Limehouse Blues
Chet Atkins Lyrics
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Never go away
Sad, mad blues
For all the while they seem to say
Oh, Limehouse kid
Oh, oh, Limehouse kid
Goin' the way
Poor broken blossom
And nobody's child
Haunting and taunting
You're just kind of wild
Oh, Limehouse blues
I've the real Limehouse blues
Can't seem to shake off
Those real China blues
Rings on your fingers
And tears for your crown
That is the story
Of old Chinatown
Rings on your fingers
And tears for your crown
That is the story
Of old Chinatown
The lyrics of Limehouse Blues by Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed take us on a journey to the gritty underworld of Old Chinatown in London where broken souls wander the streets, haunted by their loneliness and despair. The singer is plagued by the "weird China blues" that never seem to go away, as they echo the sadness and madness of those around him. He sings of the Limehouse Kid, another lost soul like himself, who is going down the same path as those before him, consumed by the blues that haunt him day and night. The singer feels a kinship with this child of Limehouse, as he too is "nobody's child" and "just kind of wild".
The haunting refrain of "Limehouse blues" is a lament for the pain and tragedy that pervades this broken world. The rings on our fingers represent the fleeting moments of happiness that we grasp at, while the tears on our crown remind us of the inevitable sorrow that awaits us. The story of old Chinatown is one of hardship, heartbreak, and the eternal struggle to survive in a world that is harsh and unforgiving.
Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of the struggles and hardships faced by those living in the shadowy world of Old Chinatown, a place where hope is rare, and the only comfort to be found comes in the form of music.
Line by Line Meaning
And those weird China blues
The melancholic feeling that arises from the unique culture of China
Never go away
The feeling can never be escaped from
Sad, mad blues
An emotional state of sadness and anger
For all the while they seem to say
The emotions seem to speak and be ever present
Oh, Limehouse kid
Referring to oneself or an individual in the area where the song is set
Oh, oh, Limehouse kid
Repetition for emphasis
Goin' the way
Heading towards or experiencing the same fate as others from the area
That the rest of them did
Following the same path as others before them
Poor broken blossom
A person who was previously beautiful and successful but has been reduced to a pitiable state
And nobody's child
An individual who is abandoned or without a parent who cares for them
Haunting and taunting
Something that continues to bother and tease
You're just kind of wild
An unpredictable personality that doesn't conform to societal norms
Oh, Limehouse blues
The intense emotions that come from living in the Limehouse district
I've the real Limehouse blues
Personally experiencing the feeling rather than just hearing about it
Can't seem to shake off
Unable to get rid of the feelings no matter how hard one tries
Those real China blues
The genuine blues that come from the culture and lifestyle of China
Rings on your fingers
Symbolizing wealth or status
And tears for your crown
Expressing that even those who seem to have it all still experience sadness and pain
That is the story
This is the history or reputation of a place or situation
Of old Chinatown
Referring to the area where the song is set, as well as its past and culture
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL CHAMPION
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind