Basin Street Blues
Bing Crosby & Connee Boswell Lyrics

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Won't you come along with me
To the Mississippi
We'll take the boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river down to New Orleans

The band's there to meet us
And old friends to greet us
Where all the people always meet

Heaven on earth they call it Basin Street

Basin Street is the street
Where the elite always meet
In New Orleans the land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems
Or just how much it really means

Glad to be oh yessiree
Where welcome's free are dear to me
Where I can lose
My Basin Street blues

Glad to be oh yessiree
Where welcome's free are dear to me
Where I can lose
My Basin Street blues

Ain't you glad you came with me
Way down to the Mississippi

We took the boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river to New Orleans

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Basin Street Blues" describe a journey down the Mississippi River to the city of New Orleans, where the singer expects to find the kind of welcome and camaraderie that he associates with the famous local thoroughfare of Basin Street. The song celebrates the joys of being in a place where people of all kinds can gather and relax, enjoying each other's company and the pleasures of the moment.

The repeated refrain of "Glad to be oh yessiree" reinforces the feeling of belonging and contentment that the singer experiences on Basin Street. Although the song has a melancholy edge in its references to the "Basin Street blues," this is more than balanced by the sense of community, hospitality, and musical excitement that permeates the lyrics. The final verse sums up the overall tone of the song, with its joyful assertion that coming to Basin Street is "Where I can lose my Basin Street blues."

Line by Line Meaning

Won't you come along with me
Invitation to join on a trip

To the Mississippi
Travel destination

We'll take the boat to the land of dreams
Mode of transportation to reach a desired location

Steam down the river down to New Orleans
Direction of travel towards a city

The band's there to meet us
Scheduled welcome party

And old friends to greet us
Anticipated reunions

Where all the people always meet
Gathering place for locals and visitors

Heaven on earth they call it Basin Street
Prestigious and highly desired location

Basin Street is the street
Identification of the location

Where the elite always meet
Exclusive and high-class visitors

In New Orleans the land of dreams
Acknowledgement of the destination city