Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder on 25 February 1945, Broughton, Salfor… Read Full Bio ↴Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder on 25 February 1945, Broughton, Salford, England) is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist.

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).

I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues
Elkie Brooks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't got the change of a nickel
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
Ain't got no fancy to tickle

I ain't got nothing but the blues
Ain't got no coffee that's perking
Ain't got no winnings to lose

Ain't got a dream that is working
I ain't got nothing but the blues
When trumpets flare up

I keep my hair up
I just can't make it come down
Believe me, peppie
I can't get happy

Since my ever-loving baby left town
Ain't got no rest in my slumbers
Ain't got no feelings to bruise

Ain't got no telephone numbers
I ain't got nothing but the blues

Overall Meaning

Elkie Brooks's song I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues reflects the theme of melancholy and heartbreak, conveying the emotions of a person who has lost everything they hold dear. In the lyrics, the singer lists all the things they no longer have or possess, emphasizing that all they have left is a sense of emptiness and sadness. The repeated use of the phrase "I ain't got nothing but the blues" reinforces the feeling of hopelessness and despair.

The verse "Ain't got the change of a nickel, Ain't got no bounce in my shoes, Ain't got no fancy to tickle" highlights the loss of material things, including money and other possessions that once brought joy or comfort. The following verse "Ain't got no coffee that's perking, Ain't got no winnings to lose, Ain't got a dream that is working" indicates a lack of purpose or ambition, as well as the absence of success and joy in any aspect of their life. The lines "I just can't make it come down, Believe me, peppie, I can't get happy" further suggest that the singer is struggling to overcome their sadness and find happiness again.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't got the change of a nickel
I don't have even the tiniest bit of money

Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
I can't even find the energy to walk properly

Ain't got no fancy to tickle
I don't have anything that excites me or makes me happy

I ain't got nothing but the blues
I'm feeling really sad and depressed

Ain't got no coffee that's perking
I don't even have the simple pleasure of a cup of coffee

Ain't got no winnings to lose
I'm not even in a position where I could gamble or win anything

Ain't got a dream that is working
I don't have any aspirations or dreams that I'm working towards

When trumpets flare up
When I hear loud, joyous music

I keep my hair up
I try to keep up a good appearance

I just can't make it come down
But deep down, I'm still feeling sad

Believe me, peppie
Trust me, buddy