Big
Ella Fitzgerald & The Mills Brothers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Big boy blue, come blow your horn
Big boy blue, it's almost dawn
And the band will soon be gone
Come on, blue, blow your horn

Big boy blue, it's getting late
Big boy blue, my seeds can't wait
So before you, you wear the cake

Come on, blue, blow your horn

When you blow hard and soul out
How am I gonna keep my sweet
Even with my two left feet?
I must give in, I'm in devout

Big boy blue, you know it's so
Big wide blue, before you go
Send me fast and send me slow
Come on, blue, blow your horn

So when you blow out, soul out
How am I gonna keep my seed
Even with my two left feet?
I must give in, I'm in devout

Oh Big boy blue, you know it's so
Big boy blue, before you go
Swing me high and swing me low
Come on, blue, blow your horn

Big boy blue, come blow your horn
Come on, blue, blow your horn
Come on, blue, blow your horn
So hard, so hard, how am I gonna keep my seed
Even with my two left feet?

Big boy blue, you know it's so
Big wide blue, before you go
Send me fast and send me slow
Swing me high and swing me low

Rock me too and rock me fro
Come on, blue, blow your horn

Overall Meaning

The song "Big Boy Blue" is a playful and suggestive conversation between a woman and a trumpet player, as they negotiate a romantic encounter. The woman implores the "big boy blue" to blow his horn, both as a musical request and a sexual innuendo. She expresses urgency that she wants to be with him before the band leaves, and that her "seeds" (presumably children) can't wait. The man responds with his own flirtatious banter, telling the woman that she will lose her rhythm when he blows so hard and soulfully. He asks her how she will keep her "sweet" (also a double entendre) when he plays. The chorus repeats their exchanges and invites the "big wide blue" to swing the woman high and low, and rock her "too and fro".

The song has a playful and teasing tone, using music as a metaphor for romance and seduction. The trumpet and vocals are both used to express desire and suggestiveness, with the jazzy music providing an energetic backdrop.

Line by Line Meaning

Big boy blue, come blow your horn
Let your presence be known by playing your instrument, Big Boy Blue.

Big boy blue, it's almost dawn
You've been playing all night, but it's almost time for you to go, Big Boy Blue.

And the band will soon be gone
The rest of the band will soon be leaving, so play your last notes, Big Boy Blue.

Come on, blue, blow your horn
Don't hold back, play your instrument with all your might, Big Boy Blue.

Big boy blue, it's getting late
Time is running out, Big Boy Blue, so play your music quickly.

Big boy blue, my seeds can't wait
I need to plant my crops soon, so hurry up, Big Boy Blue.

So before you, you wear the cake
Finish playing before the band leaves, Big Boy Blue.

Come on, blue, blow your horn
Play your music loudly, Big Boy Blue.

When you blow hard and soul out
When you play with all your heart and soul, Big Boy Blue.

How am I gonna keep my sweet
How can I keep my lover with me when you're playing such beautiful music, Big Boy Blue?

Even with my two left feet?
Even though I am not a great dancer?

I must give in, I'm in devout
I am so moved by your music that I cannot help but dance, Big Boy Blue.

Big boy blue, you know it's so
You know that your music is amazing, Big Boy Blue.

Big wide blue, before you go
Please play your music for just a little while longer, Big Boy Blue.

Send me fast and send me slow
Play music with a quick pace or a slow tempo, Big Boy Blue.

Swing me high and swing me low
Make me dance and move with the music, Big Boy Blue.

Rock me too and rock me fro
Your music makes me want to sway and rock back and forth, Big Boy Blue.

Come on, blue, blow your horn
Play your music with all your might until it's time for you to go, Big Boy Blue.

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: DAN HOWELL, JACK LAWRENCE, PETER TINTURIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

Hai Voeten

9y↑5

Unbelievable! 1937. For years I have been carrying this tune in my head without hearing this version with the incredible Mills Brothers and Miss Ella. Great.