A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks' début, a cover of Etta James's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released on Decca in 1964. Later she became the vocalist with a British 12-piece Stax-influenced, jazz-rock fusion band called Dada that released one, eponymous, album in 1970.
Brooks, along with guitarist Pete Gage, singer Robert Palmer and bassist Steve York formed Vinegar Joe in 1971, adding keyboard player Dave Thompson. The band was without a drummer; Conrad Isidore and Rob Tait drummed on the first album, released in 1972.
In 1974, after three albums Vinegar Joe split and Brooks went solo. After a time in the US as backing singer with the American southern boogie band Wet Willie, she returned to England. Her first solo album on A&M records was Rich Man's Woman (1975).
Blues For Mama
Elkie Brooks Lyrics
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I heard you wasn't feeling' good
They're spreadin' dirty rumors
All around the neighborhood
They say you're mean and evil
And don't know what to do
That's the reason that he's gone
And left you black and blue
Tell me what you gonna do now
They say he's left you all alone
To weather this old storm
He's got another woman now
Hangin' on his arm, yeah yeah yeah
That old fool's tellin' everybody
He's sick and tired of you
Hey Lordy Lordy mama
What you gonna do
Hey yeah
Tell me what you gonna do
They say you love to fuss and fight
And bring a good man down
And don't know how to treat him
They say you ain't behind him
And just don't understand
And think that you're a woman
But actin' like a man
Hey Lordy mama
What you gonna do now
Get your nerves together, baby
And set the record straight
Set it straight
Let the whole round world know
It wasn't you
That cause his bitter fate
All these years you loved him
And he knows it's true
'Cause what you're wantin'
For your man
Is what he's wantin', too
Hey yeah
Tell me what you gonna do now
When you love a man enough
You're bound to disagree
'Cause ain't nobody perfect
'Cause ain't nobody free
Hey Lordy mama
Tell me what you gonna do
What you gonna do
The lyrics of Elkie Brooks's song "Blues For Momma" tell the story of a woman who is unfairly judged by her community and left by her partner after he starts an affair. The song starts with the singer addressing the woman, referred to as "Lordy mama," in sympathy and concern as she has heard rumors about her not feeling well. But the rumors about her health soon turn into rumors about her personality, and the community starts to label her as mean and evil. The lyrics show how gossip spreads like wildfire, and how unfair and harsh it can be.
The rumors have also affected the woman's relationship, and her partner has left her for another woman. The woman is accused of being responsible for her partner's behavior because of her "fuss and fight" and her supposed inability to treat him well or understand him. The lyrics suggest that the man's behavior is unfair, as the woman who loved him for all these years has been left alone and judged wrongly.
The lyrics also address the need to set the record straight and explain the truth of what happened. The woman is encouraged to get her "nerves together" and make it clear that she did not cause her partner's "bitter fate." The song suggests that love and relationships are difficult, and couples will inevitably face disagreements and challenges, but it is unfair to place the blame on only one person. The song ends with the singer asking the woman what she is going to do, urging her to take control of the situation and hopefully move on from this difficult experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Lordy mama
Addressing the singer's mother and expressing concern.
I heard you wasn't feeling' good
Report of hearing about the mother's ill health.
They're spreadin' dirty rumors
People are spreading malicious gossip.
All around the neighborhood
The rumors are being spread far and wide.
They say you're mean and evil
The rumors accuse the mother of being cruel and wicked.
And don't know what to do
The rumors suggest that the mother is incompetent.
That's the reason that he's gone
The rumors are blaming the mother for the man leaving.
And left you black and blue
The mother has been physically abused by the man who left.
Tell me what you gonna do now
The artist is asking for the mother's plan of action.
They say he's left you all alone
The mother has been abandoned by the man.
To weather this old storm
The mother must endure this difficult situation.
He's got another woman now
The man has found a new partner.
Hangin' on his arm, yeah yeah yeah
The new woman is openly showing off her relationship.
That old fool's tellin' everybody
The man is gossiping about the mother to others.
He's sick and tired of you
The man is claiming to be fed up with the mother.
What you gonna do
The artist is again asking for the mother's plan of action.
They say you love to fuss and fight
The rumors accuse the mother of being argumentative.
And bring a good man down
The mother's behavior has caused the man's downfall.
And don't know how to treat him
The rumors suggest the mother doesn't know how to treat her partner well.
They say you ain't behind him
The mother is not supporting her partner.
And just don't understand
The mother is incapable of comprehending the man's needs.
And think that you're a woman
There is a gendered double standard at play.
But actin' like a man
The mother is attributed with stereotypically masculine behavior.
Get your nerves together, baby
The artist is urging the mother to gather her emotional strength.
And set the record straight
The mother should correct the false rumors being spread about her.
Let the whole round world know
The mother needs to tell her truth openly and widely.
It wasn't you
The mother is not responsible for her partner's decisions.
That cause his bitter fate
The man is experiencing a harsh reality due to his own doings.
All these years you loved him
The mother has been committed to the man for a long time.
And he knows it's true
The man is aware of the mother's love for him.
Cause what you're wantin'
The singer is acknowledging the mother's needs.
For your man
What the mother desires and expects from her partner.
Is what he's wantin', too
The mother's desires and expectations are not unreasonable and are shared by the man.
When you love a man enough
Love is not always easy, but it is powerful.
You're bound to disagree
Disagreements are common in any relationship.
Cause ain't nobody perfect
It is unrealistic to expect anyone to be flawless.
Cause ain't nobody free
Everyone has their own baggage and constraints.
Tell me what you gonna do
The song ends with a repetition of the singer's call for the mother's plan of action.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ABBEY LINCOLN, NINA SIMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind