Although Lead Belly most commonly played the twelve-string, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and accordion. In some of his recordings, such as in one of his versions of the folk ballad "John Hardy", he performs on the accordion instead of the guitar. In other recordings he just sings while clapping his hands or stomping his foot.
The topics of Lead Belly's music covered a wide range of subjects, including gospel songs; blues songs about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He also wrote songs concerning the newsmakers of the day, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, the Scottsboro Boys, and Howard Hughes.
In 2008, Lead Belly was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Though many of his posthumous releases list him as "Leadbelly," he himself spelled it "Lead Belly." This is also the usage on most of his original records, tombstone, as well as of the Lead Belly Foundation.
Leadbelly was born in Mooringsport, Louisiana, and spent time in and out of prison most of his life. In 1933, serving a sentence for attempted murder, musicologists John and Alan Lomax "discovered" him on a field recording tour sponsored by the Library of Congress. That summer, he was pardoned by the governor of Lousiana after recording his plea for pardon on a record, together with "Good Night Irene". Leadbelly went on to make hundreds of recordings of all sorts of different songs: country, blues, spirituals, reels, and work chants.
His songs have been covered by Mark Lanegan, The Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Nirvana, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, British Sea Power, Ram Jam, Ry Cooder, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Half Man Half Biscuit, Tom Waits, Shocking Blue, The White Stripes, Long John Baldry.
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Biography: Lead Belly Biography
BIO Biography: Lead Belly Biography
Lead Belly Foundation: Lead Belly Foundation.org
Lead Belly is also on Last.fm as Lead Belly
Good Morning Blues
Leadbelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a white man had the blues
Thought it was nothing to worry about
Now you lay down at night
You roll from one side of the bed to the other all
Night long
Ya can't sleep, whats the matter; the blues has gotcha
Ya get up you sit on the side of the bed in the mornin'
But you don't want no talk out of em
Whats the matter; the blues has gotcha
When you go in put your feet under the table look down
At ya plate got everything you wanna eat
But ya shake ya head you get up you say "Lord I can't
Eat I can't sleep whats the matter"
The blues gotcha
Why not talk to ya
Tell what you gotta tell it
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
I'm doing all right well, good morning how are you.
I couldn't sleep last night, I was turning from side to
Side
Oh Lord, I was turning from side to side
I wasn't sad, I was just dissatisfied.
I couldn't sleep last night, you know the blues walking
'Round my bed,
Oh Lord, the blues walking 'round my bed
I went to eat my breakfast, the blues was in my bread.
Well good morning blues, blues how do you do.
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do.
I'm doing all right, well, good morning how are you.
Leadbelly's song "Good Morning Blues" is a classic blues tune about feeling down and dissatisfied. The song begins with the singer explaining that he felt the blues, and how it affects him both mentally and physically. He talks about how he can't sleep at night, rolling around in bed from one side to another, and how it's hard to even enjoy meals. He also mentions how he doesn't want to talk to his family members, despite them being around, because of how the blues has affected him. Finally, he ends the song by repeating the chorus, "Well good morning blues, blues how do you do" as if acknowledging the presence of the blues in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now this is the blues
This song is about the blues.
There was a white man had the blues
Even white people can feel the blues.
Thought it was nothing to worry about
Some people don't take the blues seriously.
Now you lay down at night
At night, when you try to sleep,
You roll from one side of the bed to the other all night long
you toss and turn in bed all night long.
Ya can't sleep, whats the matter; the blues has gotcha
You can't sleep because you have the blues.
Ya get up you sit on the side of the bed in the mornin'
In the morning, you get out of bed and sit on the side of it.
May have a sister a mother a brother n a father around
You might have family around you,
But you don't want no talk out of em
But you don't feel like talking to them.
Whats the matter; the blues has gotcha
You're feeling down because of the blues.
When you go in put your feet under the table look down
When you sit down at the table to eat,
At ya plate got everything you wanna eat
you have all the food you want in front of you,
But ya shake ya head you get up you say 'Lord I can't eat I can't sleep whats the matter'
but you still don't feel like eating or sleeping and wonder what's wrong.
