My Heavy Load
Big Mama Thornton Lyrics

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Packin' up my trouble, movin' on down the road
Uh um mm, movin' on down the road
Yeah, I'm lookin' for a place, child, to dump this heavy load

Yeah, why do I worry, why do I have to cry?
Oh ho, why do I worry, oh, why do I have to cry?
You know I was good to the man I love, I wonder why did he have to say goodbye

Oh ho, why do I have to carry this heavy load
Oh ho, why do I have to carry this heavy load
Say I'm gonna keep on travelin', down this old lonesome road

Hey, hey, hey, I get worried sometime
You know my burden is gettin' awful heavy
Lord I know I'm so weary, you know, my baby's gone
Oh, but my burden's heavy

Hey, hey, travelin' on down this lonesome road

Travelin' on down that lonesome road
Yeah, hey, baby, I got to ease my heavy load

Overall Meaning

The song "My Heavy Load" by Big Mama Thornton is a soulful blues piece that speaks of the burden and weight of carrying the aftermath of a failed relationship. The lyrics address the pains of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from the memories of the past. The artist is moving on from a painful situation, and as she packs her troubles and prepares to move to better pastures, she seeks a place to dump her heavy load. Despite her best efforts to keep the relationship, her significant other left her, and she’s left to carry the weight of their love, which turned out not to be enough to keep them together.

The lyrics express a feeling of sadness, questioning, and worry as to why she had to be the one carrying this heavy load of the past relationship. She wonders why she has to worry and cry, despite her efforts to make the relationship work. The pain that comes with saying goodbye to someone you love is difficult to bear, and she can't help but wonder why things turned out this way. She's traveling on this lonesome road, with an ever-growing heavy burden weighing her down.

Overall, the lyrics capture the essence and reality of heartbreak and healing. The journey is never easy, but the message of the song reminds the listener to persevere and not get stuck in the past.

Line by Line Meaning

Packin' up my trouble, movin' on down the road
I am leaving behind my problems and heading toward a new destination.

Uh um mm, movin' on down the road
I am humming to myself as I walk because I am happy to be on my way.

Yeah, I'm lookin' for a place, child, to dump this heavy load
I am searching for a location to set down my emotional baggage.

Yeah, why do I worry, why do I have to cry?
I am questioning why I feel troubled and sad.

Oh ho, why do I worry, oh, why do I have to cry?
I am continuing to ponder why I am experiencing negative emotions.

You know I was good to the man I love, I wonder why did he have to say goodbye
I treated my partner well, so I am confused as to why he ended our relationship.

Oh ho, why do I have to carry this heavy load
I am frustrated with the emotional weight I am carrying.

Say I'm gonna keep on travelin', down this old lonesome road
I plan to keep moving forward even though the journey is tough and lonely.

Hey, hey, hey, I get worried sometime
I am admitting that I still experience moments of anxiety.

You know my burden is gettin' awful heavy
My emotional baggage is becoming more difficult to deal with.

Lord I know I'm so weary, you know, my baby's gone
I am exhausted, likely due to the loss of my loved one.

Oh, but my burden's heavy
I am emphasizing that my emotional weight is a significant burden.

Hey, hey, travelin' on down this lonesome road
I am acknowledging that the journey ahead will continue to be difficult and lonely.

Travelin' on down that lonesome road
I am reiterating that I am journeying down a lonely path.

Yeah, hey, baby, I got to ease my heavy load
I need to find a way to relieve myself of my emotional weight.

Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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