He recorded as one of the first country bluesmen in 1926 for the Paramount and Vocalion labels, on the latter under the name of Sam Butler. His 78 rpm records are highly sought by collectors and have been numerously re-released on LP and CD compilation albums.
Poor Boy Blues
Bo Weavil Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I woke up this morning, mama, blues all around my bed
Thinkin' about the words that my brown had said
'Cause I'm poor boy here, long ways from home
Poor boy here, long ways from my home
Ain't got nowhere, Lord, to lay my head
Cold frosty ground was my bed last night
Thinkin' 'bout the kind words that my Mama had said
What my Mama told me, honey, done come to pass
Mama told me, it's done come to pass
Whiskey and women, poor boy, be your ruin at last
Now, my Mama's dead, so is my Daddy, too
My Mama's dead, so is my Daddy, too
Reason I tried so hard, honey, get along with you
So many days, I stoled away and cried
So many days, I stoled away and cried
Poor boy's been mistreated, can't be satisfied
Gonna write a letter, mail it in the air
Gonna write a letter, gonna mail it in the air
When that wind blows, blow news everywhere
Lord, Lord, ain't gonna moan no more
Lord, Lord ...
The song "Poor Boy Blues" by Bo Weavil Jackson describes the hardships of a poor man who is far from his home and feeling helpless. The opening lines set the tone of the song as melancholic as the singer describes waking up to the feeling of blues all around his bed. He is troubled by the words of his brown, presumably his lover, showing his emotional vulnerability. The singer is portrayed as a poor boy who is destitute and lacks a place to stay, forcing him to sleep on the cold frosty ground.
The second stanza repeats the theme of the first and emphasizes the singer's impoverished state further. The imagery of the cold and frosty ground creates a sense of desolation, which is compounded by the loss of his parents. This sense of sadness and loneliness is a theme throughout the song. The third stanza shows the singer reflecting on his unfortunate circumstances as he remembers what his mother had advised him against i.e., whiskey and women, and how it would result in his ruin.
The fourth stanza is more personal as the singer mourns the death of his parents and wishes to connect with the unnamed person he is talking to. The fifth and sixth stanza emphasizes the misery of the poor boy as he feels mistreated and unable to find satisfaction. The final lines show the singer seeking relief and hoping that his troubles will reach others through the letter that he plans to write.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection of the struggles of a poor young man who has experienced much sadness and loss in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up this mornin', blues all 'round my bed
I woke up feeling sad and depressed, surrounded by my blues, with no escape.
Thinkin' about the words that my brown had said
My thoughts are consumed by the words spoken by my lover, who may have caused my blues.
'Cause I'm poor boy here, long ways from home
I am a destitute young man, far away from my birthplace.
Ain't got nowhere, Lord, to lay my head
I have no place to call home, and nowhere to rest my head.
Cold frosty ground was my bed last night
I had to sleep outside on the cold, hard ground last night.
Thinkin' 'bout the kind words that my Mama had said
I am reminiscing about the sweet, caring words my mother used to tell me.
What my Mama told me, honey, done come to pass
The wise words spoken to me by my mother have turned out to be true.
Whiskey and women, poor boy, be your ruin at last
The combination of excessive drinking and relationships with women is leading me down a path to destruction.
Now, my Mama's dead, so is my Daddy, too
Both of my parents are deceased, leaving me feeling lost and alone in the world.
Reason I tried so hard, honey, get along with you
I made a strong effort to build a relationship with you, to fill the void left by the loss of my parents.
So many days, I stoled away and cried
Many days I have hidden myself away and cried, consumed by sadness and despair.
Poor boy's been mistreated, can't be satisfied
As someone who has experienced mistreatment and hardship, I find it difficult to feel content or happy.
Gonna write a letter, mail it in the air
I will send my thoughts and feelings into the wind, hoping they reach someone who understands me.
When that wind blows, blow news everywhere
I hope that my message spreads far and wide on the wind, reaching those who need to hear it.
Lord, Lord, ain't gonna moan no more
I will no longer complain or lament, I will face my hardships with strength and optimism.
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@adriirigoitia1981
It's a relic 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎵🎵🎵🎸
@samgrant5853
mind blown