Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley Lyrics
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If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He'd better not take the ring from me
Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat
Mojo come to my house, ya black cat bone
Take my baby away from home
Ugly ask Mojo, where has he been?
Up your house, and gone again
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard?
My pretty baby said she wasn't for it
The opening lines of Bo Diddley's eponymous song tell a story about a man who seems to be trying to impress his love interest. He buys her a diamond ring, but it's not just any ordinary piece of jewellery, it needs to shine, and if it doesn't, he's ready to bring in a private investigator. This is not the first time we hear of Bo's defensive attitude. He warns the investigator that if he can't see the shine, he shouldn't dare take away the ring.
The second verse of the song reveals more about Bo's efforts to win and keep his lover's heart. He caught a nanny goat to make her a Sunday coat and a bear cat to make her a Sunday hat, signalling that Bo is willing to go to great lengths to impress her. The bridge, which features the haunting repetition of the line, "Mojo come to my house, ya black cat bone," presents a dark picture of Bo's desperation to keep his lover close. Here, he calls for a supernatural force to help prevent his lover from leaving him. The song's final lines show that despite Bo's best efforts, his love interest has decided to move on, leaving him heartbroken.
Line by Line Meaning
Bo Diddley bought his babe a diamond ring
Bo Diddley gifted his lover a diamond ring as a token of his love and affection.
If that diamond ring don't shine
If the diamond ring fails to glitter or dazzle, there will be trouble.
He gonna take it to a private eye
Bo Diddley will consult a detective to investigate whether the ring is faulty or not.
If that private eye can't see
In case the detective is unable to resolve the issue, Bo Diddley will take matters into his own hands.
He'd better not take the ring from me
If someone tries to take the ring from Bo Diddley, he will defend it with all his might.
Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat
Bo Diddley captured a female goat to obtain its hide and create a coat for his lover.
To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat
The goat's hide will be fashioned into a coat to wear on special occasions, such as Sundays.
Bo Diddley caught a bear cat
Bo Diddley hunted and caught a wildcat to obtain its fur for fashioning a hat.
To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat
The wildcat's fur will be used to create a fashionable hat for his lover to wear on Sundays.
Mojo come to my house, ya black cat bone
Bo Diddley calls out for his lucky charm, a black cat bone, to summon supernatural assistance.
Take my baby away from home
Bo Diddley requests the lucky charm to help him keep his lover from leaving him or going astray.
Ugly ask Mojo, where has he been?
Bo Diddley queries Mojo about his whereabouts while he was gone, possibly seeking the reason for his lover's departure.
Up your house, and gone again
Mojo tells Bo Diddley that his lover has returned home despite his best efforts to keep her away.
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard?
Someone is addressing Bo Diddley, perhaps with a rumor or news of some kind.
My pretty baby said she wasn't for it
Bo Diddley is told that his lover has declined or rejected something, potentially causing him distress or disappointment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eli Sampley
I was his part time grounds keeper the last two years of his life. I went to school with almost all of his great granddaughters and was a friend of the family. He was pretty bad at toward the end. He'd had a stroke or two. And was hard to understand, but when he got his guitar he could sing and play so clearly is was stunning. He completely changed. I only saw it once or twice but it left an impression on me. It was like the stroke symptoms and his arthritis disappeared. Great man. RIP ✌
G0K3001
Awesome story!
Yes from what I've read many stroke victims retain their musicality.
That side of the brain still is undisturbed.
I don't understand how the paralysis allows the body to function.
In MR. BO'S case he could still
play his music he created: ROCK AND ROLL-
GLAD YOU WITNESSED IT!
bradentonguy50
Yeah. I saw Glenn Campbell’s farewell tour. He was TOTALLY disoriented. Had no idea where he was and I wonder if he even knew if he was there at all! BUT, his singing and playing were incredible! I read somewhere that musical ability in humans is deep, deep inside the brain. From what I read, terribly brain-injured people still retain a substantial amount of appreciation and recognition of music. I guess that this might explain what was reported about Bo. I witnessed it myself with Glen. Really re-affirmed my belief in God to see him do what he did.
G0K3001
@bradentonguy50 Glen Cambell was awesome!
I believe he was the only one of the Wrecking Crew who could not read music.
I would have liked to see him live.
Eli Sampley
@bradentonguy50 just proof music is connected to the soul and not the brain. ✌
bradentonguy50
@Eli Sampley MUST be. No other way to explain what I saw that night. Glenn was TOTALLY out of it except when he was singing and playing. To tell you the truth, I was actually concerned about his safety on stage.
Nigel Langridge
His guitar tone is extraordinary.
That tremolo effect IS rock’n’roll!
Like “Funky Drummer” I could listen to this all day
Michael Shore
exactly! that holy-ghostly TREMOLO! it's....primordial!
Jerry Strange
SAME HERE!
MiSambra2889
Bo was the bridge that took us from rythm and blues to the dawn of rock 'n roll.