Special Rider Blues
James Skip Lyrics

The song "Special Rider Blues" by James Skip is a blues lamentation about the sadness and loneliness of the singer's life. In the first stanza, the singer expresses his heartbreak over not having a special rider, someone to love and care for. The repetition of the line "I ain't got no, no special rider here" emphasizes the singer's longing and desperation for love and companionship. The second stanza reveals that the singer wakes up to a special rising sun and prays that his special rider will come. However, he is still alone and has to face the blues that surround him.

The third stanza is a metaphorical representation of the singer's life. He is lying on his bed, his pallet, wanting to eat breakfast, but the blues have already permeated into his day. This could represent the sadness and loneliness he feels on a daily basis. The fourth stanza is a twist in the story. The singer receives a letter that reads "You better hur' up an come home / Because yo' special rider, she's dead." The ultimate tragedy is revealed as the singer's special rider has passed away, leaving the singer with no hope for companionship. The final repetition of "Now, I ain't got nobody / To love and feel my care" encapsulates the singer's despair and loneliness at the end of the song.