The blues gotcha
The blues have taken hold of you.
Why not talk to ya
Tell what you gotta tell it
It might help to talk about what's bothering you and get it off your chest.
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
The singer greets the blues.
I couldn't sleep last night, I was turning from side to Side
Oh Lord, I was turning from side to side
I wasn't sad, I was just dissatisfied.
The singer couldn't sleep last night and was restless due to dissatisfaction, not sadness.
I couldn't sleep last night, you know the blues walking
'Round my bed,
Oh Lord, the blues walking 'round my bed
I went to eat my breakfast, the blues was in my bread.
The blues are constantly on the singer's mind and even affect their breakfast.
Well good morning blues, blues how do you do.
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do.
I'm doing all right, well, good morning how are you.
The singer greets the blues again but this time feels okay and asks the blues how it's doing.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COUNT BASIE, EDDIE DURHAM, JAMES RUSHING, JAMES ANDREW RUSHING, WILLIAM COUNT BASIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oscar Gonzalez
Now this is the blues
There was a white man had the blues
Thought it was nothing to worry about
Now you lay down at night
You roll from one side of the bed to the other all
Night long
Ya can't sleep, what's the matter; the blues has gotcha
Ya get up you sit on the side of the bed in the mornin'
May have a sister a mother a brother n a father around
But you don't want no talk out of em
What's the matter; the blues has gotcha
When you go in put your feet under the table look down
At ya plate got everything you wanna eat
But ya shake ya head you get up you say "Lord I can't
Eat I can't sleep what's the matter"
The blues gotcha
Why not talk to ya
Tell what you gotta tell it
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
I'm doing all right well, good morning how are you.
I couldn't sleep last night, I was turning from side to
Side
Oh Lord, I was turning from side to side
I wasn't sad, I was just dissatisfied.
I couldn't sleep last night, you know the blues walking
'Round my bed,
Oh Lord, the blues walking 'round my bed
I went to eat my breakfast, the blues was in my bread.
Well good morning blues, blues how do you do.
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do.
I'm doing all right, well, good morning how are you.
fernandobocadillos
Now, this is the blues
There was a white man had the blues
Thought it was nothing to worry about
Now, you lay down at night
You roll from one side of the bed to the other all
Night long
Ya can't sleep, what's the matter? The blues has gotcha
Ya get up you sit on the side of the bed in the mornin'
May have a sister, a mother, a brother, and father around
But you don't want no talk out of 'em
What's the matter? The blues has gotcha
When you go in put your feet under the table look down at ya plate got everything you wanna eat
But you shake ya head you get up you say "Lord I can't eat I can't sleep"
What's the matter? The blues gotcha
Why not talk to ya
Tell what you gotta tell it
[Chorus]
Good morning, blues, blues how do you do?
Good morning, blues, blues how do you do?
I'm doing all right, good morning, how are you?
[Verse 1]
I lay down last night, turnin’ from side to side
Oh, turning from side to side
I was not sick, but I was just dissatisfied
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[Verse 2]
When I got up this mornin' with the blues walking 'round my bed
Oh, with the blues walking 'round my bed
I went to eat my breakfast, blues was all in my bread
[Chorus]
Good morning, blues, blues how do you do?
Good morning, blues, blues how do you do?
I'm doing all right, good morning, how are you?
[Verse 3]
Takes a brown-skin woman to make a moon-eyed man go blind
Oh, she'll make a moon-eyed man go blind
A jet-black woman's gonna make you take your time
[Chorus]
Good morning, blues, blues how do you do?
Good morning, blues, blues how do you do?
I'm doing all right, good morning, how are you?
Unus Annus
Now this is the blues.
