Ill wind
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics


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Blow, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You're blowin' me no good (no good)

Go, ill wind, go away
Skies are oh-so gray
Around my neighborhood, and that's no good
You're only misleadin' the sunshine I'm needin'
Ain't that a shame
It's so hard to keep up with troubles that creep up
From out of nowhere, when love's to blame

So, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You're blowin' me no good (no good)

You're only misleadin' the sunshine I'm needin'
Ain't that a shame
It's so hard to keep up with troubles that creep up
From out of nowhere, when love's to blame

So, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You're blowin' me no good (no good)





Blow, ill wind, blow

Overall Meaning

The song "Ill Wind" by Ella Fitzgerald is a blues-infused ballad that explores the aftermath of falling out of love. The lyrics speak of an "ill wind," a metaphor for the troubles that arise when love ends. The vocalist asks the wind to blow away and let her be at peace, as it is only bringing her ill fortune. The singer expresses her disgust at the situation, calling the wind "no good" for causing her so much pain.


The lyrics also point out how difficult it can be to move on from heartbreak, as troubles continue to follow and bring down the mood, even on a sunny day. The song stresses the struggle of trying to move forward with one's life while being weighed down by the burdens of heartbreak.


Overall, the song serves as a lament for lost love and a reminder that sometimes the struggle to move on can be all-consuming. Fitzgerald's soulful delivery captures the raw emotion behind the lyrics, making it a timeless and relatable piece.


Line by Line Meaning

Blow, ill wind, blow away
Unwanted problems and difficulties are present in my life, so I implore you to blow away and disappear.


Let me rest today
Give me a break from the constant obstacles and allow me to rest for a while.


You're blowin' me no good (no good)
Your presence only brings additional bad luck and challenges.


Go, ill wind, go away
I urge you to leave me alone and disappear, as your negative effects on my life are unwelcome.


Skies are oh-so gray
The state of the world seems gloomy to me.


Around my neighborhood, and that's no good
This depressing situation is affecting my immediate surroundings and is undesirable.


You're only misleadin' the sunshine I'm needin'
The good things in life, represented by the sunshine, are being blocked by your negative influence.


Ain't that a shame
It's truly regrettable that you're impeding the good things in life.


It's so hard to keep up with troubles that creep up
It's difficult to cope with unexpected challenges that arise.


From out of nowhere, when love's to blame
These challenges and obstacles are unwelcome and especially frustrating because they stem from love, which should be a positive force.


So, ill wind, blow away
Once again, I implore you to leave and remove your negative impact on my life.


Let me rest today
Give me a break and allow me to relax and recover from the challenges you've caused.


You're blowin' me no good (no good)
Your negative impact on my life is not doing me any favors and needs to go away.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, S.A. MUSIC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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