Who's Been Talkin'
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics


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My baby caught the train, left me all alone
My baby caught the train, left me all alone
She knows I love her, she doin' me wrong

My baby bought the ticket, long as her right arm
My baby bought the ticket, long as my right arm
She says she's gonna ride, long as I been from home
Well, who been talking, everything that I do?
Well, who been talking, everything that I do?
Well, you is my baby, I hate to lose

Well, goodbye baby, hate to see you go
Well, goodbye baby, hate to see you go
You know I love you, I'm the causin' of it all

I'm the causin' of it all
I'm the causin' of it all
I'm the causin' of it all





I'm the causin' of it all
I'm the causin' of it all

Overall Meaning

In Howlin' Wolf's song "Who's Been Talking," the artist is expressing his heartbreak over being left alone by his lover, who has caught a train and left him. He emphasizes the extent of his love for her, even though it seems as though she knows this and is still treating him unfairly. The repetition of "My baby caught the train, left me all alone" and "My baby bought the ticket, long as her right arm" emphasizes the weight of her departure and the pain it causes him. He even questions who has been spreading rumors or talking about him, seemingly bewildered by the situation.


However, the final verses take a surprising turn as he acknowledges that he, himself, is the cause of their downfall. He admits, "You know I love you, I'm the causin' of it all," repeating the line multiple times. This introspection, combined with the earlier lines about others talking about him or his actions, suggests that he is aware of his own faults and is reflecting on what led to his lover leaving him.


Overall, "Who's Been Talking" is a poignant lament about a man who is grappling with the aftermath of a failed relationship, questioning others' motives and eventually realizing his own responsibility in the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

My baby caught the train, left me all alone
My lover left me and went away on a train, leaving me feeling lonely and abandoned


She knows I love her, she doin' me wrong
My lover is aware of my affection for her, but she's treating me unfairly


My baby bought the ticket, long as her right arm
My lover purchased a train ticket that was as long as her arm, implying a great distance between us


She says she's gonna ride, long as I been from home
My lover intends to ride the train for a long time, possibly as long as I've been away from home


Well, who been talking, everything that I do?
I'm wondering who's been spreading rumors and gossip about me and my actions


Well, you is my baby, I hate to lose
Despite everything, I still feel love for my lover and don't want to lose her


Well, goodbye baby, hate to see you go
I'm sad to say goodbye to my lover as she leaves on the train


You know I love you, I'm the causin' of it all
I acknowledge that my own actions and behavior have contributed to the current situation and my lover's departure


I'm the causin' of it all
I am responsible for the problems in our relationship


I'm the causin' of it all
My actions have caused the issues in my relationship


I'm the causin' of it all
The challenges in our relationship are a result of my own behavior


I'm the causin' of it all
I am the root cause of the problems in my relationship


I'm the causin' of it all
My failures have caused the separation between my lover and I




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Chester Burnett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@societydwellingifd766

My baby caught the train. Left me all alone.
My baby caught the train. Left me all alone.
She know I love her. She done me wrong.
My baby bought the ticket long as her right arm.
My baby bought the ticket long as my right arm.
She say she gonna ride long as I been from home.

Who's been talking everything that I do?
Who's been talking everything that I do?
Well you my baby I hate to lose.
Goodbye baby, hate to see you go.
Goodbye baby, hate to see you go.
You know I love you. I'm the causing of it all.

I'm the causing of it all.



All comments from YouTube:

@mikidomeny1677

the problem with the Wolfs music, or blues as whole is that afterwards everything else feels like childrens music

@SankofaRed

WOW!
I never heard anyone say it like that before. But damn isn't that the truth.

@marcusclements3370

It is. In 1977 I was sixteen and ‘supposed’ to be into the music of my age group. The problem was that it was entirely fatuous. That’s not to say that weren’t some great things, there were. But by and large, blues and R&B spoke to me in a way punk did not. Blues is far heavier. The mood and sound of the records has far more depth and is incredibly dynamic. I have a son. By all accounts, the same dynamic is taking place.

@cliffordletsche1707

Yup, that's it. I had the misfortune of getting a copy of this record when I was 13. All the classic rock/metal my friends were listening to sounded like derivative bs. I got over it (kind of), but yeah... this is the real thing.

@Wizardstix23

Well said 👍🏻

@ach2lieber

Try Bach. Music for grownups.

1 More Replies...

@mauroybarra55

ive been listening to the wolf for 40 years, i believe, in my opinion he is the greatest blues man ever and my biggest blues influence.

@ailurophile17

The Wolf is the greatest blues artist EVER!  He's been answering my telephone for me for the last quarter century, "Somebody calling, calling me on my telephone..."

@roberttuss5349

I bought this album when I was in High School. 1969. It was with me for years. Wish I still had it.

@societydwellingifd766

My baby caught the train. Left me all alone.
My baby caught the train. Left me all alone.
She know I love her. She done me wrong.
My baby bought the ticket long as her right arm.
My baby bought the ticket long as my right arm.
She say she gonna ride long as I been from home.

Who's been talking everything that I do?
Who's been talking everything that I do?
Well you my baby I hate to lose.
Goodbye baby, hate to see you go.
Goodbye baby, hate to see you go.
You know I love you. I'm the causing of it all.

I'm the causing of it all.

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