Why I Sing The Blues
BB King & Bobby Blue Bland Lyrics
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Why I sing the blues
Yes, I say everybody wanna know
Why I sing the blues
Well, I've been around a long time
I really have paid my dues
When I first got the blues
Men were standing over me
And a lot more with the whip
And everybody wanna know
Why I sing the blues
Well, I've been around a long time
Mm, I've really paid my dues
I've laid in a ghetto flat
Cold and numb
I heard the rats tell the bedbugs
To give the roaches some
Everybody wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
Yes, I've been around a long time
People, I've paid my dues
I stood in line
Down at the County Hall
I heard a man say, "We're gonna build
Some new apartments for y'all"
And everybody wanna know
Yes, they wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
Yes, I've been around a long, long time
Yes, I've really, really paid my dues
Now I'm gonna play Lucille
My kid's gonna grow up
Gonna grow up to be a fool
'Cause they ain't got no more room
No more room for him in school
And everybody wanna know
Everybody wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
I say I've been around a long time
Yes, I've really paid some dues
Yeah, you know the company told me
Guess you're born to lose
Everybody around me, people
It seems like everybody got the blues
But I had 'em a long time
I've really, really paid my dues
You know I ain't ashamed of it, people
I just love to sing my blues
I walk through the cities, people
On my bare feet
I had a fill of catfish and chitterlings
Up and down Beal Street
You know I'm singing the blues
Yes, I really
I just have to sing my blues
I've been around a long time
People, I've really, really paid my dues
Now Father time is catching up with me
Gone is my youth
I look in the mirror everyday
And let it tell me the truth
I'm singing the blues
Mm, I just have to sing the blues
I've been around a long time
Yes, yes, I've really paid some dues
Yeah, they told me everything
Would be better out in the country
Everything was fine
I caught me a bus uptown, baby
And every people, all the people
Got the same trouble as mine
I got the blues, huh huh
I say I've been around a long time
I've really paid some dues
One more time, fellows!
Blind man on the corner
Begging for a dime
The rollers come and caught him
And throw him in the jail for a crime
I got the blues
Mm, I'm singing my blues
I've been around a long time
Mm, I've really paid some dues
Can we do just one more?
Oh I thought I'd go down to the welfare
To get myself some grits and stuff
But a lady stand up and she said
"You haven't been around long enough"
That's why I got the blues
Mm, the blues
I say, I've been around a long time
I've really, really paid my dues
Fellows, tell them one more time
That's all right, fellows (yeah!)
BB King and Bobby Blue Bland’s song “Why I Sing The Blues” is a powerful reflection on the experience of being African American in the United States. The lyrics reflect on the pain and struggle of African Americans throughout history, from slavery to segregation to the present. The song begins with King saying that everyone wants to know why he sings the blues, and he answers by saying that he has been around a long time and has paid his dues. King’s blues come from his experience of being brought over on a slave ship, where he was beaten and mistreated. Later in the song, he describes his experience of living in a ghetto flat and not having enough money to send his children to school.
The song highlights the systemic injustice that African Americans have faced throughout history, from segregation to the lack of access to education and opportunities. King also talks about his experience of being told that he was “born to lose” by a company, highlighting the ways that those in power often hold African Americans back. The song ends with a reference to a blind man being jailed for a crime, showcasing the ways that African Americans are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement.
Overall, “Why I Sing The Blues” is a powerful and emotional reflection on the African American experience. The song’s lyrics reflect the pain and struggle that African Americans have endured throughout history, and King’s passionate vocals give voice to that struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody wants to know
Everyone is curious
Why I sing the blues
Asking why he performs blues music
Yes, I say everybody wanna know
Confirming that everyone is curious
Well, I've been around a long time
Has had a long history
I really have paid my dues
Has struggled and overcome challenges to get where he is
When I first got the blues
Explaining how he was introduced to the blues genre
They brought me over on a ship
Describing how he was transported as a slave
Men were standing over me
Referring to the slave masters who controlled him
And a lot more with the whip
Indicating that he was subjected to brutal treatment
I've laid in a ghetto flat
Describing the poor living conditions he's had to endure
Cold and numb
Expressing the harshness of his living situation
I heard the rats tell the bedbugs
Personifying pests in his living environment
To give the roaches some
Expressing that even the pests were struggling to survive
I stood in line
Describing an experience in a government office
Down at the County Hall
Specifying the government office name
I heard a man say, "We're gonna build
Explaining a community development project
Some new apartments for y'all"
Describing the construction plans
My kid's gonna grow up
Referring to the future of his children
Gonna grow up to be a fool
Implying that his children's futures will be impacted by societal circumstances
'Cause they ain't got no more room
Referring to overcrowding and a lack of resources
No more room for him in school
Explaining how education is impacted by limited resources
Now Father time is catching up with me
Referring to the aging process
Gone is my youth
Expressing the effects of aging
I look in the mirror everyday
Explaining a daily routine
And let it tell me the truth
Reflecting on the physical changes that come with aging
Yeah, they told me everything
Reflecting on past words of encouragement
Would be better out in the country
Referring to moving to the countryside
Everything was fine
Believing that a change of scenery would be beneficial
I caught me a bus uptown, baby
Describing a change of location
And every people, all the people
Reflecting on his disappointment with the outcomes of the move to the new location
But I had 'em a long time
Referring to the longevity of his blues career
And a lady stand up and she said
Recalling an interaction from the past
"You haven't been around long enough"
Being told that he did not have enough experience to be helped
Fellows, tell them one more time
Encouraging others to share his story
That's all right, fellows (yeah!)
Having gratitude and appreciation for others supporting him
Blind man on the corner
Describing a character
Begging for a dime
Explaining the man's actions
The rollers come and caught him
Describing an unjust action taken by the police
And throw him in the jail for a crime
Reflecting on the biased and systemic injustices worked against people of color at the time
Mm, the blues
Referring to the powerful emotion represented in blues music
I say, I've been around a long time
Emphasizing his extensive blues singing career
I've really, really paid my dues
Highlighting the struggles he's endured throughout his life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: B.B. King, Dave Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind