In the rock (and roll) community, Bill Monroe may be best known via one of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings at Sun Records, that of Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. Patsy Cline also made a highly regarded version of this song.
Little Joe
Bill Monroe Lyrics
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Will they gather the crumbs around our door
Will they fly from the nest to the top of the tree
And ask why Joe wanders out no more
What will the kitten do, mother, all alone
Will she stray from her frolic for a day
Will she lie on the rug beside my bed
What will Thomas, the old gardener do
When you ask him for flowers for me
Will he give you a rose he has tended with care
The fairest one that lies around the tree
I saw the tears coming to his honest eyes
He said it was the wind that brought 'em there
As he gazed on my cheeks growing paler each day
His hand trembled over my hair
Keep Tag, mother, my little dog
I know that he'll mourn for me too
Keep him though blind and older he grows
To sleep in the whole summer through
Show him my coat, mother, so he may know
That his master then will be dead
Speak to him kindly and often of Joe
And pat him on his brown shaggy head
And you, dearest mother, shall miss me for a while
But in heaven I shall no larger grow
And any kind angel you meet at the gate
Can take you to your darling Little Joe
The lyrics to Bill Monroe's song "Little Joe" convey a sense of impending death and the concern of the singer for the people and things he will leave behind. The opening lines ask what the birds will do in the spring, questioning if they will notice the absence of the singer, referred to as "Joe". This sense of loneliness and a disconnection from the natural world is further explored through the questioning of what the kitten will do and whether the gardener will provide flowers for the singer. There is a yearning for connection and a sense of loss that runs through the song, culminating in the singer's goodbye to his beloved dog and mother, assuring them that although he will be gone, he will not grow any larger in heaven.
Line by Line Meaning
What will the birds do, mother, in the spring
I wonder what the birds will do in the Spring, will they still visit and gather food around our house or notice that I am no longer present
Will they gather the crumbs around our door
Are the birds still going to be searching for the fallen pieces of food by the door and find nothing, realizing my absence
Will they fly from the nest to the top of the tree
Are the birds going to continue their normal activities, flying from their nests to the tops of trees and have no care about me not being there
And ask why Joe wanders out no more
Will the birds notice my absence and question where I have gone, since they can no longer see me wandering around
What will the kitten do, mother, all alone
I wonder about the kitten, will it still play and be active even though I won't be there to interact with it
Will she stray from her frolic for a day
Will the kitten lose its playfulness for even just a single day, signaling a change in the atmosphere
Will she lie on the rug beside my bed
Will the kitten still visit my room and sleep on my rug, maybe grieving or looking for my scent
Like she did before I went away
The kitten used to sleep by my bed before I left, but after my departure, it's unknown if it will continue
What will Thomas, the old gardener do
I wonder about Thomas, the gardener, and what he'll do when you ask him for flowers for me
When you ask him for flowers for me
When you request flowers from Thomas for me, will he know that they'll be for my grave instead of my room
Will he give you a rose he has tended with care
Thomas could give you a rose he's worked hard to maintain, as a symbol of his care and love for me
The fairest one that lies around the tree
It could be the most beautiful rose on the tree, one that can make me feel present and remembered
I saw the tears coming to his honest eyes
I witnessed Thomas shed a tear, an indication of his sadness and compassion towards me
He said it was the wind that brought 'em there
Thomas tried to cover his tears, saying it was caused by the wind, whereas he was really upset about my passing
As he gazed on my cheeks growing paler each day
When Thomas looked at me over time, he slowly saw my face become whiter, and recognized that I was fading away
His hand trembled over my hair
While Thomas was near me, he started shaking intensely, feeling immense grief and tenderness
Keep Tag, mother, my little dog
I want you to keep my little dog, Tag by your side even though I am gone
I know that he'll mourn for me too
I can sense that Tag will feel sorrow over my passing as well
Keep him though blind and older he grows
Don't forget to take care of Tag even if he loses his sight or ages, he is still a symbol of what I've left behind
To sleep in the whole summer through
Allow Tag to rest and sleep through the summer, and don't disrupt him with too much activity as it could cause him stress
Show him my coat, mother, so he may know
I'd like you to show Tag my coat so he can recognize the scent of his owner, and feel some sense of comfort
That his master then will be dead
He will come to the realization that his master, me, will no longer walk through the door or take him on walks
Speak to him kindly and often of Joe
Talk about me to Tag often and have a friendly tone, so he can still feel connected to me and my kindness
And pat him on his brown shaggy head
Give Tag a gentle pat on his head, so he knows he's loved and cherished even though I won't be there to do it myself
And you, dearest mother, shall miss me for a while
I know that you, my beloved mother, will miss me for a while, and that's okay
But in heaven I shall no larger grow
I'll always be young in Heaven, and I won't grow any older, and my mother should try to keep that thought in her mind
And any kind angel you meet at the gate
If you meet any kind angel at the gate, they'll be willing to show you to me, and our reunion will be one that is never forgotten
Can take you to your darling Little Joe
They'll take you to your beloved son, Little Joe, who awaits your arrival, so don't be afraid and let yourself be taken care of by the angels
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL MONROE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind