John Mayall (born November 29, 1933) is a pioneering English blues singer, … Read Full Bio ↴John Mayall (born November 29, 1933) is a pioneering English blues singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and harmonica player.

John Mayall is often referred to as the "Father of the British blues." His well-known band is still called John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. They started out in the late 1950s in England, using Chicago style blues as a starting basis for their sound, which has evolved from album to album. And while at one point John Mayall was playing a fairly jazzy sound, he has always come back to the blues.

One of the interesting features of the Bluesbreakers is that members have changed on a very regular basis, and many have gone on to well deserved fame and fortune with other bands and as solo acts. Past members include: Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce, (also of Cream), Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and Mick Taylor, (who went on to a five -year stint with the Stones.) The studio album recorded with Clapton, entitled John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, was recorded in 1966, and is widely considered to be one of the great classic blues albums on either side of the stormy Atlantic. Cream came round right after.

John Mayall stands out for several reasons - his standing up for the blues, while experimenting with different approaches, his ability to attract the best of musicians; and perhaps most notably his willingness to work with musicians who far outshine him in sheer ability. And he himself sounds very good!

From:Wikipedia

Where Did My Legs Go
John Mayall Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Get my lips to a bottle every once in a while
Now everything's crazy, I got a great big smile
But the question I'm asking
Where did my legs go?

Vision doubling and trembling, I'm getting dizzy with light
I got the laziest feeling, I'm feeling all right
But the question I'm asking

Where did my legs go?

Will you pour me another, 'cause I feel like a king
If I tried to go walking it would be a good thing
But the question I'm asking
Where did my legs go?

I'm a lunatic whino, I'm a talking machine
I'm wide awake sleeping, is it really a dream?

But if it isn't a dream then
Where did my legs go?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Mayall's "Where Did My Legs Go" deals with the experience of being drunk and utterly disoriented. Mayall describes the feeling of losing control over one's own body, which is evident in the repeated question "Where did my legs go?" As someone who is intoxicated, Mayall indulges in a mix of contradictory sensations - on one hand, he feels dizzy and his vision is doubling, and on the other hand, he says that he has a "great big smile." He further describes himself as a "lunatic whino" who is "wide awake sleeping" and questions whether what he is experiencing is actually a dream or reality.

Mayall's lyrics provide a potent depiction of the inebriated state, and the confusion and disorientation that comes alongside it. The experience of chaos that he portrays, provides a striking contrast to the earlier sense of control and poise that comes from the consumption of alcohol. The repetition of the question "Where did my legs go?" provides a poetic undercurrent to an otherwise incoherent state. It suggests that Mayall's legs are more than just physical limbs; they are the source of his stability and grounding, which he feels he has lost in his drunken state.

Line by Line Meaning

Get my lips to a bottle every once in a while
I drink alcohol occasionally in order to have fun and possibly escape reality

Now everything's crazy, I got a great big smile
Drinking has caused me to feel euphoric and happy but losing self control

But the question I'm asking Where did my legs go?
Though I'm enjoying myself, I'm experiencing the effects of being intoxicated and can't feel my legs

Vision doubling and trembling, I'm getting dizzy with light
My vision has become unsteady and shaky as I am starting to feel light-headed, possibly indicating I have consumed too much alcohol

I got the laziest feeling, I'm feeling all right
I'm lazy and not using my legs, but overall, I'm feeling good

But the question I'm asking Where did my legs go?
Despite feeling relaxed, I still cannot move my legs and the effects of alcohol are starting to take over

Will you pour me another, 'cause I feel like a king
I'm having a great time and want to continue drinking, leading to irreversible inebriation

If I tried to go walking it would be a good thing
Walking would help sober me up, but given my current state, it may be challenging to do so

But the question I'm asking Where did my legs go?
Even if I wanted to walk to sober up, my legs are still numb from drinking and it is impossible for me to move them

I'm a lunatic whino, I'm a talking machine
I acknowledge that I am acting like a crazy alcoholic, possibly talking excessively and non-stop after consuming alcohol

I'm wide awake sleeping, is it really a dream?
Despite being conscious, the alcohol is making me feel like I'm in a dream-like state

But if it isn't a dream then Where did my legs go?
I realize that something is obviously wrong since I am unable to feel or move my legs due to alcohol consumption

Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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