Big Bill Blues
Big Bill Broonzy Lyrics


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Lord, my hair's a-rising, my flesh begins to crawl
Aw, my hair's a-rising, my flesh begin to crawl
I had a dream last night baby, another mule in my doggone stall

Now, there's some people said the Big Bill blues ain't bad
Now, some people said the Big Bill blues ain't bad
Lord, it must not have been them Big Bill blues they had
Lord, I wonder what's the matter, papa Bill can't get no mail
Lord, wonder what's the matter now, papa Bill can't get no mail
Lord, the post office must be on fire, the mailman must undoubtedly be in jail

I can't be a wagon, since you ain't gonna be a mule




Mmm, can't be a wagon mama, since you ain't gonna be a mule
I ain't gonna fix up your black tradition, I ain't gonna be your doggone fool

Overall Meaning

In the song Big Bill Blues by Big Bill Broonzy, the singer is describing his discomfort and unease. He says that his hair is rising and his flesh is beginning to crawl. This could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it seems likely that he is feeling a sense of dread or anxiety. He then goes on to describe a dream he had in which there was another mule in his stall. This suggests that he is feeling overwhelmed or crowded in some way.


The second verse of the song includes an interesting play on words. The singer says that some people have said that the Big Bill blues aren't bad, but that it must not have been the same Big Bill blues that he has. This could be interpreted as a comment on the individual nature of suffering. What one person considers to be a small problem might be a big deal for someone else. The last verse of the song includes a reference to the mail. The singer wonders why he isn't getting any mail, and suggests that perhaps the post office is on fire, or that the mailman is in jail. This could be interpreted as a comment on the isolation that the singer is feeling.


Overall, Big Bill Blues is a song that seems to be about a sense of unease and discomfort. The singer is feeling overwhelmed by something, but it's not entirely clear what that something is. The lyrics are fairly cryptic, and it's up to the listener to interpret them in their own way.


Line by Line Meaning

Lord, my hair's a-rising, my flesh begins to crawl
I am feeling uneasy and unnerved


Aw, my hair's a-rising, my flesh begin to crawl
I am feeling uneasy and unnerved


I had a dream last night baby, another mule in my doggone stall
I had a disturbing dream last night that suggests trouble is coming my way


Now, there's some people said the Big Bill blues ain't bad
Some people think that my situation is not that serious


Now, some people said the Big Bill blues ain't bad
Some people think that my situation is not that serious


Lord, it must not have been them Big Bill blues they had
Those people must not have experienced the same troubles that I am facing


Lord, I wonder what's the matter, papa Bill can't get no mail
I am concerned about why I am not receiving any mail


Lord, wonder what's the matter now, papa Bill can't get no mail
I am concerned about why I am not receiving any mail


Lord, the post office must be on fire, the mailman must undoubtedly be in jail
I am jokingly trying to explain why I am not receiving any mail


I can't be a wagon, since you ain't gonna be a mule
I cannot be what someone else wants me to be if they will not do the same for me


Mmm, can't be a wagon mama, since you ain't gonna be a mule
I cannot be what someone else wants me to be if they will not do the same for me


I ain't gonna fix up your black tradition, I ain't gonna be your doggone fool
I will not conform to someone else's cultural expectations or be taken advantage of




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM LEE CONLEY BROONZY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Ootake Kazzcyan

This tune is a Big Bill"s theme and I think this performance is the best of all other versions. Very cool arrangement.

socrates

One of the few beautiful examples of songwriting par excellence. Right up there with McCartney (who loved Big Bill) and Brian Wilson. He had a truck load of em too!

norbert neri

Fabuleux chanteur et guitariste de blues.

socrates

Wow amazing Vocs and great song! He had a ton of them in early yrs

Maxim Popov

Blues is the healer 💙

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