There was a white man had the blues,
Thought it was nothing to worry about
Now, you lay down at night
You roll from one side of the bed to the other all night long
Ya can’t sleep, what’s the matter; the blues has gotcha
You get up, you sit on the side of your bed in the mornin’, may have a sister and a brother, a mother and a father around, but you don’t want no talk out of ‘em
What’s the matter; the blues gotcha
When you go in put your feet under the table and look down at your plate, got everything you wanna eat, but you shake your head and you get up and you say “Lord, I can’t eat and I can’t sleep, what’s the matter?”
Blues gotcha, wanna talk to ya
Tell what you gotta tell her
Good morning blues, blues how do you do?
Good morning blues, blues how do you do?
I’m doing alright, good morning how are you?
I laid down last night, turning from side to side
Oh, turning from side to side
I was not sick, but I was just dissatisfied
When I got up this morning with the blues walking ‘round my bed
Oh, with the blues walking ‘round my bed
I would eat my breakfast, blues was all in my bread
Good morning blues, blues how do you do?
Oh, blues how do you do?
I’m doing alright, good morning how are you?
Takes a brown skinned woman to make a moonlight man go blind
Oh, she would make a moonlight man go blind
And she’ll just might wanna make you take your time
Good morning blues, blues how do you do?
Good morning blues, blues how do you do?
I’m doing alright, good morning how are you?
Sonja Dietz
Good mornin' blues, blues how do ya do?
Good mornin' blues, blues how do ya do?
Well I'm doin' alright this mornin', how are you?
I woke up this mornin'
Couldn't get outta my bed
Oh I woke up this mornin'
Couldn't get you outta my bed
Went to eat my breakfast and
The blues was all in my bread
Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do?
Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do?
Well I'm doin' alright this mornin' how are you?
Well the blues ain't nothin' but a poor workin' man feelin' down
Lord, the blues ain't nothin' but a poor workin' man feelin' down
That's about the meagerest feelin' I done ever had
Why I'm singin' good mornin', blues blues how do you do?
(yeah yeah)
Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do? (yeah yeah)
Well I'm doin' alright this mornin', how are you?
Sent for you yesterday, here you come walkin' today (hey)
I sent for you yesterday, here you come walkin' today
Yeah, your mouth's wide open
You don't know what to say
(I say) Goodmornin' blues, blues how do you do? (yo yeah)
Well goodmornin' blues, blues how do you do? (hoo yeah)
Well I'm doin' alright, blues how are you?
Yeeeeeaaaah!
Oscar Gonzalez
Now this is the blues
There was a white man had the blues
Thought it was nothing to worry about
Now you lay down at night
You roll from one side of the bed to the other all
Night long
Ya can't sleep, what's the matter; the blues has gotcha
Ya get up you sit on the side of the bed in the mornin'
May have a sister a mother a brother n a father around
But you don't want no talk out of em
What's the matter; the blues has gotcha
When you go in put your feet under the table look down
At ya plate got everything you wanna eat
But ya shake ya head you get up you say "Lord I can't
Eat I can't sleep what's the matter"
The blues gotcha
Why not talk to ya
Tell what you gotta tell it
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do
I'm doing all right well, good morning how are you.
I couldn't sleep last night, I was turning from side to
Side
Oh Lord, I was turning from side to side
I wasn't sad, I was just dissatisfied.
I couldn't sleep last night, you know the blues walking
'Round my bed,
Oh Lord, the blues walking 'round my bed
I went to eat my breakfast, the blues was in my bread.
Well good morning blues, blues how do you do.
Well, good morning blues, blues how do you do.
I'm doing all right, well, good morning how are you.
john Murphy
Thanks for that
Vedant Sridhar
Love how he treats Blues like a person. Beauty of songs!
Unus Annus
You’re missing like a third of the song here.
And a lot to your lines are just plain wrong
Dr. Jeremy Dunks
I had a Smithsonian best of CD for Huddie. THIS was on it. It's just so great.
Simon
incredible. just pure and true.
Patrick Harrison
On the first blues LP I ever bought. The start of a wonderful time enjoying marvellous music.
deon rodden
I do love it. That is real Blues
Domenico Cesaro
Che bello questo blues...immortale stella.🤔❤️
Samurai Snowman
So much music has came out of the chords from this single song.