Travelling blues
Jools Holland Lyrics
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Put on your raincoats
And now give up your birthright
And don't you cry
'Cause in 23 verses now
A storm is a-comin'
And you'll be too surprised
To wonder why
Rain rain
Go away, go away
Rain rain
Come back again another day
Step out your cool suit
Snap on you wet boots
And now eat all you mushrooms
Until you see
That in 22 verses now
A storm is a-brewin'
And you'll be too annoyed
For victory
'Cause it will
Rain rain
Go away, go away
Rain rain
Come back again another day
China glass &
A chocolate bar
I'm leaving behind
So my children's children
Children's children
Will see what's left of me
Cue up the James Brown
And jack up the funky sound now
Say it won't be the last time
You hear a scream
'Cause in 21 verses now
A storm is a-ragin'
And you will satisfy your destiny
And it will
Rain rain
Go away, go away
Rain rain
Come back again another day
Jools Holland's "Travelling Blues" is a song that is rich in symbolism and imagery. In the first verse, Holland seems to be speaking to a group of people, encouraging them to shed their topcoats and don their raincoats, implying that something difficult or challenging is coming. This is reinforced in the next lines where he urges them to give up their birthright, a reference to sacrificing something valuable for something else.
In the second verse, Holland implores the listener to step out of their cool suit and put on their wet boots, and eat all their mushrooms until they see something coming. This could be interpreted as a call to let go of what we perceive as cool, and instead brace ourselves for the coming storm, which seems imminent.
In the final verse, Holland sings about leaving behind things we value, like our children's children's children, with only China glass and a chocolate bar to represent the singer. This speaks to the idea of mortality and the knowledge that no matter how much we try to hold onto, ultimately everything will fade away, which is better represented by the storm that is raging in 21 verses.
Overall, "Travelling Blues" speaks to the inevitability of change and the need to be prepared for whatever may come in our lives. The repeated plea of "rain rain go away, come back again another day" acknowledges the challenges that we would rather avoid, while also acknowledging that sometimes we have to face them head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Take off your topcoats
Remove your formal clothing
Put on your raincoats
Wear your waterproof clothing
And now give up your birthright
Abandon your privileges and entitlements
And don't you cry
Do not shed tears
'Cause in 23 verses now
Because after 23 verses
A storm is a-comin'
A storm is approaching
And you'll be too surprised
And you will be caught off guard
To wonder why
To question its occurrence
And it will
And the storm will
Rain rain
The rain will fall
Go away, go away
Please stop raining
Rain rain
The rain will fall
Come back again another day
Please return when we are ready
Step out your cool suit
Remove your fashionable clothing
Snap on you wet boots
Wear your waterproof boots
And now eat all you mushrooms
Consume all your food
Until you see
Until you realize
That in 22 verses now
That in 22 more lines
A storm is a-brewin'
A storm is gathering
And you'll be too annoyed
And you will become frustrated
For victory
For success or triumph
'Cause it will
Because the storm will
Rain rain
The rain will fall
Go away, go away
Please stop raining
Rain rain
The rain will fall
Come back again another day
Please return when we are ready
China glass &
Fragile pottery and
A chocolate bar
A sweet treat
I'm leaving behind
I am leaving these behind
So my children's children
So that future generations of my family
Children's children
Grandchildren
Will see what's left of me
Can have something to remember me by
Cue up the James Brown
Prepare to play James Brown's music
And jack up the funky sound now
And turn up the lively music
Say it won't be the last time
Declare that it will not be the final occasion
You hear a scream
When you hear someone shout or yell
'Cause in 21 verses now
Because in 21 more lines
A storm is a-ragin'
A violent storm is occurring
And you will satisfy your destiny
And you will fulfill your fate
And it will
And the storm will
Rain rain
The rain will fall
Go away, go away
Please stop raining
Rain rain
The rain will fall
Come back again another day
Please return when we are ready
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind