After leaving home at an early age to travel the country, Segarra eventually settled in New Orleans where they began to perform and record with a revolving cast of musicians. They released two records (2008's It Don't Mean I Don't Love You and 2010's Young Blood Blues) mostly consisting of delicate folk and country songs. In 2011, the UK record label Loose Music (Felice Brothers, Dawes, Deer Tick), released Hurray for the Riff Raff, an album that collected the best songs from those records. The Times of London named Hurray for the Riff Raff one of the Top Ten Albums of 2011. Phil Alexander, the Editor-in-Chief of Mojo Magazine, raved that they “have immense potential and seductive power” and named them second best band at SXSW 2011.
Back in the States, Alynda met up with a young honky-tonk band called the Tumbleweeds, just as they began to expand they musical palette to include rock n roll, pop, and soul. In the tradition of Bob Dylan with Band and Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Alynda recruited the Tumbleweeds to be their touring band, drastically altering the sound of Hurray for the Riff Raff.
Look Out Mama is the result of almost two years of Alynda and the Tumbleweeds criss-crossing the USA, playing over 100 shows in small bars and clubs. Recorded in Nashville by producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes), Look Out Mama is an exploration of classic American music as interpreted by Alynda lee Segarra. From the Swamp Pop of "Little Black Star" to the Classic Country of "Look Out Mama", to the Psychedelia of “Ode to John and Yoko” and even the Surf-Rock of “Lake of Fire”, Look Out Mama covers a wide array of musical ground, with every song unified by Alynda’s soulful vocals and expert songwriting.
Little Black Star
Hurray For The Riff Raff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she's like a little black star.
She's just like her daddy,
Way yonder far.
Just like her daddy,
Way yonder far.
I'm gonna tell me Jesus,
Gonna tell my Jesus,
just where she are
Gonna tell my Jesus,
All about my star.
Way down in the swamp,
the mean old alligators fight.
They fight all day,
and they fight all night.
They fight all day,
and they fight all night.
Well, my baby,
she's like a little black star.
She's just like her daddy,
Way yonder far.
Just like her daddy,
Way yonder far.
I'm gonna tell me Jesus,
about my little black star.
Gonna tell my Jesus,
just where she are
Gonna tell my Jesus,
All about my star.
Way down in the swamp,
the mean old alligators fight.
They fight all day,
and they fight all night.
They fight all day,
and they fight all night.
Well, my baby,
she's like a little black star.
She's just like her daddy,
Way yonder far.
The song "Little Black Star" by Hurray For The Riff Raff is a touching piece about the singer's child, who is referred to as a "little black star." The lyrics begin by stating that the baby is just like her daddy, who is far away. The use of the phrase "little black star" could be interpreted in different ways; it could be seen as an endearing nickname for the child or a symbol of the child's unique characteristics. The repetition of the line "just like her daddy, way yonder far" indicates a sense of longing for the absent father, who may be physically distant or emotionally unavailable.
The song takes a spiritual turn with the lyrics "I'm gonna tell me Jesus, about my little black star. Gonna tell my Jesus, just where she are. Gonna tell my Jesus, all about my star." The singer seeks solace in religion, expressing a desire to share her love for her child with Jesus. The swamp and the alligators that fight all day and night could represent the obstacles and dangers in life that the child will face. The repetition of the line "they fight all day, and they fight all night" emphasizes the constant struggle that life can be.
Overall, "Little Black Star" is a heartfelt song that explores themes of family, love, and spirituality. The lyrics may be interpreted in different ways, but the emotional impact of the song is universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, my baby,
The singer is fondly referring to their child.
she's like a little black star.
The child is small and precious, yet shines brightly in their world.
She's just like her daddy,
The child takes after their father, possibly in personality or appearance.
Way yonder far.
The father is not present in their lives, and is physically distant from them.
I'm gonna tell me Jesus,
The artist plans to pray to Jesus.
about my little black star.
The singer wants to ask for guidance and protection for their child.
Gonna tell my Jesus,
The singer reiterates their plan to pray to Jesus.
just where she are
The artist hopes to reach Jesus wherever they are in order to talk about their child.
Gonna tell my Jesus,
The artist again emphasizes their plan to pray to Jesus.
All about my star.
The artist wants to share with Jesus everything about their child, who they view as special and unique.
Way down in the swamp,
The singer shifts their focus to a different location - a swamp.
the mean old alligators fight.
The swamp is a place of violence, and the artist likens the alligator fights to struggles and conflicts people face in life.
They fight all day,
The alligator fights are ongoing and seemingly unending.
and they fight all night.
The alligator fights continue throughout the day and night.
They fight all day,
The singer repeats the previous line for emphasis.
and they fight all night.
The alligator fights are a continuous, never-ending struggle.
Well, my baby,
The artist returns to speaking about their child.
she's like a little black star.
The child remains a precious presence in the singer's life.
She's just like her daddy,
The singer again points out how the child takes after their father.
Way yonder far.
The father continues to be absent from the artist's and child's life.
Contributed by Joshua J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.