Boyd moved to the Beale Street district of Memphis, Tennessee in 1936 where he played piano and guitar with his group, the Dixie Rhythm Boys. Boyd followed the great migration northward to the factories of Chicago, Illinois in 1941.
He wrote and recorded the hit songs "Five Long Years" (1952), "24 Hours" (1953), and the "Third Degree" (co-written by Willie Dixon, also 1953). Boyd toured Europe with Buddy Guy's band in 1965 as part of the American Folk Blues Festival. He later toured and recorded with Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
Tired of the racial discrimination he experienced in the United States, he first moved to Belgium where he recorded with the Dutch band, Cuby and the Blizzards. He settled in Helsinki, Finland in 1970, where he recorded ten blues records, the first being Praise to Helsinki (1970). He married his wife, Leila, in 1977.
Boyd died in 1994 in Helsinki, Finland,
Five Long Years
Eddie Boyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Yes, have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
I got a job at a steel mill, I'm shucking steel just like a slave
Five long years, every Friday y'all I went straight home yeah, I went straight home
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
Lord but I finally learned a lesson, I should have known long time ago
The next woman I marry, she gotta have two jobs,
and she gotta go out and work long and bring some dough
Lord, said I been mistreated
And you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
Have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Yes, have you ever been mistreated
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
I got a job at a steel mill, I'm shucking steel just like a slave
Five long years, every Friday yes y'all I went straight home,
I went straight home with all my pay
Yes, I've been mistreated
And you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
Lord I finally learned a lesson, I should have known a long time ago
The next woman I marry, she gotta have two jobs,
and she gotta go out and work and bringing home some dough
I've been mistreated, yeah
And you, you know just what I'm talking about
I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerves to kick me out
The lyrics of Eddie Boyd's "Five Long Years" are a raw and emotional testament to the pain and suffering of being mistreated by someone you love. Boyd speaks to the audience, asking if they have ever experienced this kind of betrayal and heartbreak. He then tells his own story of working tirelessly for five long years to support and care for a woman, only to be kicked out in the end. Boyd paints a vivid picture of his struggle, working at a steel mill like a slave and going straight home every Friday, only to be mistreated by the woman he loved and trusted.
As the song progresses, Boyd reflects on his mistakes and realizes that the next woman he marries will have to work just as hard as he does, bringing home her own income to show that she cares. Boyd's lyrics are poignant and powerful, and they speak to anyone who has ever been mistreated in a relationship. The repetitions of "have you ever been mistreated" and "you got to know just what I'm talking about" drive home the message that this kind of pain is universal and relatable.
Overall, "Five Long Years" is a deeply personal and emotional ballad that speaks to anyone who has ever been mistreated by someone they loved. Boyd's lyrics are honest and raw, and they paint a vivid picture of the kind of heartbreak that can stay with you for years to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, have you ever been mistreated
Have you ever experienced being treated unfairly or with disrespect?
Then you got to, you got to know just what I'm talking about
If you have, then you can understand the pain and frustration I'm feeling.
Yes, have you ever been mistreated
I'm repeating the question to emphasize its importance.
Lord I work five long years for one woman, and she had the nerve to kick me out
I spent five hard years working to provide for my partner, and yet she still had the audacity to end our relationship.
I got a job at a steel mill, I'm shucking steel just like a slave
I was working a demanding and physically arduous job at a steel mill, feeling like a slave to the work.
Five long years, every Friday y'all I went straight home yeah, I went straight home
For five years, every Friday after work, I went straight home without any distractions or entertainment.
Lord but I finally learned a lesson, I should have known long time ago
But eventually, I came to a realization and realized I should have known this lesson earlier.
The next woman I marry, she gotta have two jobs, and she gotta go out and work long and bring some dough
For my next partner, I need someone who will also work hard and bring in financial stability.
I've been mistreated, yeah
I have personally experienced unfair or disrespectful treatment from others.
And you, you know just what I'm talking about
And if you've been mistreated, then you can sympathize with my situation.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Eddie Boyd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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And she had the nerve to put me out 🗣