Sporting Life Blues
J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton Lyrics


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I'm tired of hangin' around,
Think I will marry and settle down
This ole sportin' life,
It is a mean life, and it's killin' me

I got a letter from my home,
All of my schoolmates, they're dead an'gone
It'll make you worry,
It'll make you wonder 'bout days to come

My mother used to talk to me,
I was young and foolish, Brownie could not see
Now, I have no mother, my sisters
And my brothers, they don't care for me

Mama used to fall on her knees an' pray,
These are the words, mother,she used to say
She would say: "Brownie, wha-oh,
My son, please change your way"

Now, I'm goin' to change my way,
I'm growin' older each and every day
When I was young and foolish,
I was so easy, easy to let

I was a gambler and a cheater, too, now,
It's come my turn to lose
This ole sportin' life,
Got the best hand, what can I do?

There ain't but one thing Brownie done wrong,
I liv'd that ole sportin' life too long




Friends, it's no good, please believe me,
Please leave it alone

Overall Meaning

The song "Sporting Life Blues" by J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton is about a man named Brownie who is tired of living the "sportin' life," which is a life of gambling, cheating, and all-around trouble. He decides that he wants to settle down and get married, but he's haunted by memories of his past. Brownie receives a letter from home and learns that all of his old schoolmates have died. This news makes him question his own future and he begins to realize that he needs to change his ways before it's too late.


Brownie's mother used to pray for him and urge him to change his ways. Brownie now regrets not listening to her and blames himself for living the "sportin' life" for too long. He knows that it's no good and recognizes that it's time to leave it behind. The song has a melancholy tone that reflects Brownie's regret and desire for a better life.


Overall, "Sporting Life Blues" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of living a life of vice and the importance of listening to loved ones. It's a story about regret and the desire for redemption.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm tired of hangin' around,
I am done wasting my time.


Think I will marry and settle down
I am ready to settle down with someone special.


This ole sportin' life,
The wild and reckless lifestyle of gambling, partying, and drinking.


It is a mean life, and it's killin' me
Living this life is slowly destroying me and my wellbeing.


I got a letter from my home,
A letter arrived from my hometown.


All of my schoolmates, they're dead an'gone
All of my schoolmates have already passed away.


It'll make you worry,
It makes you contemplate about the future.


It'll make you wonder 'bout days to come
It makes you question what the future might bring.


My mother used to talk to me,
My mother used to communicate with me.


I was young and foolish, Brownie could not see
I, Brownie, was young and foolish, and thus, couldn't see the consequences of my actions.


Now, I have no mother, my sisters
I have lost my mother, and my sisters.


And my brothers, they don't care for me
My brothers have abandoned me and give no attention to me.


Mama used to fall on her knees an' pray,
My mother used to kneel and pray.


These are the words, mother,she used to say
These are the phrases and sentences my mother frequently used to tell me.


She would say: "Brownie, wha-oh,
Mother used to call me by the name Brownie.


My son, please change your way"
She used to advise me as her son to change my wild ways.


Now, I'm goin' to change my way,
Now, I am committed to change my life for the better.


I'm growin' older each and every day
I am ageing day by day, and I need to make changes soon.


When I was young and foolish,
When I was young and naive.


I was so easy, easy to let
I was gullible and easily manipulated.


I was a gambler and a cheater, too, now,
I was an individual who placed bets and cheated other people until my time to face consequences arrived.


It's come my turn to lose
Now it is my turn to experience failure.


Got the best hand, what can I do?
I have nothing left to fall back on but my own weak hand.


There ain't but one thing Brownie done wrong,
I can only identify one error I have committed.


I liv'd that ole sportin' life too long
I stayed too long living the careless and dangerous lifestyle.


Friends, it's no good, please believe me,
My friend, do not follow in my footsteps, believe me.


Please leave it alone
Please stay away from the reckless and all-consuming sportin' life.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BROWNIE MCGHEE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Carlo


on Last Will and Testament

To exclude the less significant individuals

Why? (interpretation/"deeper" meaning, e. g for these little people his stuff couldn't be helpful?)

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