blues
B.B. King & Muddy Waters Lyrics


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Well, I wish I was a catfish
Swimmin' in the deep blue sea
I'd have all you women
Fishin' after me
Fishin' after me
Fishin' after me

Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
Ragged and I'm dirty too
Well, if I clean up, baby, can I
Stay home with you
Stay home with you
Stay home with you

If I can't, can't come in
Let me sit down front of your door
I'll leave so early, your
Mom won't know
Won't never know
Won't never know

Oh, I know, know my baby
Well, she's going to jump and shout
When my train pulls in and I
I come walkin' out
Come walkin' out
Come walkin' out

Yes, I'm goin', babe I'm goin'
And your crying won't make me stay
Oh, the more you cry, baby
More I'll go away
More I'll go away
More I'll go away

Well now I know, I know you don't want me
Why in the world won't you tell me so?
Then I won't be caught, baby, 'round
Your house no more




Your house no more
Your house no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to B.B. King & Muddy Waters's song "Blues in 2-3" tell a story of a man who wishes he was a catfish swimming in the deep blue sea, where he would have all the women fishing after him. He's broke, hungry, ragged, and dirty, and he's begging a woman to let him clean up and stay home with her. However, if she won't let him in, he asks to sit down in front of her door and promises to leave so early that her mom won't know. The man knows his baby will jump and shout when his train pulls in and he comes walking out, but he's still determined to leave, no matter how much she cries. He ends the song by wondering why the woman won't just tell him she doesn't want him, so he won't be caught around her house anymore.


The lyrics of "Blues in 2-3" are classic blues fare, featuring themes of poverty, heartbreak, and unrequited love. The man in the song is down on his luck, but he's still looking for love and companionship wherever he can find it. The imagery of the catfish swimming in the deep blue sea is a common trope in blues music, representing freedom, escape, and the ability to swim against the current.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I wish I was a catfish
I sometimes dream of being a catfish


Swimmin' in the deep blue sea
Swimming in the deep blue sea would be blissful


I'd have all you women
All women would be interested in me


Fishin' after me
They'll be trying to win my attention


Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
I'm currently destitute and famished


Ragged and I'm dirty too
Additionally, I'm unkempt and unclean


Well, if I clean up, baby, can I
If I tidy myself, may I stay with you?


Stay home with you
Can I be with you in your home?


If I can't, can't come in
If I can't enter your home


Let me sit down front of your door
May I sit in front of your door?


I'll leave so early, your
I'll leave before your


Mom won't know
Mother awakens


Won't never know
She will never find out


Oh, I know, know my baby
I'm certain my sweetheart


Well, she's going to jump and shout
Will be overjoyed


When my train pulls in and I
At the time I arrive on the train


I come walkin' out
I step out of the train


Yes, I'm goin', babe I'm goin'
Yes, I'm planning to leave, my dear


And your crying won't make me stay
Tears and wailing won't alter my decision


Oh, the more you cry, baby
Actually, the more you cry


More I'll go away
The more I will depart from you


Well now I know, I know you don't want me
Now I realize you're not interested in me


Why in the world won't you tell me so?
Why wouldn't you reveal it to me clearly?


Then I won't be caught, baby, 'round
So I can avoid hanging out close by your


Your house no more
residence any longer




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT PETWAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Therese walters

First time I saw Muddy playing slide. Great stuff 👏 👍 👌
I was able to see BB King once before he passed. What a privilege to hear the great blues players in my lifetime.

Bob C

Great find. Thanks for the upload. Muddy was an amazing musician and he knew other great musicians when he saw them. I loved seeing this band live in the 70's. Together, they were a powerhouse and all of them have or had stellar bands of their own. It was a joy and is still a joy to see them play together. RIP Muddy, Pinetop, Willie, and Fuzz.

Sherri Rouse

I 💘 Muddy Waters, I can listen to him and 💃 all day long.

gringochucha

Man, the old blues men had that straight-down-to-it, no bullshit way of playing that it's almost impossible to find nowadays.

Kimberly Parker

They know they played those guitars and sang them blues...love it!!! My granddad owned a juke joint and as a little girl I remember going to see him & my granny Saturday mornings and you could always here the blues playing next door!! I'm still a blues baby. Loved listening to these guys, Z.Z Hill, Mel Waiters, Marvin Sease, Denise LaSalle, Betty Wright and KoKo Taylor just to name a few

Bran Semlin

You can't ask for more, Muddy and BB

Finn Kennedy

BB is killing it in this performance!!! So good!!

Jeff Logue

I had the pleasure of seeing bb 3 times and he always killed it... I was within a few yards when he said I'm gonna do this till the day I die

Andrew V. Odom

So true. Saw and met him backstage for radio business but he’s really in a late prime here... Calvin Owens as bandleader..great bass player.. horns.. WOW

Людмила Семенюк

Какая сила и энергетика,очень сильно. Корифеи блюза!

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