Load of Blues
Judith Edelman Lyrics
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The tv's reconstructing how our hero fell out of the sky
If I don't get some sleep today, I'll surely lose my mind
But there's another load of laundry to be hung out on the line
Blue dress, swing shift shirts
Wash them down to the spot where it hurts
Blue sky dried, gonna find good news
In a load of blues
They drip down onto the alley, where the kids and dealers meet
My bluebell sheets have caught the wind like sails on a boat
I would like to sail with them if I had some where else to go
Chorus
Someday my sweet baby's gonna walk back through my door
I will wrap him up in clean blue sheets and spoil him at the storeHe will sit me on his knee and whisper all good news
Until then I know I'll find salvation in a load of blues
Chorus x
"Load of Blues" is a poignant reflection on the struggles and hardships of everyday life. The song opens with the singer working a double on the old assembly line, exhausted and feeling like they're on the brink of losing their mind. The TV is on, and they're seeing yet another story of a hero's fall from the sky – perhaps an allusion to the disillusionment of modern society.
Despite the singer's exhaustion, there's still a load of laundry to be hung out on the line. This includes a blue dress and swing shift shirts, that are washed down to the "spot where it hurts" – perhaps a nod to the literal and metaphorical stains that accumulate on the clothes of those who work hard for a living. The hope of finding "good news in a load of blues" is a powerful image of optimism in the midst of a difficult situation.
The second verse depicts the scene on the street below, where the singer's blues drip down into the alley where kids and dealers meet. The bluebell sheets catch the wind like sails on a boat, and the singer speaks wistfully about how they would like to sail away with them if they had somewhere else to go. The chorus brings a note of comfort and hope, with the promise of a future where the singer's sweet baby will return and be wrapped up in clean blue sheets. In the meantime, the singer will find salvation in the simple act of doing laundry, finding hope in the midst of the blues.
Line by Line Meaning
I just worked a double on the old assembly line
I have just completed two shifts back to back on the traditional factory assembly line.
The tv's reconstructing how our hero fell out of the sky
The television is showcasing and depicting how the hero of a movie or story has fallen out of the sky.
If I don't get some sleep today, I'll surely lose my mind
In case I don't get some sleep today, I might go crazy.
But there's another load of laundry to be hung out on the line
However, there is another batch of clothes that have to be hanged out on the line to dry.
Blue dress, swing shift shirts
A blue dress, as well as swing shift work shirts.
Wash them down to the spot where it hurts
I am washing the clothes down to the dirtiest spot that is difficult to remove.
Blue sky dried, gonna find good news
Once the sky clears up, I shall find good news.
In a load of blues
I shall find solace and comfort in the washed blue clothes.
I hang up my blues to dry above the dirty street
I hang the washed clothes above the polluted road to dry.
They drip down onto the alley, where the kids and dealers meet
The clothes are dripping down onto the place where the children play and the drug dealers conduct their business.
My bluebell sheets have caught the wind like sails on a boat
The blue-colored bed sheets I own have caught the wind similar to a sail on a boat.
I would like to sail with them if I had some where else to go
If I had an alternative place to go, I would have preferred to sail away with the sheets.
Someday my sweet baby's gonna walk back through my door
One day, my beloved child will return through my door.
I will wrap him up in clean blue sheets and spoil him at the store
I shall embrace him in tidy blue sheets and pamper him with the finest goods available in the shop.
He will sit me on his knee and whisper all good news
He will place me on his lap and confidentially disclose all the positive news to me.
Until then I know I'll find salvation in a load of blues
Until that moment, I am certain that I will feel relieved and saved by my washed, blue clothes.
Contributed by Sebastian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.