Long Gone Lonesome Blues
Hank Williams Jr. & Hank Williams Sr. Lyrics
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But I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die, Oh Lord!
And then I jumped in the river, but the doggone river was dry.
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.
I had me a woman who couldn't be true.
She made me for my money and she made me blue.
A man needs a woman that he can lean on,
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.
I'm gonna find me a river, one that's cold as ice.
And when I find me that river, Lord I'm gonna pay the price, Oh Lord!
I'm goin' down in it three times, but Lord I'm only comin' up twice.
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.
She told me on Sunday she was checkin' me out
Long about Monday she was nowhere about.
And here it is Tuesday, ain't had no news.
I got them gone but not forgotten blues.
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.
The lyrics of Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams Sr.'s song Long Gone Lonesome Blues tell the story of a man who is overcome with loneliness after being betrayed by a woman he loved. The song vividly describes his emotional pain and his desperate attempt to find solace by jumping into the river. However, the river is dry, emphasizing his feeling of desolation and hopelessness. He reminisces about the woman who betrayed him, revealing that she made him blue by taking his money and being unfaithful. The man seeks a new companion but struggles to find someone to rely on, as his trust had been broken before. He feels forgotten and abandoned, longing for news of his former lover but realizing that she is unlikely to return.
The song is a portrayal of heartbreak, betrayal and emptiness. It highlights the helplessness of a person when they lose the one they love and the brewing pain when someone is not true. The imagery used in the song effectively conveys the emotions of the singer. The line "I went down to the river to watch the fish swim by; but I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die" encapsulates the singer's sense of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the river to watch the fish swim by;
I went to the river to spend some time alone and observe the fish in their natural habitat;
But I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die, Oh Lord!
But when I arrived at the river, I felt such deep loneliness that I wished for death, Oh Lord!;
And then I jumped in the river, but the doggone river was dry.
I impulsively jumped into the river, but to my dismay, the riverbed was completely dry.;
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.
My lover has left me for good, causing me to feel a deep and enduring sorrow.
I had me a woman who couldn't be true.
I was with a woman who was incapable of being honest and faithful to me.
She made me for my money and she made me blue.
She took advantage of me financially and left me feeling deeply sad and disappointed.
A man needs a woman that he can lean on,
A man desires a woman who can provide him with support and stability,
But my leanin' post is done left and gone.
But my source of support has disappeared and left me all alone.
I'm gonna find me a river, one that's cold as ice.
I am determined to find a new environment that matches my current emotional state, even if it is cold as ice.
And when I find me that river, Lord I'm gonna pay the price, Oh Lord!
And when I do find that river, I know I will have to suffer the consequences, Oh Lord!;
I'm goin' down in it three times, but Lord I'm only comin' up twice.
I am willing to endure a lot of emotional pain, even if it means that I will only be able to overcome it partially.
She told me on Sunday she was checkin' me out.
She informed me on one occasion that she was evaluating the possibility of leaving our relationship.
Long about Monday she was nowhere about.
On the next day, there was no trace of her, and she was gone.
And here it is Tuesday, ain't had no news.
And now it's already Tuesday, and I still haven't received any news from her.
I got them gone but not forgotten blues.
I may have lost her, but my emotions towards her have not disappeared completely, causing me to feel bitter and downcast.
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.
She left me, and now I am left with a deep sense of sorrow and feeling emotionally low.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS, SR.
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