Raised in a dysfunctional, blue-collar family, Candye became a teenage mother, a pin-up cover girl and a punk rock, hillbilly, and blues-belting anarchist by the time she was just 21 years old. Eight albums, six record labels, millions of international road miles and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a world renowned reputation that has spanned two decades.
A colorful mixture of the traditional and the eclectic, Kane cut her musical teeth in the early 80’s onstage with Hollywood musicians and friends, Social Distortion, Dwight Yoakum, Dave Alvin, The Blasters, X, Fear and Los Lobos, to name just a few. While raising two sons, this role model for the disenfranchised, championed large sized women, fought for the equal rights of sex workers and the GLBT community and inspired music lovers everywhere. Her fans are a mixture of true outsiders: bikers, blues fans, punk
rockers, drag queens, fat girls, queers, burlesque dancers, porn fans, sex workers, rockabilly and swing dancers, grey haired hippies, sex positive feminists and everyday folk of all ages, flock to see Candye and hear her musical messages of love, hope and empowerment.
Kanes’ live shows are the stuff of legend. She honors the bold blues women of the past with both feet firmly planted in the present. She belts - growls - shouts - croons and moans from a lifetime of suffering and overcoming obstacles. She uses music as therapy and often writes and chooses material with positive affirmations that leave the audience feeling healed and exhilarated. A show that is part humor, revival meeting and sexuality celebration, she'll deliver a barrelhouse-tongue-in-cheek blues tune or a gospel ballad like Jesus and Mohammed, encouraging audiences to leave behind religious intolerance.
She’ll slay the crowd with her balls-out rendition of Whole Lotta Love or glorify the virtues of zaftig women with 200 pounds of fun. She often says she is a "fat black drag queen trapped in a white woman's body" and she dresses the part. Bedecked in bright colored feathers, sequins and rhinestones, Kane's performance is Mississippi by way of Las Vegas, with a quick stopover in San Francisco.
Kane’s ninth release, Superhero, will hit the streets June 17th on the premiere West Coast blues label, Delta Groove. The album was produced by Kane and 26 year old guitar Virtuoso, Laura Chavez, who also plays in her live band. It features guest performances by Kid Ramos, Dave Gonzales, and Mitch Kashmar, along with Kanes’ rhythm section featuring eldest son, Evan Caleb on drums, and bass veteran, Paul Loranger. This newest effort is chock full of the songs of triumph and empowerment that have made Kane a favorite with enlightened congregations everywhere.
Candye has been included in countless Blues and Jazz Anthologies including the Rolling Stone and Musichounds Guide to Jazz and Blues and Dan Akroyds’ 30 Essential Women of the Blues. In addition to her music successes, she is an activist and philanthropist. In August 2008, she appeared in Cape Town, South Africa for the World Congress for people with disabilities with her United by Music show for special needs kids (www.unitedbymusic.eu). This project provides performance opportunities, blues history lessons and songwriting instruction to young people with disabilities, encouraging them
to write their own blues songs to help them overcome their daily challenges.
Candye is a fighter par excellence and her authenticity, determination and optimism are what keep her shows passionate, honest and irresistible. One evening with Candye will keep the crowds happy, hopeful and coming back for more!
It Won't Be Long
Candye Kane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the railroad track
Waiting for my baby
He's coming back
Coming back to me
On the 503
And I won't be long
I get so lonesome
Since the man has been gone
There ain't a thing worth mentioning
Nothing been going on
And that's why I know
When the whistle blows
Yeah, that I won't be long
No, no, I won't be long
My daddy told me
When he said goodbye, yes, he did
"I'll be back, baby
Baby, bye and bye"
And that's why I waited
So doggone long, yeah
Can't you see how happy I am?
