“Wonderful nonsense like ‘My Gal’ featured free-for-all vocals accompanied by kazoo and washboard, while ‘Borneo’ included some nifty steel guitar work. There are also oddly beautiful songs like ‘Newport News,’ a laid-back bit of blues with mandolin and harmonica, and the danceable ‘My Gal’…. The band's wide arsenal of unusual instruments, humorous material, and professional approach represented a quantum leap for folk music in 1963.”—All Music Guide
Jim Kweskin’s euphoric brand of folk, jazz, and blues was honed on early 78s by the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Bessie Smith, and Fats Waller. These examples of his band in its prime include “Somebody Stole My Gal,” “Jug Band Music,” “Richland Woman,” “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me,” “Eight More Miles to Louisville,” “Melancholy Baby,” and “Never Swat a Fly.”
Blues in the Bottle
Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blues in the bottle, blues in the bottle
Where do you think you're at, pretty mama
Blues in the bottle, where do you think you're at
You went and kicked my dog
And now you've drowned my cat
Goin' to Chattanoogie, goin' to Chattanoogie
Goin' to Chattanoogie to see my ponies run
If I win a prize
I'll give my baby some
Rooster chews tobacco, rooster chews tobacco
Hen uses snuff, pretty mama
The rooster chews tobacco and the hen uses snuff
The baby chickens don't take nothin'
But they just strut their stuff
Goin' to Sillypuddie (?), goin' to Sillypuddie
Sorry I can't take you, pretty mama
Goin' to Sillypuddie, sorry I can't take you
I can't abide no woman
Who goes round sniffin' glue
The lyrics of Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band's song Blues in the Bottle describe the singer's experiences of mishaps caused by his lover's actions. The song begins with the repeated line "blues in the bottle" which refers to the singer's feelings of sadness caused by his lover's actions such as kicking his dog and drowning his cat. The second verse talks about the singer's excitement to go to Chattanoogie to see his ponies run, and promises to give his baby some prize money if he wins. The third verse describes the habits of a rooster who chews tobacco and a hen who uses snuff, and the baby chickens who don't take anything but strut their stuff. The final verse sees the singer expressing his refusal to take his lover to sillypuddie because of her glue-sniffing habit, ending the song on a harsh note.
Overall, Blues in the Bottle presents a lighthearted, humorous take on the problems experienced in a relationship. Despite the troubles caused by the lover's actions, the singer remains upbeat and playful throughout the song. The use of animal imagery, such as the rooster and hen, adds a touch of whimsy to the lyrics, making the song more enjoyable to listen to.
Line by Line Meaning
Blues in the bottle, blues in the bottle
I'm feeling low and sad
Where do you think you're at, pretty mama
Why have you done what you've done?
Blues in the bottle, where do you think you're at
You're causing me pain and trouble, and I don't know why
You went and kicked my dog
You did something cruel and hurtful to me
And now you've drowned my cat
You've done another terrible thing to me
Goin' to Chattanoogie, goin' to Chattanoogie
I'm going to a place where I hope things will be better
See my ponies run, pretty mama
I'm excited to see something I enjoy
Goin' to Chattanoogie to see my ponies run
I hope to win a prize so I can give something nice to my loved one
If I win a prize
I'll give my baby some
I will share my success with the person I love
Rooster chews tobacco, rooster chews tobacco
Some creatures do unexpected things
Hen uses snuff, pretty mama
Some creatures have odd habits
The rooster chews tobacco and the hen uses snuff
It's weird what some animals do
The baby chickens don't take nothin'
But they just strut their stuff
Even the youngest and smallest among us sometimes act proud and confident
Goin' to Sillypuddie (?), goin' to Sillypuddie
I'm headed somewhere else for a change of pace
Sorry I can't take you, pretty mama
I'm disappointed that I can't bring you along, but it's for a good reason
I can't abide no woman
Who goes round sniffin' glue
I don't want to spend my time with someone who harms themselves and is a bad influence
Contributed by Reagan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.