Happy Birthday Blues
B. King Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby lights her cigarette
And takes a look around
She says that morning sun
Sure does get her down
Nothing else to see
Just to help her lose
Those happy birthday blues
Grandpa takes a drink of wine
And tells it like it was
Tells me all he wants to do
Is what everybody does
Say he'd give the world
For a little girl
Just to help him lose
Those happy birthday blues

Happy birthday blues
Happy birthday blues
Got to pay your dues
Those happy birthday blues

In and out and on and on
Everybody goes
And where the fun with finally stops
Everybody knows
Girls it's me and you
Doing what we do




Just one way to lose
Those happy birthday blues

Overall Meaning

The B.B. King’s song “Happy Birthday Blues” opens up with Baby lighting her cigarette and taking a look around. The lyrics suggest that she is in a contemplative mood and is feeling down due to the morning sun. As the song goes on, she mentions that there is nothing else for her to see and she needs help to lose those happy birthday blues. The verse exposes that Baby is having a rough day and can’t find reasons to be happy on her birthday.


The second verse features Grandpa having a drink of wine and telling the way it was in his time. He explains how all he wants to do is what everybody does but needs a little girl’s company to help him lose those happy birthday blues. This verse reveals the generational gap and how the elder generation views life. The chorus is repeated over and over again after each verse to emphasize the “happy birthday blues,” which signifies that the song is about blues on one's birthday, which is supposed to be a happy occasion.


The last verse lets us know that everyone is enjoying the day in their manner and when the fun stops, everyone knows where it has ended. The line “Girls it's me and you / Doing what we do” indicates that the singer (presumably B.B. King) is enjoying himself with the girls too, despite his woes. The lyrics of “Happy Birthday Blues” are simple and straightforward, yet they describe the mournful feeling of feeling blue on a day that should be joyous.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby lights her cigarette
The woman is smoking a cigarette


And takes a look around
She surveys her surroundings


She says that morning sun
The sunlight in the morning affects her mood


Sure does get her down
It makes her sad


Nothing else to see
There is nothing of interest to see


Just to help her lose
She wants to dispel


Those happy birthday blues
Her feelings of sadness on her birthday


Grandpa takes a drink of wine
The grandfather drinks wine


And tells it like it was
He recounts memories


Tells me all he wants to do
He describes his desires


Is what everybody does
His desires are similar to others'


Say he'd give the world
He would do anything


For a little girl
To have a granddaughter


Just to help him lose
To alleviate


Those happy birthday blues
His own sadness on his birthday


Happy birthday blues
Feelings of sadness on one's birthday


Happy birthday blues


Got to pay your dues
The cost of being successful


Those happy birthday blues
Sadness experienced on one's birthday


In and out and on and on
Things continue


Everybody goes
Everyone leaves


And where the fun with finally stops
The fun eventually ends


Everybody knows
This is common knowledge


Girls it's me and you
The singer is with the women


Doing what we do
They are engaging in their typical activities


Just one way to lose
Only one thing can help dispel


Those happy birthday blues
Sadness felt on one's birthday




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE SAMPLE, WILL JENNINGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

David Yahyayan

Baby lights her cigarette
And takes a look around
She says that morning sun
Sure does get her down
Nothing else to see
Just to help her lose
Those happy birthday blues
Grandpa takes a drink of wine
And tells it like it was
Tells me all he wants to do
Is what everybody does
Say he'd give the world
For a little girl
Just to help him lose
Those happy birthday blues
Happy birthday blues
Happy birthday blues
Got to pay your dues
Those happy birthday blues
In and out and on and on
Everybody goes
And where the fun with finally stops
Everybody knows
Girls it's me and you
Doing what we do
Just one way to lose
Those happy birthday blues



GUILHERMEWALLADARES—GRATIDÃ☺

@Shirley Bailey -Where are you from??you are beautiful!!!Where

do you live???mouth and eyes beautiful!!!My

blog:

http://guilhermewalladares.blogspot.com.br/
__________________________________________
-Porra,cara!!Baby King foi demais:a sua voz,a sua guitarra,a sua melodia foram recursos valiosos que enriqueceram o blues,ritmo do qual acho deveramente lindo!!!e tem mais: a figura demonstrou o quanto era humilde;entrevistado,alguns dias antes de falecer fizeram uma pergunta para reacender o seu ego;ele respondeu seguramente:"Não,não!!sou apenas um cara que sabe cantar uma guitarra e nada mais!!"caramba,faz favor!!!!



All comments from YouTube:

Ulisses Macedo

This is the first time I hear blues, and. .. words are not enough to describe the feeling. It's awesome! :)

Robin Wilson

It was my birthday yesterday, and an old friend sent me this track - wow - I just love B.B!!

Kingscrib

I've seen B. B. King so many times over the years, since the 1960s, and he remains the epitome of a gentleman and great entertainer! Not many like him (nor will there be) & it's why he's still loved and revered by so many! He's paid the cost to be the boss! :)

Ryder Smith

I remember every year for everyone's birthday my grandad played this record and we jammed in the house. My grandma still has it somewhere in a collection, sad that both B.B and grandad are gone, though. R.I.P Riley B. King and my dear grandpa, definitely our most favorite song.

Osvaldo Tiberto

MARAVILLOSO!!...B.B. es un genio inmortal.

Jose Maria Demonte

Descansa en paz B.B. King !!

Czesław Jakubiczka

Oto chodzi!! Wspaniałe.Moja muzyka.Gratulacje.

luzmila cruzado sanchez

Happy Birthay mi B.B King Un inmenso abrazo hasta el cielo me dejaste un inmenso corazón lleno de tu melodias ✨✨

Beef Boss

Happy Birthday, B.B. King!! You would've been 94 this year! Thank you for all your music and your legacy <3

Michael Gonzalez

I once was knighted by BB in a concert
Commissioned to go forth and sing 🎶
He was a wonderful musician indeed!

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