Because the man is coming home
So now, here I be
By the railroad track
Oh, waiting for my baby
He's coming back
Coming back to me
On the 503
Yeah, and I won't be long
No, no, I won't be long
I ain't had no loving
Since you know when
He's a long gone rooster
And I'm a lonesome hen
And that's why I'm sure
When the whistle blows
Yeah, that I won't be long
No, no, I won't be long
I'm so excited
My knees are shaking, yeah
Mr. Engineer
Don't you keep me waiting
Hear me telling you
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
Baby, here I am
Oh, by the railroad track
Waiting for my baby
He's coming back
Coming back to me
Lord, on the 503
Yeah and I won't be long
No, I won't be long
Yeah, I know
When the whistle blows
Hey, that I won't be long
No, no, I won't be long
I don't know 'bout you but I know
Oh when the whistle blows
Hey, that it won't be long
No, no, it won't be long
The lyrics of Candye Kane's song "It Won't Be Long" explore the anticipation and excitement of a woman waiting for her lover to return. The railroad track imagery conjures up a sense of longing and desperation, as the woman is at the mercy of the train's schedule. She has been without her lover for so long that she feels lonesome and bored, and is eagerly awaiting his arrival. The repetition of "I won't be long" creates a sense of optimism and hopefulness, as the woman is confident that her wait is nearing its end.
The lyrics also draw on traditional blues themes of separation and reunion. The woman recalls her father's promise to return, and is now experiencing a similar situation with her lover. The imagery of the "long gone rooster" and "lonesome hen" further emphasizes the loneliness that the woman has been feeling in her lover's absence. However, the chorus provides a sense of resolution and joy, as the woman finally sees her lover coming down the track.
Overall, the lyrics of "It Won't Be Long" capture the emotional intensity of waiting for a loved one to return, while also drawing on traditional blues themes of separation and reunion.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, here I am
I am present and waiting for my baby
By the railroad track
I am located by the tracks
Waiting for my baby
I am waiting for my partner to arrive
He's coming back
My partner is returning to me
Coming back to me
My partner is returning to be with me
On the 503
He is arriving via train number 503
And I won't be long
I won't wait for him long
I get so lonesome
I feel lonely
Since the man has been gone
Since my partner left
There ain't a thing worth mentioning
There is nothing interesting or noteworthy in my life
Nothing been going on
There hasn't been any activity or excitement in my life
And that's why I know
That's why I am certain
When the whistle blows
When I hear the train whistle
Yeah, that I won't be long
I won't wait for my partner long
My daddy told me
My father said to me
When he said goodbye, yes, he did
He said this when he left
"I'll be back, baby
"I will return, darling
Baby, bye and bye"
Eventually, my partner will come back
And that's why I waited
That's why I have been waiting
So doggone long, yeah
For a very long time
Can't you see how happy I am?
Do you not observe my happiness?
Because the man is coming home
Because my partner is returning
So now, here I be
Now I am here
Oh, waiting for my baby
Still waiting for my partner
He's coming back
My partner is returning
Lord, on the 503
Arriving by train number 503
Yeah and I won't be long
I won't wait for him long
I ain't had no loving
I haven't received any love
Since you know when
For a very long time
He's a long gone rooster
My partner has been away for a long time
And I'm a lonesome hen
I feel lonely without my partner
And that's why I'm sure
That's why I am confident
When the whistle blows
When I hear the train whistle
Yeah, that I won't be long
I won't wait for him long
I'm so excited
I am full of excitement
My knees are shaking, yeah
I am so excited, my knees are trembling
Mr. Engineer
The train engineer
Don't you keep me waiting
Please do not make me wait any longer
Hear me telling you
I am telling you
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
Please hurry
Baby, here I am
I am here ready to receive my partner
Lord, on the 503
Arriving on train number 503
Yeah and I won't be long
I won't wait for him long
I don't know 'bout you but I know
I do not know about anyone else, but I know
Hey, that it won't be long
It won't take long
No, no, it won't be long
I won't wait for him long
When the whistle blows
When I hear the train whistle
Hey, that I won't be long
I won't wait for him long
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J. Leslie McFarland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind