James was born fifty miles north of Jackson (not to be confused with another Richland just south of Jackson). He began playing as a teen, under the names "Cleanhead" and "Joe Willie James", alongside musicians such as the first Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, and Robert Johnson. During World War II James joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Guam.
Upon his discharge James returned to central Mississippi and eventually settled in Canton. He began recording with Trumpet Records in nearby Jackson in January 1951, first as sideman to the second Sonny Boy Williamson and others, then debuting as a session leader in August with what became his signature song, "Dust My Broom". It was a surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. His "I Believe" was another hit a year later. During the 1950s he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair and Modern labels, as well as for Chess Records. His backing musicians were known as the Broomdusters. In 1959 he began recording what are perhaps his best sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire Records label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to Elmo James and His Broomdusters), "Stranger Blues", "Look On Yonder Wall", "Done Somebody Wrong", and "Shake Your Moneymaker", all of which are among the most famous of blues recordings.
The slide guitar riff from "Dust My Broom" is one of the best-known openings in all of blues.
Elmore James died of his third heart attack in Chicago in 1963, already a major influence on guitarists such as The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. His classic "Done Somebody Wrong" and "One Way Out" were often covered by The Allman Brothers Band, who cited James as a major influence. James was also covered by blues-rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble many times in concert. The most famous of these covers is Vaughan's take on James's legendary recording, "The Sky Is Crying". James is mentioned in The Beatles' song "For You Blue". While John Lennon plays the slide guitar, James' trademark, George Harrison says "Go, Johnny, go ... Elmore James got nothin' on this, baby." Another famous guitarist who admired Elmore James was Jimi Hendrix. On a sleeve of the posthumously released Hendrix CD Blues, there is a photo of Hendrix wearing his famous military jacket and holding Elmore James's vinyl.
Something Inside of Me
Elmore James Lyrics
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Something inside me that just won't let me be, yeah
My baby is gone and left me and my heart's in misery
I wake up early in the mornin' in my bedroom all alone
I wake up early in the mornin' in my bedroom all alone
I don't find my baby and I wonder, I wonder
Where she gone oh yeah, yeah
My baby's gone and I'm so tired, it's a cryin' shame
Yes, you know I'm so tired, it's a cryin' shame
Ever since she been gone, you know my life don't feel the same
Elmore James's song "Something Inside of Me" is a blues classic that speaks to the pain and heartache of losing a loved one. James sings about an inner turmoil that he can't seem to shake, a feeling of emptiness and longing that remains even though his partner has left him. The repetition of the phrase "something inside me that just won't let me be" underscores the depth of his despair and the sense that he is struggling to process the loss.
As he wakes up each morning alone in his room, James reflects on the absence of his baby and wonders where she has gone. The use of the repeated phrase "I wonder" in this section creates a sense of uncertainty and desperation, capturing the fear and anxiety that comes with not knowing what has happened to someone you love. James's voice has a raw, emotional quality that perfectly encapsulates the pain of his situation.
Throughout the song, James emphasizes the physical and emotional toll that this loss has taken on him. He is tired and his heart is in misery, and he struggles to adjust to a life without his partner. But even in the midst of his pain, he finds a way to express himself through music, with a powerful performance that speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Something inside me that just won't let me be
There is a feeling deep within me that is impossible to shake
Something inside me that just won't let me be, yeah
That feeling inside me is persistent and unrelenting
My baby is gone and left me and my heart's in misery
Due to my lover leaving me, my heart is in complete agony
I wake up early in the mornin' in my bedroom all alone
At dawn, I rise from slumber only to find myself in an empty bedroom
I wake up early in the mornin' in my bedroom all alone
I am completely by myself, tormented by my thoughts and feelings
I don't find my baby and I wonder, I wonder
My lover is nowhere to be found and I am consumed with worry and confusion
Where she gone oh yeah, yeah
I am pleading for information as to the whereabouts of my beloved
My baby's gone and I'm so tired, it's a cryin' shame
The absence of my lover has left me exhausted and utterly devastated
Yes, you know I'm so tired, it's a cryin' shame
My exhaustion is so extreme that it is a source of deep sorrow
Ever since she been gone, you know my life don't feel the same
Since my lover's departure, my life has been forever altered and lacks the joy it once held
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MORRIS LEVY, CLARENCE L LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind