Rhapsody In Blue
Billy May & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was in pigtails
My mama done tol' me
A man's gonna sweet-talk and give you the big eyes
But when the sweet-talking's done
A man is a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Hear the train a-callin, "whoo-ee!"
My mama done tol' me
Hear that lonesome whistle blowin' 'cross the trestle, "whoo-ee!"
My mama done tol' me
A-whooee-ah-whooee ol' clickety-clack's
A-echoin' back th' blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind o' song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
From Natchez to mobile,
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
An' heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind o' song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
From Natchez to mobile,
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
An' heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave ya to sing the blues in the night
Yes the lonely, lonely blues in the night
The lyrics in Billy May & His Orchestra's "Rhapsody In Blue" are about the dangers of falling for a man's words and charm. The singer's mother warned her that a man may sweet-talk and give her the big eyes, but once he's done, he may turn out to be two-faced and leave her with the blues in the night. The background music is fitting, with the sound of trains and lonely whistles echoing the feelings of solitude and desolation one experiences when they are left with nothing but the blues.
The lyrics also reference the natural world, using the evening breeze, crying trees, and the moon hiding its light to convey the sadness and emptiness one can feel when they have the blues. And yet, despite this sadness, the mockingbird still sings the saddest song. This may symbolize the idea that even in the darkest moments, there is still beauty and hope to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
My mama done tol' me
My mother has warned me
When I was in pigtails
At a young age
A man's gonna sweet-talk and give you the big eyes
Men can flatter and deceive women with their charming speech and captivating eyes
But when the sweet-talking's done
After the flattering and charming stops
A man is a two-face, a worrisome thing
Men are often unreliable and unpredictable
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Men can leave women feeling lonely and sad
Now the rain's a-fallin'
When it's raining outside
Hear the train a-callin', 'whoo-ee!'
Hearing the sound of a train whistle
Hear that lonesome whistle blowin' 'cross the trestle, 'whoo-ee!'
Hearing a train whistle that sounds lonely
A-whooee-ah-whooee ol' clickety-clack's
The sound of a train moving down the track
A-echoin' back th' blues in the night
The sound of the train echoes the sad and lonely feeling
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
The trees sway in the wind, appearing to be crying
And the moon'll hide it's light
The moon will not be visible in the cloudy or dark sky
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind o' song
Trust me, the mockingbird will sing a very sad and sorrowful song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
The bird is aware that something is not right and correct in his own way
From Natchez to mobile,
All across the Southern US
From Memphis to St. Joe
Major cities throughout the Southern US
Wherever the four winds blow
Anywhere in the world
I been in some big towns
I have visited some large cities
An' heard me some big talk
And have heard grand and boastful claims
But there is one thing I know
However, I do know one thing for certain
Yes the lonely, lonely blues in the night
The melancholy and sad feelings felt at night
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind