Blues in the Night
Jo Stafford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was in pigtails
My momma done told me, hon
A man's gonna sweet-talk
And give you the glad eye
But when that sweet-talkin's done
A man is a two-faced, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Hear the trains a-callin' hooey
My momma done told me
Hear that lonesome whistle
Blowing across the trestle, hooey
My momma done tole me, a-hooey, a-hooey
Old clickety clack is echoing back the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze will start the trees to praying
And the moon will dim its light
When you hear the blues in the night
Mark my word the mockingbird
Will sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong
And he's right
La ha ha ha-a
La ha ha-a
From Natchez to Mobile
BRFrom Memphis to St. Joe
BRWherever the four winds blow
BRI've been to some big towns
BRI've heard me some big talk
BRBut there is one thing I know
BRA man is a two-faced, a worrisome thing
BRWho'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
BR
BRLa ha ha-a
BRLa ha ha-a
BRMy momma done told me there's blues in the night
BR
BRLyrics provided by Betty E. Fisher (berfisher@aol.com)
BR
BR
Jo Stafford's Blues in the Night is a haunting melody about the sorrow and heartbreak that comes from trusting in a deceiving man. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about her mother warning her, when she was young and innocent, about being sweet-talked by men who would ultimately leave her to sing "the blues in the night." It is a beautiful and captivating opening that prepares the listener for the rest of the song's melancholic depiction of a doomed relationship.
As the song continues, the listener hears the sound of rain falling and trains in the distance, creating a lonely and desolate atmosphere. The singer then describes how the trees start praying and the moon dims its light when the blues come in the night. The mockingbird sings the saddest song because it knows something is wrong, and the singer knows that men are worrisome creatures that will leave women to sing the blues in the night. The song ends with a simple but powerful refrain that repeats the idea that the night is filled with blues.
Line by Line Meaning
My momma done told me
My mother advised me
When I was in pigtails
When I was a young girl
My momma done told me, hon
My mother emphasized
A man's gonna sweet-talk
A man will charm
And give you the glad eye
And give you a flirty look
But when that sweet-talkin's done
But when the charm wears off
A man is a two-faced, a worrisome thing
A man can be deceitful and cause anxiety
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Who will leave you feeling sad and alone
Now the rain's a fallin'
Now it's raining
Hear the trains a-callin' hooey
Hear the sound of trains in the distance
My momma done told me
My mother warned me
Hear that lonesome whistle
Hear the sound of a lonely train whistle
Blowing across the trestle, hooey
Echoing over the bridge
My momma done tole me, a-hooey, a-hooey
My mother told me repeatedly
Old clickety clack is echoing back the blues in the night
The sound of the train is echoing and amplifying the sadness in the night
The evenin' breeze will start the trees to praying
The wind will rustle the leaves and make it seem like they're whispering a prayer
And the moon will dim its light
And the moon will appear less bright
When you hear the blues in the night
When you feel sad and alone at night
Mark my word the mockingbird
Believe me when I say the mockingbird
Will sing the saddest kind of song
Will sing a song that reflects sadness
He knows things are wrong
The mockingbird understands that things are not right
And he's right
And he is correct
La ha ha ha-a
Instrumental
La ha ha-a
Instrumental
From Natchez to Mobile
From Natchez, Mississippi to Mobile, Alabama
From Memphis to St. Joe
From Memphis, Tennessee to St. Joseph, Missouri
Wherever the four winds blow
Wherever the wind takes me
I've been to some big towns
I've visited some large cities
I've heard me some big talk
I've heard people boast
But there is one thing I know
But I know one thing for sure
A man is a two-faced, a worrisome thing
A man can be deceiving and cause anxiety
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Who will leave you feeling sad and alone at night
La ha ha-a
Instrumental
La ha ha-a
Instrumental
My momma done told me there's blues in the night
My mother warned me about the sadness of the night
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elderherrera2238
Oh, thank you. My ears and myself are in awe.
@williammorris584
When I was small, my father used to occasionally whistle the first six notes of this, but rather slower than this is played. I never asked him what it was. Years later at All State Band, sheet music was handed out and I smiled when this came out of my trombone - somehow I had never heard it. It’s possible to grin and maintain an embouchure. I’ve become a lot more knowledgeable about this era of music since.
@rebelscum7870
Two wonderful singers, glad to have discovered them both lately.
@tomaszlerski7517
Jakość dźwięku fenomenalna
@michaellazzeri2069
THE BEST version, ever. Written by Mr Mercer & Harold Arlen -----------This is my kind of music ! -----------------MJL< 76 y/o
@Hallands.
There are innumerable ways to do Blues In The Night. This one is fascinating, delicate and unpretentious – which comes out delicious and brilliant imo.
@Trombonology
This early take has always been my favorite treatment of the epic Mercer-Arlen collaboration. Not structurally a blues, this number nevertheless evokes the mood and its lyricist in company with Jo, The Pipers and the Weston band, make the most of every nuance. Johnny and Jo had the the perfect voices for this mournful and yet defiant song, with its southern dialect lyrics.
@zackhample
Love your critique/assessment. :)
@swingman5635
Say there lady,have you heard Jo's '41 version with TD and orch.? It wasn't commercially released,but I have it on a decades old Reader's Digest collection that is stowed away in a crate in my basement. Otherwise, I'd tell you the name. You probably know of it, anyway. There's not much that I can inform you of,lol.
@Trombonology
@@swingman5635 Yes, I have! That arrangement is socko and Jo really blues up her vocal, deviating a bit from the insistent melody as written. I like that one a lot, but I think I like this joint effort best, because Johnny was such a good vocalist for this type of material and we get to hear Jo playing the part of Mama -- "A woman will sweet talk ..." Also, I like the Pipers on "Now the rain's a-fallin.'" And of course Jo recorded the song again, at Columbia, for her '59 Ballad of the Blues album. All great takes, and Jo spoke so highly of the song.