Goodnight Irene
Cash/Lewis Lyrics
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Now me and my wife have parted gonna take another stroll downtown
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene I'll see you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a fool notion to jump in the river and drown
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Stop your ramblin' stop your gamblin' stop stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and family stay there by the fireside bright
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
The lyrics to Cash/Lewis's song Goodnight Irene are about a man who has just gotten married and has settled down with his wife. However, the couple has now separated, and he feels the need to take another stroll downtown. He talks about how he sometimes lives in the country and other times in town, but regardless of where he is, he sometimes gets the foolish notion to jump in the river and drown. Through it all, he repeats the refrain, "Irene goodnight Irene goodnight, Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene I'll see you in my dreams," seemingly addressing someone named Irene, perhaps a former lover or a nod to the popular folk tune of the same name.
The song seems to suggest a kind of instability or uncertainty in the singer's life. He has just gotten married, but the relationship has fallen apart quickly, and he finds himself unable to stay in one place for too long before considering jumping in the river. The advice to stop gambling, stop staying out late at night, and go home to his wife and family reinforces the idea that the singer is perhaps not living the healthiest or most reliable lifestyle, and that his choices have led to some of the problems he's now facing. Overall, the song offers a glimpse into the complicated emotional landscape of a man who may be struggling to find his place in the world and is haunted by memories of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Last Saturday night I got married me and my wife settled down
I recently got married and settled down with my wife.
Now me and my wife have parted gonna take another stroll downtown
My wife and I separated, and I plan to take a walk around downtown.
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Addressing someone named Irene and saying goodnight to them.
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene I'll see you in my dreams
Saying goodnight again and expressing the desire to dream about Irene.
Sometimes I live in the country sometimes I live in town
I sometimes live in rural areas and sometimes in urban areas.
Sometimes I take a fool notion to jump in the river and drown
Occasionally, I have the senseless idea of jumping in a river and drowning myself.
Stop your ramblin' stop your gamblin' stop stayin' out late at night
Stop wandering aimlessly, gambling or staying up late at night.
Go home to your wife and family stay there by the fireside bright
Head back home to your family and stay there by the cozy fireside.
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Once again, saying goodnight Irene.
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Repeating the sentiment of goodnight to Irene.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Huddie Ledbetter, John Lomax
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@possumverde
I love Johnny Cash but I always thought it was a shame that he used the watered down "white folks" lyrics for this instead of the darker original folk/blues lyrics... (the original had a different first verse and included a fourth verse...)
verse 1:
I asked your mother for you
She said that you were too young
Now I wish to god I'd never seen your face
I'm sorry you ere were born
verse 4:
I love Irene, god knows I do
Love her til the sea runs dry
but if Irene turns her back on me
I'm gonna take morphine and die...
@stumpytheclown
my grandma ( Irene ) is currently very sick and she only has a couple of days left. she had a stroke and she doesn't remember anything. today we went to see her and we played this song for her and she was moving her head and singing along. it brought me to tears.
@annielwhite
coochieissick dude
You played this for her while she was dying ? I donno if this is the last song I’d like to hear , I mean it’s a great song but play ledbellys version .. it’s the original and the tone is atleast not so damn sad
@user-vt2pk7mv8j
❤❤❤
@stumpytheclown
A White No yeah we had played another version but she insisted to hear this version. she loved johnny cash. its because when she was just married to my grandfather, he would sing this to her. it reminded her of good memories with him
@mikesikorski75
@A White this is better than the original.
@davidrockey7190
Yes 💗
@TheWhiskey16
I remember singing Irene Goodnight on my swing when I was a little girl back in 1949 !! Now I sing it to my grandchildren !!
@user-vt2pk7mv8j
❤❤❤
@lorisp5232
I always had a difficult time falling asleep when I was little. 4 or 5 hours later, my dad would check up on me before he went to bed. And there I was, still wide awake, laying in bed. He would always yell to me, "Good Night Irene". I would say, "Dad, why do you always call me Irene?" He would just chuckle and close the door. Do you know how many nights I layed there, confused as to why my father called me Irene? It wasn't until I was about 11yrs old when I heard this song for the first time. I was in the diner with my aunt having lunch and someone played it on the jukebox. I just sat there and laughed to myself. That was the day, I finally found out who Irene was.
@pawelkowalski770
cool story Bro.