Catfish Blues
Clark Jr. Gary Lyrics
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I was a catfish
Swimmin in a oh, deep, blue sea
I'd have all you pretty women,
Fishin after me, fishin after me, fishin after me yeah
Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
Well, I'm Ragged and I'm dirty too
Can I come home with you
Come home with you, yeah
Come home with you
If you don't let me in
Can I lay 'round your door
Yeah, I'll leave so early baby
Your man won't know, your man won't know, your man won't know
Yeah, I love
I love my baby
Yeah, she's gone, scream and shout
When my train comes rollin' in
And I come rollin' out
Come rollin' out
Come rollin' out
Yeah, I'm leavin'
I'm leavin' you baby
And your crying won't make me stay
Yeah, the more you cry, baby
Further I'll go away
Further I'll go away
Further I'll go away
And I know, I know you don't want me
Yeah, I wanted you darlin'
You tell me so
Well you ain't got to worry about me
Hangin' round' no more
Hangin' round' no more
Hangin' round' no more
In "Catfish Blues" by Gary Clark Jr., the singer expresses his desire to be a catfish swimming in the deep blue sea for all the pretty women to fish after him. This desire to be a catfish may derive from the belief that catfish live in the murkiest, dirtiest parts of the water and can take whatever they want without consequence or judgment. He further expresses his desperation for food, money, and cleanliness as he asks a woman if he can come home with her. He is willing to lay around her door and leave early so that her man won't know of his presence. The singer, then talks about his love for his baby and how her screams and shouts fill him with joy, but he still decides to leave her. He tells her that he won't be swayed by her tears and that she shouldn't worry about him hanging around anymore.
The song depicts the emotional struggles of a man who desires to have control over his own life, only to be left with no option than to plead for help. It represents the journey of a man who at once desires control over his own life but has to lean on someone else for help.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I wish
I desire something beyond my reach
I was a catfish
I wish I was a catfish
Swimmin in a oh, deep, blue sea
I wish to be swimming in a deep blue sea
I'd have all you pretty women, Fishin after me, fishin after me, fishin after me yeah
I'd have all the pretty women chasing after me
Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
I'm in a state of poverty and hunger
Well, I'm Ragged and I'm dirty too
I'm also disheveled and unclean
If I clean up now baby
If I tidy up myself now
Can I come home with you
Can I accompany you home?
Come home with you, yeah
I'd like to come home with you
Come home with you
I'd like to come home with you
If you don't let me in
If you don't permit me to enter
Can I lay 'round your door
May I hang around your door?
Yeah, I'll leave so early baby
I'll depart early
Your man won't know, your man won't know, your man won't know
Your man won't be aware
Yeah, I love
I have strong affection for
I love my baby
I deeply love my significant other
Yeah, she's gone, scream and shout
I'm upset that she's no longer with me
When my train comes rollin' in
When my train arrives at the station
And I come rollin' out
And I exit the train
Come rollin' out
And I emerge from the train
Yeah, I'm leavin'
I'm departing
I'm leavin' you baby
I'm leaving you, my love
And your crying won't make me stay
Your tears won't persuade me to stay
Yeah, the more you cry, baby
The more you cry
Further I'll go away
The more I will move away
Further I'll go away
The more I'll move away from you
Further I'll go away
The more I'll move away from you
And I know, I know you don't want me
I know you don't want me
Yeah, I wanted you darlin'
I wanted you, my love
You tell me so
You made it clear to me
Well you ain't got to worry about me
You don't have to be concerned about me
Hangin' round' no more
Sticking around no longer
Hangin' round' no more
No longer loitering around
Hangin' round' no more
I won't linger around anymore
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: McKinley Morganfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickmungia3951
Back in 2017 I had the pleasure of seeing GCJ in GrandRapids. That day my mother was diagnosed with leukemia. She made me still go to the show. I had made a comment about my situation and expressed catfish blues was always a favorite song of my mother. Gary came out on stage said a few words directed to me about my mom and opened his show with a like 10 minute rendition of catfish blues. I was brought to tears.
@mistyblue5386
That is so beautiful 😍 😢😊and that's love for those that love him and his 🎶 music.
@josephshaneferguson6561
i seen this cat open for eric johnson on his 18th birthday at STUBBS
@jimmypercival2728
I hope your Mother is still with us and that was really nice of Gary .
@nickmungia3951
No Jimmy she passed a month after I saw Gary
@karenmacphee7415
My heart goes out to you Mom & Family. Many Blessings 🙏
What GCJ did for you was a Healing with his Amazing Talent! Tears always lets pain out of your very Soul. Sending my energy out to you, for more Healing with The Blues. GKJ is Beautiful
@silvershirley2995
Oh my God, Gary Clark Jr.oh you are some bad. I'm a 64 years young fannnnnn!!! You are amazing . I know great music when I hear it and your vocals are simply beautiful.Keep playing and stay healthy!!!!!!
@garyclarkjr.9018
It has been a perfect playing for me having a lovely and awesome Fan like you, thanks for your love, I have you mostly to be thankful for 🎼🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🌹🌹🌹
@silvershirley2995
@Gary Clark Jr. I know your mom is so proud and I'm so proud as if you are my son too. Seeing you in Mississippi, still doesn't seem real...Peace, Blessings and Blues.❤❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥🔥
@silvershirley2995
garyclarkjr. Haha I collected another year on you. I'm still checking in for my late night bedtime song. Love you keep playing and singing your heart and I'm going to be watching. Love,Blessings and Blues