Beale Street Blues
Johnny Maddox Lyrics


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Won't you come along with me
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans

The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street

Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means

Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues

Basin Street, oh Basin Street




Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Maddox's song Basin Street Blues is a ballad about visiting the southern state of Mississippi and taking a boat ride down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, Louisiana, the land of dreams. The lyrics are focused on the popular street in New Orleans known as Basin Street, where the best folks always meet. The street is described as a place where the proud and elite people of New Orleans go to socialize and have fun, with the lyrics referring to it as "Heaven on earth."


The lyrics are nostalgic in nature and describe the singer's joy at returning to Basin Street, referring to it as "Glad to be, oh yes-sirree, where welcome's free and dear to me." The lyrics also talk about how being on Basin Street helps the singer forget about his problems and worries, with the reference to losing his Basin Street Blues. The Basin Street Blues, in this context, refers to the sadness or depression felt by individuals who have lost their fortune or something precious in their lives.


Overall, Basin Street Blues is a beautiful and soulful song that describes the romanticized version of the fun, excitement, and elite lifestyle in New Orleans, Louisiana, and how visiting the place makes one feel welcomed, happy, and at peace.


Line by Line Meaning

Won't you come along with me
Can I please persuade you to accompany me


To the Mississippi
To the river that flows through the heartland


We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We'll ride a vessel to a place of fantasy


Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
Let's take a steamboat down the river to the city of New Orleans


The band's there to meet us
A musical group awaits our arrival


Old friends there to greet us
Familiar acquaintances will welcome us


Where all the proud and elite folks meet
It's where the privileged and distinguished people convene


Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
It's called heavenly paradise on earth, Basin Street


Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is the name of the road


Where the best folks always meet
Where the finest individuals consistently gather


In New Orleans, land of dreams
In New Orleans, a place of fanciful aspirations


You'll never know how nice it seems,
It's unimaginable how wonderful it is


Or just how much it really means
Or how much significance it actually holds


Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
I'm delighted to be there


Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where reception is sincere and of great value to me


Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Where I can rid myself of the sadness from missing Basin Street


Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street, dear Basin Street


Is the street, mama
Is the road, mother


New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, an area of fanciful aspirations




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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