Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune
Jack Bruce Lyrics


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When I hear that big black whistle they blow
I feel inside it's time for me to be going
Fortunately baby, I'd already gone before

When they say, I'm worth ten pieces of coal
And you shouting hey what about when you are an old man
Fortunately baby, I'd already locked the door
They say, there are men who are blue like me in the stars
Beards for the weird and bars for bizarre guitar men
Fortunately baby, I'd already joined the force

Good time train, well, it does not need any track
It wins the race to the place where I'm gonna pack up
Fortunately baby, I'd already grabbed the sky

All the days that the road has spent on me
Judges shout you must slave to be a freeman
Fortunately baby, I am never coming back





Good time train, good time train

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jack Bruce's song "Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune" are profound and poignant, reflecting on the struggles and challenges of life on the road as a musician. The song is a reflection of the personal and professional challenges that many musicians face when they are away from home and seek success, fame, and fortune. The opening lines of the song, "When I hear that big black whistle they blow, I feel inside it's time for me to be going" reflect the heartache and longing that many musicians experience when they are far from home, and the deep sense of purpose that they feel when they hear the call of the road.


Throughout the song, Bruce reflects on the various challenges and obstacles that he has faced in his life, as a musician and as a person. These include the difficulties of being away from home and family, dealing with criticism and rejection, and the pressures of fame and success. Yet despite these challenges, Bruce remains steadfast and determined, never giving up on his musical dreams and the passion that drives him forward.


Ultimately, "Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune" is a powerful and moving testament to the power of music, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a tribute to those who dare to follow their dreams, no matter how difficult the path may be, and to those who refuse to give up in the face of the challenges and obstacles that life puts in their way.


Line by Line Meaning

When I hear that big black whistle they blow
When I hear the train whistle blow, I feel like it's time for me to leave.


I feel inside it's time for me to be going
I have an internal feeling that tells me it's time to leave.


Fortunately baby, I'd already gone before
Luckily, I had already left before the train arrived.


When they say, I'm worth ten pieces of coal
When people say that I'm only worth ten pieces of coal, implying that I'm not valued highly.


And you shouting hey what about when you are an old man
And you're asking, what about when I'm old and no longer in demand.


Fortunately baby, I'd already locked the door
Luckily, I had already closed the door on that kind of judgement and criticism.


They say, there are men who are blue like me in the stars
They say there are other musicians like me who are kind of depressed and moody, but very talented.


Beards for the weird and bars for bizarre guitar men
People have certain expectations of what musicians should look and act like - interesting or strange looking, and playing in smoky bars all the time.


Fortunately baby, I'd already joined the force
Luckily, I had already become part of the creative industry and didn't have to adhere to those expectations.


Good time train, well, it does not need any track
The good times always come without warning and can't be planned for.


It wins the race to the place where I'm gonna pack up
The good times always get me to the place where I feel like leaving.


Fortunately baby, I'd already grabbed the sky
Luckily, I had already taken advantage of those good times and achieved what I wanted to achieve.


All the days that the road has spent on me
All of the days that I've spent on the road, travelling and playing music.


Judges shout you must slave to be a freeman
People in power tell me that I have to work hard to achieve true freedom.


Fortunately baby, I am never coming back
Luckily, I'm not going back to that lifestyle because I found my way out.


Good time train, good time train
The good times always come around and nothing can stop them.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK BRUCE, PETER CONSTANTINE BROWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@fanerfafsolt740

Like a lot of British rockers at the time, Jack Bruce cashed in on amped up US blues, who can blame him. But I'm fairly sure that Songs for a Tailor showed where he wanted to go and what he really wanted to do musically. Unfortunately there wasn't much audience for it, except for a few careful listeners like us. I found this album in a discount LP bin over 50 years ago, but I may want it included in my casket when I go, just in case there are turntables in the afterlife.

@user-uq6wk3zg7v

Jack Bruce's first solo album contains some of his best tunes post Cream. Please note that the drummer Hiseman and sax Heckstall-Smith come from the contemporaneous British band Colosseum. Many of Colosseum's songs have outstanding drumming and sax. I recommend Valentyne Suite.

@zapbranigan5314

It’s Mother’s Day 2023 & this classic still sounds as fresh as ever. 👍 Jack Bruce rules!

@tuxguys

John Hiseman's drumming is Supernatural.
Jack Bruce: The Soul of Cream.

@dannoyes4493

Jack Bruce's avant-garde jazz background substantially predated Steely Dan's establishment and encapsulated elements that presaged the latter's signature sound. As a skilled bassist and composer, Bruce's tenure in Cream saw the integration of intricate jazz harmonies and improvisational techniques into rock. His compositions exhibited a keen sense of musical sophistication, foreshadowing Steely Dan's eventual fusion of rock, jazz, and pop. While Steely Dan later embraced this stylistic convergence with unparalleled refinement, Jack Bruce's earlier experimentation serves as an anticipatory touchstone, substantiating his role as an innovator who, in a prelude to Steely Dan, delineated the contours of a groundbreaking musical amalgamation.

@sirlordroyalgarter

Peter Brown, who co-wrote Bruce's biggest songs in Cream or solo Bruce, was the mad poet lyricist. Check the credits to many of Cream's biggest hits. How many even know without having to look it up who Peter Brown is and fewer would know his bands. I am a music professor, and it is sad how people do not bother to study the who, where, with, and path. Great stuff.

@gerardsallows6470

Peter brown has recently passed away

@jackiecarson859

I used to read record labels, liner notes, and bought Creem (rock music magazine founded in my hometown Detroit, whose initial print run lasted from 1969 to 1989) & Rolling Stone magazines on the reg.

@carolynzaremba5469

The drumming is incredible on this.

@maximilliancunningham6091

That song is unplayable, for probably 90% of the drummers alive today.

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