Believe Me
Blind Willie Harris Lyrics
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If you don't believe I'm leaving, wait for me to say goodbye
It's too cold 'round here, you know the reason why
If you don't believe I'm going, check my trunk is already gone
If you don't believe I'm going, check my trunk is already gone
I got to leave this town, I can't stand being alone
If you don't believe I'm going, wait for me to say goodbye
I'm sure you're gonna miss me, and hang your head and cry (all right all right all right!)
(Harmonica Solo)
You better believe I'm leaving, my trunk's already gone
You better believe I'm leaving, my trunk's already gone
I got to leave this town, you know you doing me wrong
Now if I get lucky, and win my plane fare home
Now if I get lucky, and win my plane fare home
I'm going back to Arkansas, that is where I'as born
(All right, let's take it on home now!)
(Guitar Solo)
Blind Willie Harris's song "Believe Me" tells the story of a man who is leaving town, but nobody seems to believe him. He asks those around him to wait for him to say goodbye if they don't believe he's leaving. However, he has already taken his trunk and is ready to go. He seems to be leaving because he can no longer stand being alone, and the frigid weather doesn't help the situation either. In the end, he asserts that he is indeed leaving and is determined to go back to his hometown, Arkansas.
The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and sadness as the singer is leaving, and the people around him don't seem to take him seriously. His desperate attempt at convincing them only suggests that he indeed cares about those he's leaving behind. The harmonica and guitar solos enhance the emotion of the song, adding a depth of feeling to the lyrics.
The song's themes are common in blues music, where artists often express their feelings of despair, loneliness, and longing for a better life. Blind Willie Harris's "Believe Me" is a poignant example of how blues can encapsulate the human experience in a way that is both raw and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
If you don't believe I'm leaving, wait for me to say goodbye
Only believe I'm leaving when I physically say goodbye, otherwise it's not true
It's too cold 'round here, you know the reason why
It's uncomfortable in this vicinity and you should know why
If you don't believe I'm going, check my trunk is already gone
If you can't believe that I'm going, verify that my trunk is no longer here
I got to leave this town, I can't stand being alone
I need to depart since being alone in this town is unbearable
I'm sure you're gonna miss me, and hang your head and cry (all right all right all right!)
It's a certainty that you'll experience my absence and cry uncontrollably
You better believe I'm leaving, my trunk's already gone
You should believe that I'm leaving because my trunk is no longer present
I got to leave this town, you know you doing me wrong
I must depart from this town since you've been treating me unfairly
Now if I get lucky, and win my plane fare home
In case I'm fortunate to obtain the funds or the opportunity to leave by plane
I'm going back to Arkansas, that is where I'as born
I plan to return to the Arkansas state which is where I was originally born
Contributed by Kaelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheBlackSongBird
I think that Sam Chatman singing