“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.”
The Sheik of Araby
Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
The stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll rule this land with me;
The lyrics to Jim Kweskin's song Sheik of Araby portray the character of a man who identifies himself as the Sheik of Araby, and he confidently asserts that the love of the person he's addressing belongs to him. He claims that he will creep into their tent at night when they're asleep, suggesting an intrusive nature. The lyrics also mention stars shining above, illuminating their path to love. The Sheik invites the person to rule the land with him, suggesting his power and domination.
The lyrics depict a possessive and authoritative man who believes he is entitled to someone's love and attention. The Sheik's actions are questionable, as he talks about sneaking into the person's tent at night, indicating a lack of consent. The use of the word "creep" implies a sense of uneasiness and highlights the power dynamic between the Sheik and the person he's addressing. Overall, the lyrics suggest an imbalance in power and a potential lack of respect for personal boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the Sheik of Araby,
I am the powerful leader of Araby.
Your love belongs to me.
You love me and have committed yourself to me.
At night when you're asleep
While you are fast asleep and unaware,
Into your tent I'll creep.
I will stealthily enter your dwelling.
The stars that shine above,
The celestial bodies that illuminate the sky,
Will light our way to love.
Will aid us in achieving a deeper connection.
You'll rule this land with me;
Together, we will lead and govern this region.
Lyrics © HARRY B. SMITH COPYRIGHTS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind