Goudreau's guitar on the album often duplicated Boston's sound, which Boston leader Tom Scholz had always said was his own creation and that Goudreau only had a minor role on the Boston albums. After Goudreau's album was released in 1980, Scholz fired Goudreau from Boston. The album peaked at #88 on the Billboard chart and the lead single, "Dreams," stalled at #103.
Goudreau went on to be a member of Orion the Hunter and RTZ. He also recorded albums as a duo with Delp.
Mean Woman Blues
Barry Goudreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said yes - I didn't wanna fight
I got bruises up and down my arm
That woman loves to do me harm
Oh baby, well I got me the mean woman blues
Now listen - this is just the way it happened
I went out to have a drink with the boys
I wasn't breaking the law
I came home I didn't make much noise
She hit me right smack in the jaw
Well the next thing I know here comes a table and chair
I fell down she picked me up by the hair
She said, I know you're out seein' some whore
And I'm gonna even the score
Baby alright
Oh you know that woman loves to fight
Lord she can kick, scratch and bite
Got me shaking all night
Oh baby, well I got me the mean woman blues
She got a heart that's cold as ice
You cross her once, you won't cross her twice
There's no tellin' once her mind is made
It's like steppin' on a hand grenade
Oh baby, well I got me the mean woman blues
Now listen up
I went out for a walk in the park
Just gettin' some air
I came home, and it was just after dark
She met me at the top of the stairs
Well the next thing I know she began to wail
I went flyin' somewhere over the rail
She said I know you're out doing me wrong
But honey it won't be for long
So baby sit down
She said you and me are gonna have another round
She said in this house female brutality
Has become a reality
I said wow
Oh baby alright
Oh you know that woman loves to fight
She can kick, scratch, and bite
Got me shaking all night
Oh baby, well I got me the mean woman blues
I got married, it was out of fright
She said yes, I didn't wanna fight
I got bruises up and down my arm
That woman loves to do me harm
Oh baby, well I got me the mean woman blues
Now tell me if you think this is fair
I went out to have a drink with the boys
I wasn't breaking the law
I came home I didn't make much noise
She hit me right smack in the jaw
Well the next thing I know here comes a table and chair
I fell down she picked me up by the hair
She said, I know you're out seein' some whore
And I'm gonna even the score
So baby sit down
She said you and me are gonna have another round, sucker
She said in this house female brutality
Has become a reality
I said wow
Oh baby, now enough is enough
Now put down that hammer honey please
Ow - Yeah - Whoa
The song Mean Woman Blues by Barry Goudreau describes a man's experience being married to a violent and abusive woman. The lyrics suggest that the man may have married her out of fear, saying "I got married it was out of fright, she said yes - I didn't wanna fight." The singer describes being hit and hurt by his wife, both physically and emotionally. He describes her as having a "heart that's cold as ice" and being willing to resort to extreme violence to punish him for perceived wrongdoings. Despite the abuse, the singer seems unable to leave the relationship, and seems to fear for his safety if he were to try. Throughout the song, Goudreau's guitar work adds to the feeling of tension and danger expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I got married it was out of fright
I got married out of fear and not love
She said yes - I didn't wanna fight
She agreed to the union, and I didn't want to argue
I got bruises up and down my arm
I'm constantly physically assaulted
That woman loves to do me harm
She gets a thrill out of inflicting pain on me
Oh baby, well I got me the mean woman blues
I'm stuck with a vicious and heartless partner
I went out to have a drink with the boys
I went for a drink with my friends
I wasn't breaking the law
I wasn't doing anything illegal
I came home I didn't make much noise
I returned quietly without any disturbance
She hit me right smack in the jaw
My wife punched me hard in the face
Well the next thing I know here comes a table and chair
She grabbed furniture and threw it at me
She said, I know you're out seein' some whore
She falsely accused me of cheating
And I'm gonna even the score
She is going to make me pay for something I didn't do
She can kick, scratch, and bite
She is abusive and uses any means to hurt me
Got me shaking all night
I am constantly in fear and trauma
She got a heart that's cold as ice
She's unfeeling and apathetic towards my pain
You cross her once, you won't cross her twice
She's dangerous and unforgiving
It's like steppin' on a hand grenade
Dealing with her mood swings and aggression is like walking on a landmine
I went out for a walk in the park
I took a stroll in the park for some fresh air
She met me at the top of the stairs
She was waiting for me and immediately attacked
She said I know you're out doing me wrong
She continued to unjustly accuse me of cheating
But honey it won't be for long
She's going to make me pay for something I didn't do
She said you and me are gonna have another round
She threatened more physical abuse
In this house female brutality, has become a reality
She is proud of how abusive she is towards me
Now put down that hammer honey please
She is wielding a hammer, and I'm pleading with her to stop the violence
Contributed by Keira E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.