Some Scream High Yellow
Bo Weavil Jackson Lyrics


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Now, the rolling mill, Good Lord, burnt down last night
Now, the rolling mill, Good Lord, burnt down last night
And they ain't shippin' no iron in this town today

I think I will, travelin' on my mind
Sometime, I b'lieve, travelin' on my mind
I ain't got no right to leave, I ain't got no right to change my mind
Now, did you dream lucky and wake up cold in hand?
Now, did you dream lucky, wake up cold in hand?
Then you'll want to see some good gal, ah, ain't got no man

Now, sometime I think I will, again I think that I won't
Sometime I think that I will, again I think that I won't
Sometime I think that I do, Lord, then I think that I don't

Sometime I think that I will, and then I think that I won't

Some screamin' high yella, I screams black or brown
Some scream high yella, I screams black or brown
'Cause high yella may mistreat you but black won't turn you down

Mama, I got a notion, honey, and I believe I will




I got a notion, mama, and I believe that I will
Catch a long jumpin' Judy and go on across the hill

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bo Weavil Jackson's song "Some Scream High Yellow" are reflective of the life and experiences of an African American man in the early 20th century. The first verse refers to the burning down of the local rolling mill, which was likely a significant source of employment for the community. The singer notes that due to the fire, there will be no iron shipped out of the town that day. This sets a melancholic tone for the rest of the song, suggesting that the singer is considering leaving his hometown.


The second verse has a more introspective tone, with the singer reflecting on his own desire to travel or leave town. He notes that he feels he has no right to change his mind or leave, indicating potential feelings of obligation or duty to his community. The third verse switches the focus to a potential romantic situation, with the singer asking if the listener has ever had a lucky dream only to wake up alone. He then suggests that finding a good woman is the solution to this problem.


The final verse returns to the singer's own internal struggle and indecision about leaving town. He notes that he cannot make up his mind whether or not he will stay, indicating a sense of conflict or uncertainty. The final line, "Catch a long jumpin' Judy and go on across the hill," suggests that the singer is contemplating a journey, but the ambiguity of the phrase leaves the listener unsure of where he is going or why.


Line by Line Meaning

Now, the rolling mill, Good Lord, burnt down last night
The rolling mill burned down the previous night, so there won't be any iron shipments in town today.


I think I will, travelin' on my mind
I have been thinking about traveling lately.


Sometime, I b'lieve, travelin' on my mind
Sometimes I believe I should travel, but other times I'm not so sure.


I ain't got no right to leave, I ain't got no right to change my mind
I feel like I can't leave or change my mind about traveling because of certain responsibilities or restrictions in my life.


Now, did you dream lucky and wake up cold in hand?
Have you ever had a lucky dream that didn't come true and left you empty-handed?


Then you'll want to see some good gal, ah, ain't got no man
If you've been feeling down about your love life, you'll want to find a good woman to be with.


Sometime I think that I will, again I think that I won't
Sometimes I feel like traveling, but then I change my mind and don't want to go.


Sometime I think that I do, Lord, then I think that I don't
Sometimes I consider doing something, but then I reconsider and decide not to.


Some screamin' high yella, I screams black or brown
Some people prefer light-skinned partners, but I personally prefer either dark-skinned or medium-skinned partners because they are more reliable.


'Cause high yella may mistreat you but black won't turn you down
Although some light-skinned partners may mistreat you, dark-skinned partners will always be there for you.


Mama, I got a notion, honey, and I believe I will
Mom, I have a feeling and I think I'll act on it.


I got a notion, mama, and I believe that I will
I have an idea and I'm pretty sure I'm going to follow through with it.


Catch a long jumpin' Judy and go on across the hill
I'm going to find a specific woman named Judy and travel with her across the hills.




Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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