Mood Indigo
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Feat. Ivie Anderson Lyrics
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You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
I always get that mood indigo,
Since my baby said goodbye.
I'm so lonely I could cry.
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
When I get that mood indigo,
I could lay me down and die.
You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
The lyrics of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" conveys a feeling of sadness and despair that is encapsulated by the overarching metaphor of the "mood indigo." The song begins with the assertion that the listener has never truly experienced the blues until they have felt this specific mood. The feeling is described as creeping down to the singer's shoes, emphasizing the all-encompassing and inescapable nature of the mood indigo. The lyrics also convey a sense of resignation and acceptance, as the singer sighs and tells the blues to "go 'long" rather than attempting to fight against them.
The second verse builds on these themes of loneliness and longing. The singer claims that they always feel the mood indigo, particularly since their lover has left them. The image of the evening with the lights low emphasizes the loneliness and isolation that the singer is experiencing. But despite their sadness, the singer seems resigned to their fate, acknowledging that "there's nobody who cares about me." The final line, "I could lay me down and die," is a powerful expression of despair and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You have never truly experienced sadness
You ain't never been blue,
You have never felt the sadness that I am feeling
Till you've had that mood indigo.
Until you've felt the deep, dark sadness that consumes me
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
The feeling of sadness is so deep it affects my entire being
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
I simply accept this feeling, even though I wish it would leave me alone
I always get that mood indigo,
I frequently find myself in this state of deep sadness
Since my baby said goodbye.
Ever since my loved one left me
And in the evenin' when the lights are low,
Especially at night, when everything is quiet and peaceful
I'm so lonely I could cry.
I feel completely alone and isolated from others
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
No one seems to understand or care about my suffering
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
I feel like a helpless and foolish person, consumed by an overwhelming sadness
When I get that mood indigo,
Whenever I become overtaken by this deep sadness
I could lay me down and die.
I feel like giving up completely, and the thought of death seems like a better option than continuing to suffer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS, BARNEY BIGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stacyblue1980
one of my most favorite songs in the universe!
I had the old record
I think i still have it now.
Was a gem growing up
Thank you and bless.
Peace.
@lrh1966
Have a great day and thanks for checking it out from Lloyd :)
@sergiogomez8022
Here i go listening your colection. From computer to hall amp Thanks. Congratulations! Saludos desde medellín
@lrh1966
Thanks for listening to my vintage records...Friends, Lloyd.
@Marsh53172
Thanks for posting this.....very nice
@lrh1966
They were great performers, that is for sure. Thanks for listening to this Duke Ellington Orchestra recording...Friends, Lloyd.
@ccaammiinniiito2
Ivie puts just the right tone to this dirge. She was as much a complement to Ellington's stable as Billy Strayhorn and Johnny Hodges. A great period of creativity. One more reason to praise YouTube. This treasure will never die.
@eddunn4376
Thank you so much for this! I love this song. :')
@lenfoire
C'est la classe! from Québec city :)
@lrh1966
Thanks for checking it out and happy holiday season!!