Waits' bio reads like a Hollywood film, and by that I mean the drama came h… Read Full Bio ↴Waits' bio reads like a Hollywood film, and by that I mean the drama came hard and fast for this woman. We're talking alcoholic father, a mother who squelched her daughter's early singing attempts out of jealousy before being murdered, and growing up in poverty in Louisiana.

But while Waits' early life was tumultuous to say the least, that voice managed to prevail, and on her self-titled debut for the Radarproof label, we are shown why we are all the better for it. Just as capable of singing a torch song as getting down and dirty with the blues, Waits tackles a combination of covers and originals on her CD with passion that really should be displayed more in the music business.

Her choices for covers are as curious when one sees them listed on the CD cover as they are ultimately appropriate, once they have been heard. Tom Waits' "Get Behind the Mule," sizzles with mischief when the female Waits works her magic on it. Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells," a criminally overlooked track from his excellent "Oh Mercy" CD, is given beautifully reverent treatment by Waits, as is the Billie Holiday standard, "Yesterdays."

Just wait until you hear the longing in Waits' voice when she tackles Ray Charles' "Drown in My Own Tears." Among the originals, the song "The Ballad of Judith Anne" is the most intriguing.

Also good is "Ignatius," which closes out the CD.

Mother in Law Blues
Hope Waits Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was early in the mornin'
I heard a rooster crow for days
It was early in the mornin'
I heard a rooster crow for days
I looked out my window
And saw my baby walk away

I thought, "Lord, please stop him

Ain't gonna get drunk no more"
I thought, "Lord, please stop him
Ain't gonna get drunk no more"
I hollered out my window
"Come back baby please don't go"

I know he heard me callin'
He looked back and waved his hand
I know he heard me callin'
He looked back and waved his hand
I could hear him tell his momma
"That's one no good woman"

Well, I watched my baby leave
His momma had him by the hand
Well, I watched my baby leave
His momma had him by the hand

I'd give anything I have
Just to see my man again

Overall Meaning

The song "Mother-In-Law Blues" by Hope Waits tells the story of a woman who wakes up early in the morning to find her partner leaving her. She looks out of her window and sees him walking away with his mother. She pleads with him to come back, hoping that he won't continue to drink and hoping that he heard her when she called after him. However, he tells his mother that the woman is no good and continues to walk away. The woman is left feeling heartbroken and willing to do anything to see her partner again.

The song captures the pain of a failed relationship and the struggle to hold on when things fall apart. The woman's desperation to stop her partner from leaving and the realization that she may have lost him forever is palpable. The lyrics also touch on the idea of how an outside force, in this case, the mother-in-law, can influence personal relationships and cause them to crumble.

Overall, "Mother-In-Law Blues" is a powerful and emotional song that explores the theme of loss and the complexities of human relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

It was early in the mornin'
The incident took place in the early morning hours.

I heard a rooster crow for days
The rooster was crowing for many days.

I looked out my window
The singer watched from her window.

And saw my baby walk away
Her lover was leaving her.

I thought, "Lord, please stop him
She prayed for him not to leave.

Ain't gonna get drunk no more"
She hoped he would stop drinking.

I hollered out my window
She shouted to get his attention.

"Come back baby please don't go"
She begged him to stay.

I know he heard me callin'
She was aware that he could hear her.

He looked back and waved his hand
He acknowledged her cry to appeal him.