Bill Monroe (September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) developed the style of… Read Full Bio ↴Bill Monroe (September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) developed the style of country music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for his home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader. He is often referred to as "the father of bluegrass."

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.

Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
Bill Monroe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Roll in my sweet baby's arms
Roll in my sweet baby's arms
Lay around the shack 'til the mail comes back
And I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms

I ain't gonna work on the railroad
I ain't gonna work on the farm
Lay down the shack 'til the mail train comes back

And I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms

Now where were you last Friday night
While I was lying in jail
Walking the streets with another man
Wouldn't even go my bail

I know you parents don't like me
They drove me away from your door

If I had my life to live over
I'd never go there any more

Overall Meaning

The song "Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms" by Bill Monroe is a classic bluegrass tune with a simple yet catchy melody. The lyrics of the song tell a story about a man who is in love with his "sweet baby" and wants to spend all his time with her. He sings about how he doesn't want to work on the railroad or the farm, but would rather just hang out in the shack with his love until the mail comes back. The singer also laments about his partner's absence and how she left him in jail without bail, and he regrets going to her parents' house since they don't like him.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of rolling in his sweet baby's arms. This phrase conveys a sense of security, comfort, and happiness that the singer feels when he is with his partner. The repetition of the chorus highlights the emotional intensity of the song and its central theme of love and romance.

Overall, "Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms" is a timeless classic that continues to be loved by bluegrass fans and music lovers alike. It celebrates the simple pleasures of life, the joy of being in love, and the universal desire for companionship and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Roll in my sweet baby's arms
I want to be fully embraced and intimate with my beloved

Lay around the shack 'til the mail comes back
I will be idle until the mail arrives

And I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
I want to be fully embraced and intimate with my beloved

I ain't gonna work on the railroad
I am not going to work on the train tracks

I ain't gonna work on the farm
I am not going to work on the farm

Lay down the shack 'til the mail train comes back
I will be idle until the mail train arrives

And I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
I want to be fully embraced and intimate with my beloved

Now where were you last Friday night
Where were you on Friday night?

While I was lying in jail
I was imprisoned while you were gone

Walking the streets with another man
You were walking around with another man

Wouldn't even go my bail
You didn't even bail me out