High Powered Mama
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


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Talk about blues the mean ol' blues
We all have the blues sometimes
But the meanest blues I've ever had
Is about that gal of mine

A marriage license and a wedding ring
To that pretty mama don't mean a thing
When the stars step in it ain't no use
Cause the trifling mamas got a good excuse

High powered mama
Get yourself in gear
For the way you've been stepping out
It won't work here

I was a good man
And you had a good home
But you just couldn't leave
Other daddies alone

I'm going to leave you now
And you going to miss your daddy
And miss him how

I bought you a home and give you a car
And half of the time
I don't know where you are

When I was a brakeman
Riding on the rail
You had another daddy
In the county jail




So high powered mama
I'm going to leave you now
And you going to miss your daddy
And miss him how

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jimmie Rodgers's song High Powered Mama tell a story about a man who is deeply hurt by his unfaithful partner. He's tired of living with the "mean ol' blues" that come with the knowledge that his lover is being unfaithful to him. Despite their marriage license and wedding rings, his lover continues to betray him with other men, and he no longer wants to be a part of her life. He is saddened by the fact that he has given her everything he had, including a home and a car, but she still can't stay faithful to him.


The lyrics here criticize the woman as being a "trifling mama" who always has a good excuse for her infidelity. The man has now reached his limit, and he tells his partner that he is going to leave her. He warns her that she will miss him and his love when he's gone, but he cannot stay in a relationship where he's constantly being hurt.


Overall, the lyrics to this song are heartbreaking. They describe a man who has been cheated on repeatedly and who has finally reached his limit. He's hurt and angry, and he wants nothing more than to be free from the pain of his partner's betrayal.


Line by Line Meaning

Talk about blues the mean ol' blues
Let's talk about the blues, the terrible feeling of sadness


We all have the blues sometimes
Everyone feels sad at some point


But the meanest blues I've ever had
But the worst sadness I've ever felt


Is about that gal of mine
Is because of my girlfriend


A marriage license and a wedding ring
Formal paperwork and jewelry representing marriage


To that pretty mama don't mean a thing
Don't hold any value to my girlfriend's actions


When the stars step in it ain't no use
Even the interference of fate doesn't change anything


Cause the trifling mamas got a good excuse
Because my unfaithful girlfriend always has a justification


High powered mama
My dominant girlfriend


Get yourself in gear
Take action to fix your behavior


For the way you've been stepping out
Because of your infidelity


It won't work here
Our relationship can't continue


I was a good man
I was a faithful and decent partner


And you had a good home
And you had a comfortable and stable living environment


But you just couldn't leave
But you couldn't stay faithful


Other daddies alone
Other men alone


I'm going to leave you now
I'm breaking up with you


And you going to miss your daddy
And you're going to miss me


And miss him how
And you'll feel the effects of your actions


I bought you a home and give you a car
I provided you with a house and car


And half of the time
And for half of the time


I don't know where you are
I have no idea where you are


When I was a brakeman
When I worked on the train as a brakeman


Riding on the rail
Traveling on the train tracks


You had another daddy
You were cheating on me with another man


In the county jail
Who was imprisoned in the county jail


So high powered mama
So my dominant girlfriend


I'm going to leave you now
I'm going to end our relationship


And you going to miss your daddy
And you're going to miss me


And miss him how
And you'll feel the effects of your actions




Writer(s): JIMMIE RODGERS

Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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