Elmore James' 1951 recording as "Dust My Broom" "made it the classic as we know it", according to blues historian Gerard Herzhaft. James' slide guitar adaptation of Johnson's triplet figure has been identified as one of the most famous blues guitar riffs and has inspired many rock performers. The song has become a blues standard, with numerous renditions by a variety of musicians. It also has been selected for the Blues Foundation Blues Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.
Dust My Broom
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin'
I believe I'll dust my broom
I quit the best I'm lovin'
Now my friends can get in my room
I'm gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know
I'm gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know
She be in East Monroe I know
I don't want no woman
Who wants every downtown man she meets
I don't want no woman
Who wants every downtown man she meets
Man cause no good darlin'
They shouldn't lie her on the street yeah
I believe, I believe my time ain't long
I believe, I believe my time ain't long
I ain't gonna leave my baby
And break up my happy home
The lyrics to Fleetwood Mac's song Dust My Broom are about leaving a woman who is unfaithful or promiscuous. The singer, who is male, sings about getting up in the morning and dusting his broom, which is a metaphor for leaving or moving on. He mentions quitting the best love he's ever had, implying that he is leaving a woman who he cared for deeply, but who was not faithful to him. He then talks about wanting to find her, but also expressing that he doesn't want a woman who wants every downtown man she meets. The singer is clearly hurt by her actions and doesn't want to be with someone who has no loyalty or commitment. Throughout the song, he expresses his belief that his time is running out, but he is not willing to sacrifice his happiness and family life for someone who doesn't reciprocate his feelings.
The song can be interpreted in different ways, but at its core, it is about the pain of loving someone who does not love you back. The singer is willing to leave his past behind and start fresh, even if it means leaving the woman he loves behind. He knows that he deserves better and is willing to take the risk to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin'
I will wake up early
I believe I'll dust my broom
I will leave this place
I quit the best I'm lovin', now my friends can get in my room
I am leaving the person I love the most so that my friends can have her/him
I'm gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know
I will look for my lost lover by contacting every person and place I can think of
If I don't find her in Mississippi, she be in East Monroe I know
I am sure that if I can't find her in Mississippi, she must be in East Monroe
I don't want no woman who wants every downtown man she meets
I don't want a woman who is interested in every man she meets in the city
Man 'cause no good, darling, they shouldn't lie her on the street yeah
Many men are not good, they don't treat her well and they should not abandon her
I believe, I believe my time ain't long
I feel like my life will not last much longer
I ain't gonna leave my baby and break up my happy home
I will stay with my lover and keep our happy home intact
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Elmore, Robert Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@timterrible6616
As a 37 year old super fan of Elmore James, I must say, this an absolute powerhouse classic of a cover/improv (the words are slightly different) The guitar is the best example I have ever heard of someone not necessarily emulating Elmore’s great sound, but jamming with it in perfect harmony. I absolutely love this song, and listen to it constantly when I work on my art projects. YouTube is such a great place to find every classic. Thank you to everyone involved throughout history, that contributed to what I just heard.
@andrewbartholomew2961
These are the words of Robert Johnson's original (?) "Dust My Broom".
"I'm gonna call up China, see if my good girl's over there. (X 2)
If she ain't in the Philippine Islands, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere."
Elmore copied his version, right down to the guitar breaks, but put his amazing electric guitar sound on it and really rocked it up. (Not available when Robert Johnson recorded this on an acoustic in 1932). Listen to Robert Johnson's version here on YouTube. You'll also hear numerous Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin covers of Johnson songs.
@john1606ful
Have you listened to Canned Heat's version , in my opinion , it's on a par with this one
@13Voodoobilly69
🙌👏👏👏👏👏
@NathanSmith-xf7rk
That is so cool
@phili1968
Well... As Andrew said below, the original song is from Robert Johnson... But it is true Elmore James went much beyond in violence and harmony with this insane reverb. He reinvented the song.
Green does something wonderfully cool on a par with Elmore's... But he fails to crank that song up to another level unfortunately, because he did not really want it.
Canned Heat cover is insane... Buddy Guy's too... but what about ZZ Top's... Insanely loud... It is another generation of this wonderful's song.
@TheNobbynoonar
Just proves that you don’t need super fast guitar licks, fancy pyrotechnics or big stage productions to make music that moves the soul. ✌️
@robertmorgan9241
Greeny and Jeremy absolutely drove this tune! I'm so privileged to have had these guys in my teenage years!
@JonathanHorwitz
55 years ago! We rocked! I'm 81 now, still groovin 😄
@cyndygough4107
This is FLEETWOOD MAC. And thanks to Peter Green for his contribution. He got them started & handed it over to them. Lets all give a BIG THANKS to Peter Green!!!!! ✌️♥️🤘