be found, and this drives him to consider going to places like the boilin' ground where men hang out. The song ends on a somber note, with the singer resigning himself to his predicament, saying goodbye to everybody because he believes this could be the end. He also appeals to whoever will see his baby to ask for forgiveness for his past mistakes.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of lost love, and the feelings of hurt and longing that come with it. B.B. King's delivery is impeccable, and one can easily connect with the emotional intensity that is communicated through the song. The song also touches on the frustrations and desperation that can come with searching for a loved one, and the hopelessness that will often come when that search proves futile.
Line by Line Meaning
Now here it is three o' clock in the mornin'
It's currently 3 AM
Can't even close my eyes
I can't fall asleep
Oh, three o' clock in the mornin', baby
Addressing his lover who is not present with him
Well, I can't find my baby
He doesn't know where his lover is
Lord, and I can't be satisfied
He's unhappy without his lover
Lord, I've looked around me
He's searched everywhere
Whoa, my baby can't be found
Still can't find his lover
Whoa, looked all around me, people
Asking people around to help him
Well, if I don't find my baby
He needs to find his lover
I'm goin' down to the boilin' ground, that's where the mens hang out
He's gonna go to a busy place to search for his lover
Well, I'm bound to find her
He's determined to find his lover
Yeah
Expression of determination
Well, goodbye, everybody
He's leaving
Lord, I believe this is the end
He thinks his life may end without his lover
Oh, goodbye, everybody
Confirmation that he's leaving
Well, you can tell my baby
He has a message for his lover
To forgive me for my sins
He's acknowledging his mistakes and asking for forgiveness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JULES BIHARI, RILEY B. KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Altannamar Enkhtuvshin
Well now it's three o'clock in the morning
And I can't even close my eyes
Three o'clock in the morning baby
And I can't even close my eyes
Can't find my baby
And I can't be satisfied
I've looked 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
I'm going down to the Golden Ground
That's where the men hang out
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
cokey blues
try to listen this one exactly at 03.00 am. you'll feel something around you. tested it multiple times.
Chad Smith
Achieved last night, SCORE!
Placebo
trying this tonight
Amy Ferguson
whilst sipping scotch and smoking a cigar
DahCobra
+Amy Ferguson Oh, I get what you mean...
http://i.imgur.com/nolp51l.jpg
This here?
Eva Mipro
Movie trailers mother
Ivan Bukac
Everytime i hear this I close my eyes and I just feel like I'm in a blues bar and these legends are just jamming just 30 ft away. Not a lot of people, a small crowd but listening like they represent milions. Feeling every note as if the guitars are reading their life stories.
Anthony Booty
Just love to be in that bar!
Наталья Михневич
👍❤❤❤
braian zamorano
gracias a esta musica vale la pena estar vivo! no importa cuando hayas nacido... la buena música es la que perdura por siempre