Limehouse Blues
JAZZ-Doris-Day-and-Harry-James Lyrics
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Never go away
Sad, mad blues
For all the while they seem to say
Oh, Limehouse kid
Oh, oh, Limehouse kid
Goin' the way
Poor broken blossom
And nobody's child
Haunting and taunting
You're just kind of wild
Oh, Limehouse blues
I've the real Limehouse blues
Can't seem to shake off
Those real China blues
Rings on your fingers
And tears for your crown
That is the story
Of old Chinatown
Rings on your fingers
And tears for your crown
That is the story
Of old Chinatown
The lyrics in "Limehouse Blues" by JAZZ-Doris-Day-and-Harry-James paints a vivid picture of the sadness and sorrow that seems to be inherent in the blues. The "weird China blues" referred to here never seem to go away, and they are a constant reminder of the pain and heartache that is so often at the center of this musical tradition. The Limehouse kid, the subject of the song, is going the same way as so many others in Chinatown, broken and alone. The haunting and taunting nature of these blues seems to keep pushing him further down the path of despair, and nobody seems to be able to help.
The rings on his fingers and the tears for his crown are symbols of the sorrow and pain that the Limehouse kid has experienced in his life. It's a story that is all too familiar in Old Chinatown, a place where people struggle to survive and find happiness. The real Limehouse blues are deeply rooted in this culture and this place, and they seem almost impossible to escape. The song speaks to the human condition, to the pain that we all feel at some point in our lives, and to the difficulty of finding hope and joy in a world that can be so cruel.
Line by Line Meaning
And those weird China blues
The melancholic feeling that comes with thinking about old Chinatown
Never go away
It's a lingering feeling that lasts
Sad, mad blues
The feeling is one of sadness and madness
For all the while they seem to say
It seems like the blues speaks to the listener, telling them something important about old Chinatown
Oh, Limehouse kid
Addressing the main character of the song, who is likely a resident of old Chinatown
Oh, oh, Limehouse kid
Repeating the address to emphasize the central theme of the song
Goin' the way
The Limehouse kid is following a path, a path that many others have gone down before him
That the rest of them did
Emphasizing the fact that the Limehouse kid is not alone, and that many others have gone through similar experiences
Poor broken blossom
Describing someone who has been through hardships, and is a victim of circumstance
And nobody's child
A reference to the lack of support and belonging in old Chinatown that many of its residents face
Haunting and taunting
The memories of old Chinatown are not easy to shake off, and can be emotionally challenging to deal with
You're just kind of wild
The emotional state of the Limehouse kid and others like him is often unpredictable and unstable
Oh, Limehouse blues
The name of the song, emphasizing the strong emotional connection to old Chinatown
I've the real Limehouse blues
The singer has a deep and real connection to old Chinatown, and understands the hardships that come with it
Can't seem to shake off
The memories and emotions associated with old Chinatown are hard to forget or let go of
Those real China blues
The melancholy that comes with thinking about old Chinatown is authentic and unique
Rings on your fingers
The material possessions that people acquire in old Chinatown do not bring genuine happiness or satisfaction
And tears for your crown
The struggles and hardships faced by the residents of old Chinatown weigh heavily on them, and leave them with a sense of despair
That is the story
Summarizing the overarching narrative of the song, which is about the hardships and struggles of old Chinatown
Of old Chinatown
Referring to the central setting and theme of the song
Lyrics © NEXT DECADE ENTERTAINMENT,INC.
Written by: DICK HYMAN, DOUGLAS FURBER, PHILIP BRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind