Stormy Monday
B.B. King Albert Collins Lyrics
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Mr. T-Bone Walker, I'm gonna do one of his tunes
for you ladies and gentlemen
Called Stormy Monday, if ya don't mind
Hello!
We used to do a lot of the shows together
Tuesday's just as bad
(Look out Les, this goin' out to you, Les)
And they call it stormy Monday
Tuesday's just as bad
Wednesday's worse
Thursday, oh so sad, yeah
Yeah, that eagle flies on Friday, an' Saturday I go out to play
Yes, that eagle flies on Friday, an' Saturday I go out to play
Sunday I go to church, I do get on my knees an' pray
We got Larry Burton on guitar, how 'bout givin' him a hand, ladies and gentlemen?
(Yeah!)
The sun rise in the East, and it sets up in the West
Yeah, the sun rise in the East, baby, and it sets up in the West, yeah
It's hard to tell, it's hard to tell, which one of my love, that I love best
In the blues classic "Stormy Monday," B.B. King and Albert Collins pay tribute to the legendary T-Bone Walker, whom King cites as one of his biggest guitar influences. Before performing the song, King introduces it and shares his admiration for Walker. The song itself is a somber reflection on the disappointments and hardships of everyday life. King and Collins take turns singing and playing guitar, swapping solos and building the tension as they reflect on the stormy days of the week.
The opening lines suggest a sense of reverence for the guitar, which is personified as a young man who inspired them. The song immerses the listener in a languorous, bluesy atmosphere, with the slow, deliberate pacing of the song adding to its mood. The lyrics describe a week of despair, with the days getting progressively worse. Even though the sun continues to rise and set, it's hard for the singer to tell which of his loves he loves best. In the final lines, King and Collins muse on the fleeting nature of life's pleasures, with the eagle symbolizing fleeting pleasures and the church representing redemption and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
A young man that inspired me on a guitar
B.B. King admired T-Bone Walker, who inspired him to play the guitar
Mr. T-Bone Walker, I'm gonna do one of his tunes for you ladies and gentlemen
B.B. King is going to perform one of T-Bone Walker's songs for the audience
Called Stormy Monday, if ya don't mind
The song B.B. King is about to perform is called Stormy Monday
They call it stormy Monday (thank you!)
People call this particular day Stormy Monday
Tuesday's just as bad
The following day, Tuesday, is also difficult
And they call it stormy Monday
Again, people refer to this day as Stormy Monday
Tuesday's just as bad
Tuesday is just as challenging
Wednesday's worse
Wednesday is even more difficult
Thursday, oh so sad, yeah
The heaviness of the week continues on Thursday
Yeah, that eagle flies on Friday, an' Saturday I go out to play
On the weekend, B.B. King engages in leisure activities
Yes, that eagle flies on Friday, an' Saturday I go out to play
B.B. King is referring to the fact that money is flowing on the weekends
Sunday I go to church, I do get on my knees an' pray
On Sunday, B.B. King goes to church and prays
We got Larry Burton on guitar, how 'bout givin' him a hand, ladies and gentlemen?
B.B. King introduces Larry Burton to the audience and requests applause for him
(Yeah!)
The audience enthusiastically responds to B.B. King's request
The sun rise in the East, and it sets up in the West
B.B. King explains the cyclical nature of the rising and setting of the sun
Yeah, the sun rise in the East, baby, and it sets up in the West, yeah
He reiterates the same idea, adding a term of endearment
It's hard to tell, it's hard to tell, which one of my love, that I love best
B.B. King expresses his difficulty in determining which of his loves he cares for the most
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: AARON WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@turockandar
Albert Colins was truly one of the greatest blues players that ever lived with his very original style!
@JT-fl8wx
Up one
@wadeolder7193
These guys have played this song a zillion times. But the do it like it was the first time.
God loves them. And so do we.
@hotforknowledge2111
Abert Collins was one of the great genius' of the blues; his angular, at times dissonant and strikingly original choice of notes was unique as well as his driving head-spitting tone.
@mrspenn1611
2 legends now play in the great gig in the sky....
@SrogiJogi
Stephen Pennell Before I would pass almost every musician I ever "more than like" will already be there, so I asume - I'll arive just in time for "the great gig in the sky"
That thought keeps me smilin a little, instead of sheding a tear when I listen to my music.
@primolandia
+SrogiJogi And the best part is that the gig won't end... :)
@jalitasuttles3082
+Edward gbone omg!it takes soul baby and they had real soul.you know where your going focus on that.
@Agharta99
Hell is here not elsewhere but it's your choice.
@ssurfcity
@kidsgottheblues BB & Albert (and others) released an album called Blues Summit in '93, and this song (studio version) was on it. That was also the year AC passed.....