Lead Belly recorded the Bourgeois Blues numerous times, first on December 26, 1938, accompanied by himself on his 12-string guitar. It should be noted that in all but the earliest recording of the song, the original line "Some white folk in Washington / they know just how, call a colored man a nigger just to see him bow" was altered to "give a colored man a nickel just to see him bow", presumably to avoid causing offense. The song has been recorded by many other artists, most notably Pete Seeger and Ry Cooder. It was reworked by Billy Bragg as "Bush War Blues", and by Mark E. Smith as Bourgeois Town on the The Fall's Are You Are Missing Winner LP. It has also been sung by Odetta, most recently in her 2008 tour.
The Bourgeois Blues
Leadbelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Home of the brave, land of the free
I don't wanna be mistreated by no bourgeoisie
Lord, in a bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Well, me and my wife we were standing upstairs
We heard the white man say "I don't want no niggers up there"
Lord, in a bourgeois town
Uhm, bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Well, them white folks in Washington they know how
To call a colored man a nigger just to see him bow
Lord, it's a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
I tell all the colored folks to listen to me
Don't try to find you no home in Washington, DC
'Cause it's a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Leadbelly's song "The Bourgeois Blues" is a commentary on the segregation and discrimination against black Americans that was prevalent in society during a time when there was racial tension in the United States. Upon listening to the song, it is clear that the lyrics are directed towards a particular demographic of society, the bourgeoisie or middle and higher classes. The use of the word 'bourgeois' is a hint towards the economic class division that existed in America at the time.
The song is structured around a series of verses that outline the ways in which black Americans were restricted in bourgeois spaces. The first verse, "Lord, in a bourgeois town, It's a bourgeois town, I got the bourgeois blues, Gonna spread the news all around", sets the tone for the entire song. It captures the feeling of being an outsider in a place where their culture is not respected, understood, or welcome. Furthermore, the repetition of the phrase "got the bourgeois blues" adds emphasis to the experience of grappling with the racial and economical injustices experienced by Black Americans.
Later verses in the song highlight how black Americans were excluded from certain settings or developments based solely on their skin colour. In one particular verse, "Well, me and my wife we were standing upstairs, We heard the white man say "I don't want no niggers up there", the negativity of being called out for their skin pigmentation further emphasizes on the social stigma that was rampant during this time period in America. More so, the song inspires Black Americans to stand up for themselves and one another and demand for their equal rights regardless of their social and economic status
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, in a bourgeois town
Unfortunately, I find myself in a city where the middle class rules.
It's a bourgeois town
The city I'm in caters to the interests and lifestyles of the middle class.
I got the bourgeois blues
I'm feeling down and out due to the snobbery and discrimination from the middle class.
Gonna spread the news all around
I'll make sure everyone hears about the injustice in this town.
Home of the brave, land of the free
The United States of America, where people are supposed to be courageous and have freedom.
I don't wanna be mistreated by no bourgeoisie
I don't want to be treated poorly by the middle class just because of the color of my skin.
Well, me and my wife we were standing upstairs
My wife and I were standing on an upper floor of a building.
We heard the white man say "I don't want no niggers up there"
A Caucasian person said that people of color were not welcome on the upper floors of the building.
Uhm, bourgeois town
Once again, I find myself in a city controlled by the middle class.
Well, them white folks in Washington they know how
The Caucasian people in Washington know how to belittle a person of color just to see them humbled.
To call a colored man a nigger just to see him bow
They'll use a racial slur against a person of color just to see them submit to their authority.
I tell all the colored folks to listen to me
I advise all people of color to heed my words.
Don't try to find you no home in Washington, DC
You should avoid seeking a place to live in Washington, DC.
Cause it's a bourgeois town
Because the middle class dominates the city.
Gonna spread the news all around
Once again, I will make sure everyone is aware of the situation in this city.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@imaddatu6819
Bourgeois Blues lyrics- (Keep in mind that I worked pretty hard to transcript this since the recording itself is so old, I didn’t perfect it, but it’s not like you’re guaranteed quality content on the YouTube comment section. Also, keep in mind that I tried to make this kid-friendly, while also trying not to whitewash it too much).
Oh, it’s a bourgeois man. Whoo, living in a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues, and I’m gonna spread the news. Yes I’m gonna spread it, everywhere I go. I just made a song about bourgeois blues.
