They signed to Decca in 1934, basically formed more traditional regular band, and even started performing live until they had their famous falling out in September, 1935.
Am I Blue
Dorsey Brothers Lyrics
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I got a right to feel low down
I got a right to hang around
Down around the river
A certain man in this old town
Keeps draggin' my poor heart around
All I see for me
Is misery
I got a right to moan and sigh
I got a right to sit and cry
Down around the river
I know the deep blue sea
Will soon be callin' me
It must be love
Say what you choose
I got a right to sing the blues
The lyrics of Dorsey Brothers' song "Am I Blue" speak to the emotions of heartbreak and despair following a failed relationship. The singer asserts his right to feel the blues, to be low and to express his pain through song. He has a right to hang around down by the river and wallow in his misery. A certain man in the town is the source of his heartbreak and he is powerless to stop the pain. Despite the feelings of despair, the singer still feels a connection to the man he loves and knows that he will eventually be called away to the "deep blue sea," suggesting that he may be willing to sacrifice his happiness for the love that he feels.
The song is a powerful representation of the complex emotions of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from lost love. The singer's assertion of his right to feel the blues is a powerful statement of ownership over his emotions and a declaration that he won't let anyone tell him how to feel. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest a deep sense of longing and pain that comes from loving someone who doesn't love you in return.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a right to sing the blues
I am entitled to express my sorrow through music.
I got a right to feel low down
It's natural for me to feel depressed and dejected.
I got a right to hang around
I have the freedom to linger and stay in one place.
Down around the river
Referring to a particular location where the artist may go to find solace.
A certain man in this old town
There is a person in my community who persistently causes me emotional distress.
Keeps draggin' my poor heart around
This individual is inflicting pain on me via emotional manipulation.
All I see for me
My future appears bleak and unpromising.
Is misery
I am experiencing great suffering due to this person's actions.
I got a right to moan and sigh
It's acceptable for me to audibly express my distress and sadness.
I got a right to sit and cry
It's permissible for me to weep and show vulnerability.
I know the deep blue sea
The vastness and power of the ocean represents the intensity of the singer's sadness.
Will soon be callin' me
The artist may be tempted to escape their problems by seeking refuge in another place.
It must be love
Despite the pain the singer is enduring, they still have intense feelings for the person causing it.
Say what you choose
Others can offer their opinions, but the singer reserves the right to continue feeling and reacting in their own way.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind