Goin' Down Slow
Howlin' Wolf & Muddy Waters Lyrics


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Alright, alright.
Thank you so much ladies and gentlemen right here,
Right here I want to tell you a little story.
This is about a country boy from down home.
This young man has never been north before.
I want you to listen to me, I got something to tell
You.
He heard about Chicago.
He worked hard over here, made all of that money, 800
Dollars.
After caring for his crop, he called his cousin in
Chicago,
And he said, "Cousin, I'm on my way".
He picked all of that cotton.
I said this is about a country boy like myself, B.B.
King you know.
So when he get to Chicago, his cousin meet him and
Bring him out to the club.
He said, "Set him up!", cous's payin' for.
Had all the go-go girls set up, waitin' up.
They carried him downtown and put him up in one of the
Pleasure hotels.
They brought him back out and said, "Set him up!",
Cous's payin' for.
His money got a little lighter, they lured him out from
The Lute and brought him down to Robert's.
And then he said, "Set him up!", cous's payin' for.
And then the 800 dollars, bein' more money then my man
Had ever had, began to run out.
Then they moved him out and put him down with the...
And then, ladies and gentlemen, the go-go girls would
Get fewer.
His friends was fewer.
All his buddies are startin' passin' him on the other
Side of the street.
And then it happened all his buddies were gone.
And my man knew only one thing to do, it was getting
Cold there, like it is today,
You know what I'm talking about.
He went down to the railroad yard,
And one of the few ladies that had helped him to spent
His money, came by to see him.
And she said "You fool!, you fool!", I wouldn't have
Spend your money, but the rest of them was spending
Your money so I decided to spend my portion too, you
Know.
But ladies, God bless 'em, wonderful something's aren't
They?.
They always like to feel like they're needed, and she
Knew my man needed her bad.
He gotten sick, he's layin' down there under the
Boxcar.
Couldn't read so well, so you know if he couldn't read
So well, he couldn't write too well,
You know what I'm talkin' about?
So this is a letter back down home, I know what I'm
Talkin' about.
It go like this:

I've had my fun, whoah, if I don't get well no more
Whoah, I've had my fun, people, ooh, if I don't get
Well no more
Yes, my health is faillin' on me now, people
Ooh, and I'm goin', goin' down slow

Yes, tell my mother, people, please tell her the shape
I'm in
Ooh yes, tell my people, mother, tell her the shape I'm
In
Tell her to pray for me, people, ooh, to forgive,
People, my sins

Oohooh mother, mother I live alone with my prayers
Ooh, tell my mother, people, tell her this is all in
Prayers




Yes, if you don't see this old body, mother
Hey, you know I'm out in the world somewhere

Overall Meaning

The song "Goin' Down Slow" by Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Bo Diddley tells a story of a country boy who comes to Chicago with 800 dollars to spend. He spends it on the pleasures of the city, such as go-go girls, only to find himself broke and sick in a railroad yard. The lyrics describe how he knows he is dying and asks for his mother to be told of his condition so she can pray for him.


The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of excess and the price one pays for indulging in the pleasures of life. It speaks to the idea that money can't buy happiness and warns against the allure of materialism.


The lyrics are also a powerful commentary on the plight of African Americans who migrated from the rural South to the urban North in search of better opportunities. While the city offered new possibilities, it also brought with it poverty, racism, and discrimination. The singer of the song is a representative of those who were lured by the promise of a better life but ultimately faced the harsh realities of life in the city.


Line by Line Meaning

I've had my fun, whoah, if I don't get well no more
I have enjoyed my time here, but if my health does not improve, there will not be any more fun.


Whoah, I've had my fun, people, ooh, if I don't get well no more
I have had a lot of pleasure, but unless I recover, it will not happen again.


Yes, my health is faillin' on me now, people
I am not in good health at the moment.


Ooh, and I'm goin', goin' down slow
My health is deteriorating gradually.


Yes, tell my mother, people, please tell her the shape I'm in
Please inform my mother of my current condition.


Ooh yes, tell my people, mother, tell her the shape I'm in
Let everyone who cares know what condition I am in.


Tell her to pray for me, people, ooh, to forgive, People, my sins
Ask her to pray for me and to forgive me of any wrongdoing.


Oohooh mother, mother I live alone with my prayers
I am relying on my prayers and my faith to keep me going.


Ooh, tell my mother, people, tell her this is all in Prayers
Inform my mother that I am hoping and praying for recovery.


Yes, if you don't see this old body, mother Hey, you know I'm out in the world somewhere
If I do not make it back, please know that I am somewhere out there in the world.




Lyrics Š BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHNNY WINTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

David Molnar

During a recent illness I could really relate to this song...but again, I REALLY love the blues.

Dominic Cugliari

So good, it’s like medicine

Benjamin Snell

The part where they say bo cant sing cracks me up every time

Richard Evans

...and then Bo' tears it up with a stirring vocal!

OGRagtoproy

Classic

berry541

This is great!

almostablaze

😎thanks

Anthony misner YouTube

This is one Old Hippie who is definitely going down slow

Sasa Zivanovic 7

Noooo you still rockin Pa!
And at least, you lived in the best Time EVER!!!
And we "younger" People just can be jealous. 😎

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