Bonamassa was born in Utica, New York. He started playing guitar at age four, encouraged by his father, who was an avid music fan and exposed him to British blues rock records by Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, greatly inspiring him. At 11 years old Joe was mentored and trained by American guitar legend, Danny Gatton. When he was 12 years old, he had his own band called Smokin' Joe Bonamassa, which gigged around western New York and Pennsylvania, including cities such as Scranton and Buffalo, but only on weekends since Joe had school on weekdays. Bonamassa played a crimson 1972 Fender Stratocaster he called "Rosie", which his father had bought in Utica, New York.
When he was 12 years old, Bonamassa opened for B.B. King. In the last 13 years Bonamassa has put out 15 solo albums through his independent record label J&R Adventures, of which 11 have reached number 1 on the Billboard Blues charts. Bonamassa has played alongside such artists as Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, Blondie Chaplin, Foreigner, Buddy Guy, Steve Winwood, Warren Haynes, Solomon Hicks,and Derek Trucks among others.[4] His career highlights include performances at the Royal Albert Hall and has had three Grammy Award nominations in 2013, for his collaboration album with Beth Hart "Seesaw", in 2016 for the album "Live at the Greek Theatre" and 2022 for the album "Royal Tea". In addition to his music career, Joe Bonamassa runs a nonprofit organisation called the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, whose mission is to further music education by funding scholarships and providing music education resources to schools in need. in 2020, he added an extension to the foundation. Called Fuelling Musicians, it provides $1500 cheques to struggling musicians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
in 2021, he broke his own record for having more #1 Billboard blues albums than anyone in history. The album "Time Clocks" clocked up his 25th #1 album.
He is also known for his enormous collection of vintage guitars and related gear.
Mumbling Word
Joe Bonamassa Lyrics
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That came out of your pretty little mouth,
I packed up my beat up suitcase,
And took the first train south.
But I did not say, no mumbling word.
Not a mumbling word, did I say.
But I did not say, no mumbling word,
Oh, on my way back home, baby.
You see, it doesn't matter now,
What really good it all would do.
To chapter and verse those heartaches,
That I been hurting over you.
But I did not say, no mumbling word.
Not a mumbling word, did I say.
I did not say, no mumbling word,
I just went on my way, yeah, I went on my way back home.
Oh, on my way back home, baby.
Oh, on my way back home.
Baby just wait, wait a little bit now.
Oh just wait a little bit honey...
In "Mumbling Word," Joe Bonamassa croons about a painful breakup and the decision to leave behind a lover who had said "ugly things" to him. With lines like "Baby when I heard those ugly things, that came out of your pretty little mouth," Bonamassa sets a seemingly contradictory tone, juxtaposing the beauty of his lover's mouth with the harshness of her words. He eventually decides to leave, packing up his "beat up suitcase" and catching the first train south. Despite the emotional turmoil and heartache he has experienced, Bonamassa insists that he did not say "no mumbling word" as he made his way home.
Throughout the song, Bonamassa grapples with the idea of speaking out, of expressing the pain and hurt that his lover's words have caused him. However, he ultimately chooses to hold his tongue, perhaps recognizing that it wouldn't change anything in the end. As he says, "It doesn't matter now, what really good it all would do." Instead, he simply goes on his way, with a sense of resignation and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby when I heard those ugly things,
When I heard the spiteful words you spoke, my heart was broken.
That came out of your pretty little mouth,
Your hurtful words were unexpected given your sweet exterior.
I packed up my beat up suitcase,
In my distress, I gathered my few belongings and prepared to leave.
And took the first train south.
Without delay, I fled towards the south, hoping to escape the pain.
But I did not say, no mumbling word.
Despite my hurt feelings, I didn't utter any angry words or react harshly.
Not a mumbling word, did I say.
I remained silent in my hurt, choosing not to respond in anger.
But I did not say, no mumbling word,
Even though I was hurting, I made a conscious decision to remain calm.
I just went on my way, yeah, I went on my way back home.
Instead of escalating the situation, I left to return home and reflect.
You see, it doesn't matter now,
In hindsight, there's no use in dwelling on the past or the hurtful words.
What really good it all would do.
There wouldn't be any benefit or progress in rehashing old arguments.
To chapter and verse those heartaches,
Recounting the details and reliving the pain won't help to heal the wounds.
That I been hurting over you.
I've been deeply upset because of the things you said.
Baby just wait, wait a little bit now.
While I've decided not to engage in conflict, I still need some space to process my emotions before discussing them.
Oh just wait a little bit honey...
I'm taking some time to sort through my thoughts and feelings before responding to you.
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.