Delaney Bramlett was born July 1, 1939 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, later befriending fellow aspiring musicians Leon Russell and J.J. Cale. On their recommendation he relocated to Los Angeles, briefly landing with the Champs before he was hired to play guitar with the Shindogs, the house band on the popular ABC television variety series Shindig. Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, meanwhile, was born November 8, 1944 in Alton, Illinois and raised in nearby East St. Louis; as a teen she backed blues acts including Albert King and Little Milton, before signing on as the first-ever white Ikette behind Ike & Tina Turner. She eventually migrated to Los Angeles as well, and met Delaney while the Shindogs were moonlighting at a local bowling alley. Within a week, the couple were married.
HomeAfter signing to the famed Memphis soul label, Stax, Delaney & Bonnie recorded their debut LP, 1969's Home. Though cut with the aid of Stax linchpins like Booker T. & the MG's, William Bell, and Isaac Hayes, the record went virtually unnoticed and the duo were released from their contract. They landed with Elektra to release the follow-up, Accept No Substitute -- recorded with a superb backing band including keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle, and drummer Jim Keltner, the album was another commercial failure, but the couple's gritty, soulful vocals and earthy sound earned the appreciation of fellow musicians at home and abroad, not to mention an invitation to serve as the opening act on British supergroup Blind Faith's 1969 U.S. tour. Blind Faith's superstar guitarist Clapton was soon a fixture aboard Delaney & Bonnie's tour bus, regularly jamming with the Bramletts and their band. When Blind Faith disbanded after the tour ended, Clapton joined Delaney & Bonnie full-time, assuming a sideman role and actively avoiding the spotlight on-stage and off. The group eventually toured the U.K., where Clapton friends like Harrison and Dave Mason occasionally popped up on-stage -- a late 1969 show in Croydon was released the following year as On Tour with Eric Clapton, becoming the duo's best-selling LP when it cracked the American Top 30.
Mad Dogs & EnglishmenNow dubbed Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, the group briefly joined up with John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band and toured Europe before returning stateside in 1970. When Clapton dropped out to begin working on his debut solo album -- a record that introduced a bluesy, raw vocal style clearly indebted to Delaney -- audience interest began to dissipate. Worse, Leon Russell lured away Radle and Keltner to join Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, forcing the couple to cancel a planned tour of their own. Nevertheless, the backing band assembled for 1970's Tom Dowd-produced To Bonnie from Delaney was first-rate, including guitarist Duane Allman, bassist Jerry Scheff, pianist Jim Dickinson, and saxophonist King Curtis. 1971's Motel Shot was another all-star affair, highlighted by Delaney & Bonnie's biggest U.S. pop hit, "Never Ending Song of Love." The following year's D & B Together yielded another Top 20 hit, a reading of Dave Mason's "Only You Know and I Know." However, the LP was Delaney & Bonnie's last -- when their marriage fell apart, so did their musical collaboration.
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
Delaney & Bonnie And Friends Lyrics
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I'm goin' down this road feelin' so low and bad
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
I'm tired o'eatin' your corn bread and beans, baby
I'm tired o'eatin' your corn bread and beans, right now
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
Two dollar shoes is killin' my feet, right now
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
Take ten dollar shoe to fit my feet, baby
Ten dollar shoe to fit my feet, right now
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
I'm goin' down this road feelin' bad, baby
I'm goin' down this road feelin' so miserable and bad I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
I'm goin' where the chilly wind don't blow, baby
I'm goin' where the chilly wind don't blow, no more
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
I'm goin' where the weather suites my clothes, baby
I'm goin' where the weather suites my clothes, tomorrow
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
I'm goin' down this road now feelin' bad, baby
I'm goin' down this road feelin' so low and bad
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
The lyrics to "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" by Delaney & Bonnie And Friends are about a person who is unhappy with their current situation and is ready to move on. The lyrics are repetitive, with the person stating that they are "feeling bad" and "ain't gonna be treated this-a way." They are tired of their current circumstances, including eating "corn bread and beans," wearing uncomfortable "two dollar shoes," and being in a place where the "chilly wind" blows. They are ready to go where the weather suits their clothes and find a place where they feel more comfortable.
The song has a bluesy feel to it, with a simple guitar riff and a steady, driving beat. The repetitive lyrics add to the sense of frustration and weariness that the person is feeling. The lyrics also suggest that the person might be experiencing some form of injustice or mistreatment, although it is not clear exactly what that might be.
Line by Line Meaning
Goin' down this road now feelin' bad, baby
I'm currently on a journey feeling sad and low
I ain't gonna be treated this-a way
I refuse to accept mistreatment
I'm tired o'eatin' your corn bread and beans, baby
I'm exhausted from constantly consuming your poor quality food
These two dollar shoes is killin' my feet, baby
Wearing cheap shoes has caused me physical pain
Take ten dollar shoe to fit my feet, baby
I require better quality shoes to avoid discomfort
I'm goin' where the chilly wind don't blow, baby
I plan to travel to a place where the weather is not harsh
I'm goin' where the weather suites my clothes, baby
I desire to be in a location where the weather is appropriate for my attire
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DELANEY BRAMLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken L.
"Guest musicians on the album include Leon Russell, Duane Allman, Dave Mason, John Hartford, Clarence White, Gram Parsons, Buddy Miles & Joe Cocker. According to Bonnie Bramlett, the whole album was recorded in about four hours in producer/engineer Bruce Botnick's house in Los Angeles, California. There were no multiple takes. The session lasted a single night. Twelve songs were elected as keepers. There were no drums, just a briefcase and Joe Cocker banged on the side of a piano. "All that percussion on 'Going Down The Road Feeling Bad' was me [Bonnie Bramlett], Gram Parsons and Duane Allman smacking our laps. As a matter of fact, Duane played briefcase, too. Briefcase, lap and slide guitar."
R.G. Campbell
Always loved their harmony. Remember listening to this one on the car radio going downtown in the summer sunshine two or three decades ago. Never forgot it. Luv it.
Peter Needham
One of the greatest LPs that most people don't know IMHO.
Peter Needham
When D&B finally get inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame. It would be great to see Eric Clapton remind the world how Delaney helped to launch Eric's early solo career. I have always loved their music. I still have vivid & fond memories of seeing them live in Toronto during the Blind Faith tour in 1969 & watch the evolution of Eric's friendship with Delaney & Bonnie & their band, several of whom joined his early band
Larry Neie
A streller lineup from the late 60's and early 70's. This old man was around back in the day to experience the greatness!
15chipshops
Great Tune... One of my fav's along with 'Giving Birth To A Song' from Delaney & Blue Diamond. Still baffles me why that album has never gone to CD. Would love someone to post the song!!!
Steven Weinstein
Delaney singing and Leon playing piano. Doesn't get any better than that!
Ricke Lipinski
I wish I could have played a set with them, everybody else did. Please induct BONNIE and DELANEY into the ROCK&ROLL HALL OF FAME, all their FRIENDS are there. Many, Many H-A-P-P-Y memories with B&D .
06monarch
This song is almost too good to stand. Music like this makes me so glad my high school and college days were in the 1970s.
lumaz71
i want a deluxe version of this album! :)