I Am a Man Of Constant Sorrow
David Allen Coe Junior Lyrics
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Ive seen trouble all my days.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky,
the place where I was born and raised.
(The place where he was born and raised.)
Interlude
no pleasure here on earth ive found.
for in this world im bound to ramble
i have no friends to help me now.
(He has no friends to help him now.)
Intgerlude
Its farethewell my golden lover
I never expect to see you again.
for im bound to ride that northarn railroad
perhaps ill die upon that train.
(Perhaps he'll die upon this train.)
Interlude
You can bury me in Swany valley
for many years where i will lay
then and you may learn to love another
while i am sleeping in my grave.
(While he is sleeping in his grave.
Interlude
Maybe your friends think im just a stranger
my face youll never see no more.
but there is one promise that is given
ill meet you on gods golden shore.
(He'll meet you on gods golden shore)
END
The lyrics of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by David Allen Coe Junior paint a picture of a man who has been through a lot of difficulties in his life. The singer talks about his troubles in life and how he's always had them. He bids farewell to his home state Kentucky and states that he has been in trouble for the past six years and has found no pleasure on earth. This further emphasizes the despair he feels in his life. He is bound to ramble through this world and has no friends to help him now.
In the next set of verses, the singer talks about his lover and how he will never see her again. He is bound to ride the northern railroad and may end up dying on the train. He asks to be buried in Swany Valley and wants his lover to move on and love someone else while he sleeps in his grave.
In the last verse, the singer states that people may think of him as a stranger, and his face will never be seen again. However, he promises to meet his lover on "God's golden shore." This suggests that he has faith in the afterlife and that he hopes to meet his lover and redeem himself after his death.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are full of grief and sorrow, and the singer has an unshakeable sense of impending doom. He seems to have given up on his life's struggles and is looking forward to finding peace in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a man of constant sorrow,
He is a person who always experiences sadness.
Ive seen trouble all my days.
He has faced many difficulties throughout his life.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky,
He is saying goodbye to the place he has known all his life.
the place where I was born and raised.
He was born and raised in Kentucky.
For six long years ive been in trouble,
He has been in trouble for a period of six years.
no pleasure here on earth ive found.
He has not experienced any enjoyment in his life.
for in this world im bound to ramble
He is destined to wander aimlessly in this world.
i have no friends to help me now.
He has no support from his friends at present.
Its farethewell my golden lover
He is saying goodbye to his beloved.
I never expect to see you again.
He does not expect to meet his lover again.
for im bound to ride that northarn railroad
He is destined to travel on the northern railway line.
perhaps ill die upon that train.
He might die while travelling on the train.
You can bury me in Swany valley
He wants to be buried in Swany valley.
for many years where i will lay
He will rest there for many years.
then and you may learn to love another
After his death, his beloved may find someone else to love.
while i am sleeping in my grave.
He will be resting in his grave while she finds someone else.
Maybe your friends think im just a stranger
Perhaps his acquaintances consider him to be a stranger.
my face youll never see no more.
They will never see him again.
but there is one promise that is given
He gives them one assurance.
ill meet you on gods golden shore.
He will meet her again on the golden shore of heaven.
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.