Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, T… Read Full Bio ↴Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in Lubbock, Texas. His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams and the honky tonk brand of country music that his father played. In the 1950s, he was exposed to the emerging rock and roll of other Texans such as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. He was profoundly influenced in the 1960s by the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and the folk music and blues revival in that decade.

Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski

Black Snake Moan
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, well ain't got no momma now
Yeah ~ ain't got no momma now.
She told me late last night
You don't need no momma no~how.

Set here wonderin' would a matchbox hold my
clothes
Yeah ~ matchbox hold my clothes

I ain't got so many matches
But Lord I got so doggone far to go.

I got a great long snake crawlin' around my room.
Yeah ~ crawlin' around my room.
Handsome pretty momma better come down
here
Take that long snake soon.

That must been a bedbug, I know a chinch
can't bit that hard.
Yeah ~ chinch can't bit that hard.
Asked my woman for fifty cents.
She said Jimmie I ain't got a dime in the yard.

Well, well ain't got no momma now
Yeah ~ ain't got no momma now.

She told me late last night
You don't need no momma no~how.

Overall Meaning

The song "Black Snake Moan" by Jimmie Dale Gilmore tells a story about a man who is facing troubles in his life, from not having a mother to having a snake crawling in his room. The first verse mentions the man's lack of a mother, which could be a metaphor for the lack of guidance or support in his life. He then contemplates whether a matchbox would be able to carry his clothes, which could symbolize his desire to escape from his current situation. However, he acknowledges that despite not having much, he still has a long way to go.

In the second verse, the man reveals that he has a snake in his room, which he refers to as a "great long snake." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the problems or temptations that he is facing. He asks for a "handsome pretty momma" to come and take care of the snake, which could represent his need for someone to help him overcome the challenges in his life. The final verse mentions a bite from a bedbug or chinch, which could represent the sting of disappointment or betrayal. The man then laments his lack of a mother once again, but acknowledges that he doesn't need one.

Overall, the song "Black Snake Moan" explores themes of struggle, temptation, and the need for guidance and support. It uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey these ideas, and offers a glimpse into the life of a man who is facing difficult circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, well ain't got no momma now
I no longer have a mother

Yeah ~ ain't got no momma now.
Yes, it's true that I don't have a mother anymore.

She told me late last night
My mother informed me recently

You don't need no momma no~how.
You don't need a mother anyway.

Set here wonderin' would a matchbox hold my clothes
I am sitting here pondering if my clothes could fit inside a matchbox.

Yeah ~ matchbox hold my clothes
Yes, a matchbox could hold my clothes.

I ain't got so many matches
I don't have many matches,

But Lord I got so doggone far to go.
But I have a long way to go on my journey.

I got a great long snake crawlin' around my room.
There is a large snake crawling around in my room.

Yeah ~ crawlin' around my room.
Yes, it's crawling around my room.

Handsome pretty momma better come down here
A good-looking woman should come down here quickly.