Am I Blue
Eddie Heywood & His Orchestra w/ Billie Holiday Lyrics

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It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it
Why should he do it
He never done it before

Am I blue
Am I blue

Ain't these tears, in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me "am I blue"
Why, wouldn't you be too
If each plan
With your man
Done fell through

There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm
The sad and lonely one, lonely

Was I gay
Until today

Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue

Overall Meaning

The song "Am I Blue" by Eddie Heywood & His Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday is a melancholic ballad about heartbreak and loneliness. The opening lines describe the moment when the singer discovers her lover has left her without any explanation, leaving her confused and devastated. She questions why he has done this, as he has never done it before, indicating that they had a long-term relationship that seemed stable until now.

The chorus of the song, which is repeated multiple times, features the phrase "Am I blue," which can be interpreted in a few different ways. Blue could refer to feeling sad or depressed, or it could mean feeling betrayed or cheated on, both emotions that the singer is experiencing in the aftermath of her breakup. She asks how anyone can question whether or not she is blue, as the tears in her eyes give away her emotional state.

In the final verse, the singer reflects on the past when she was happy and in love, but now she is left feeling empty and alone. She mourns the loss of her former life, which has been irreparably damaged by the end of her relationship. The song's poignant lyrics and Billie Holiday's soulful voice make it a timeless classic that captures the pain and sorrow of heartbreak.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a morning, long before dawn
At an hour before the sun rose

Without a warning I found he was gone
He left without any notice

How could he do it
What motivated him to leave?

Why should he do it
What reason could he have had?

He never done it before
He had not left like this previously

Am I blue
Am I feeling sad

Am I blue
My tears are evidence of my sadness

Ain't these tears, in these eyes telling you
Can't you see that I'm crying

How can you ask me "am I blue"
Why are you asking me something so obvious

Why, wouldn't you be too
Wouldn't you also be sad?

If each plan
All the things I had planned with him