Junior Wells (December 9, 1934 - January 15, 1998), born Amos Blakemore, wa… Read Full Bio ↴Junior Wells (December 9, 1934 - January 15, 1998), born Amos Blakemore, was a blues vocalist and harmonica player based in Chicago who was famous for playing with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Lonnie Brooks, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison.

He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Arkansas. Wells moved to Chicago in 1948 and first made his mark at age 18 playing in Muddy Waters' band. He later worked with Buddy Guy in the 1960s and recorded for Delmark Records. His most memorable songs are "Messin' With the Kid" and "Little by Little," and his best-known album, 1965's Hoodoo Man Blues, which evokes the smoky atmosphere of the era's Westside Chicago blues bars.

Wells made an appearance in the 1998 movie Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to The Blues Brothers. The movie was released less than a month after his death.

On his passing in 1998, Junior Wells was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.

Trust My Baby
Junior Wells Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When my baby she left me
She left me with a mule to ride
When my baby she left me
She left me with a mule to ride
When her train left the station
That old mule laid down and died

Man I sent this woman

A brand new twenty dollar bill
Lord I sent that woman
A brand new twenty dollar bill
Now if that don't bring her back
I'm sure this old shotgun will

Lake Michigan ain't no river
Chicago ain't no hill town
Lake Michigan ain't no river
Chicago ain't no hill town
If I feel like this tomorrow
I'm gonna clear out be back down Memphis bound

I'll be standing down on the landing
When the big boat pull off and roll
I'll be standing on the landing
When the big boat pull off and roll
I'll be hopin and I'll be prayin
That I never see your face no more

When my baby left me
She left me with a mule to ride
When my baby she left me
She left me with a mule to ride
When her train left the station
That old mule laid down and died

Lord I sent that woman
A brand new twenty dollar bill
Man I sent my baby
A brand new twenty dollar bill

Now if that don't bring her back
I'm sure my shotgun will

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Junior Wells w/ Buddy Guy's song "When My Baby Left Me" speak of heartbreak and betrayal. The singer's lover has left him with a metaphorical burden, a "mule to ride," after she departs on a train. The mule represents the weight of the emotional burden that his lover has left him with. He tries to lure her back with money, sending her a twenty dollar bill, but also makes reference to his shotgun, indicating that he may resort to violence if she doesn't return.

The lyrics also convey a sense of place and time, referencing Lake Michigan and Chicago. The singer is considering leaving the city behind and heading south to Memphis in search of a better life. The repetition of lines highlights the desperation the singer feels and emphasizes his determination to move on without his lover.

Line by Line Meaning

When my baby she left me
The woman he loves left him

She left me with a mule to ride
He was left with only a lowly mule after she left him

When her train left the station
She left by train

That old mule laid down and died
The mule died out of hopelessness and sorrow, just like he feels

Lord I sent that woman
He tried to win her back

A brand new twenty dollar bill
He thought money could make the woman return

Now if that don't bring her back
He is losing hope

I'm sure this old shotgun will
If money won't work, violence will

Lake Michigan ain't no river
He feels lost and uncertain about the world

Chicago ain't no hill town
He feels lost and uncertain about his own city

If I feel like this tomorrow
He anticipates feeling heartbroken and lost in the future