I and Ms. Monica and Mr. Alan Lomack, his wife and my wife was riding all around Washington DC. And if anyone wants to know about Washington, DC then they come to me, and I can talk about it. We rode all around in the rain. No colored people would let me in because I was with a white man. And that’s a bourgeois place, ‘cause it can’t let in colored people with white people.
Me and Martha went around town. I heard a man say you can’t come around, he’s a bourgeois man, whoo, living in a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues, and I’m sure gonna spread the news.
We went to a colored place there, and he tell me. He feels that too, everyone can eat some food, but I had some of the white people with me. He would let them in, but he told me just before I left, the white woman did, that when I come back with a white man, I could eat. But when I came back, I found a man, he was the manager. I asked him, he didn’t nod his head, he shook it. And knew that Kif couldn’t just stand there. And the boys and women would work for $90,000. His name was Kif Kilheir (maybe). That’s a bourgeois town, nobody leaves.
Me and Martha were standing up there, I heard a white man say I don’t want no negroes up there, he’s a bourgeois man, whoo, living in a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues, and I’m sure gonna spread the news.
Now, me and Martha were standing upstairs, we done been there all night. But the man didn’t know we was there. But we was going out and coming to and fro. So we met the man, Martha and I went out and contacted Mr. Lomack. But I heard this white man squabble with Mr. Alan Lomack’s wife and Martha. So, Mr. Alan Lomack gave him a toast and talked to him. And he was standing up there, and said, Martha said to me, “Baby, I think he’s talking about us.” I say, “Yes, I’ll just turn my radio on and listen in.” You know what I heard him say?
Me and Martha, were standing up there, I head a white man shout “I don’t want no negroes up there.” He’s a bourgeois man, living in a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues and I’m gonna spread the news.
I’m gonna tell all the colored people, I want them to understand, why this ain’t no place for a colored man, ‘cause it’s a bourgeois town. Whoo, it’s a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues and I’m sure gonna spread the news.
The white folk didn’t want me, but they know how, to chuck a colored man a nickel, just to see a ni***r bow. Oh, it’s a bourgeois town, whoo, it’s a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues and I’m gonna spread the news all around.
Oh yes. Oh, right, ‘cause this is right behind Christmas Day, better known as the 26th of December. Everybody always should remember the bourgeois blues.
I got something to tell you, right before I go, I want everybody to know lord it’s a bourgeois town. Whoo, it’s a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues, sure gonna spread the news.
I want all the colored people, to listen to me, don’t ever try to get no home in Washington DC, ‘cause it’s a bourgeois town, whoo, it’s a bourgeois town. I got the bourgeois blues and I’m sure gonna spread the news.
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. Who got the bourgeois blues and everything.
@subversivelysurreal3645
Leadbelly was Black to the Bricks!
Make it Plain, Brother!
What a Gift!
And to think, in 2018 { in the song }
...and Now you got Trump in town!
( Refrain)
You got a lot of White Folks So Afraid
They’re Trumpin’ dumb an’ Rallyin’ Around,
What they fear is being poor so they say,
Them Immigrants, we Gonna’ Tear ‘Em Down!
{Not the best, but : Off the cuff ~ rewriting lyrics is Cathartic and a Project I Recommend! Also because it’s not exactly
bad for your : Brain! Dylan lyrics are a fun place to start! }
@tonyharrison962
A classic. Meaning it's just as relevant today as when it was recorded.
@chrisl6238
That's such an insult to every man woman and child who faced real discrimination and racism. It is most certainly NOT relevant today in the way it was written. If this is an R rated movie, today would be the equivalent of a G rated movie. People have not a single clue what the people of this era went through. Get educated.
@foto2548
@@chrisl6238 its a black man singing about THE black issues they went through and continue, TO THIS DAY to go through! Why and how is this NOT a relevant?! You mention getting educated. Ironic!
@moose7012
@@chrisl6238 What an idiotic comment. Because racism was more extreme in the past, then it no longer exists? Thats such an insult to every man woman and child who still face real discrimination and racism
@chrisl6238
@@moose7012 Where did I say racism doesn't exist? It most certainly does in the hearts of individuals, but it is not embedded in law as it was during Jim Crow and prior. And if you think racism is institutional in 2022, I'd say LOL and gtfoh.
@chrisl6238
@@foto2548 So you want to make the claim that black people living in the U.S.A. in the year 2022 face an equal amount of racism as blacks in the 30s, 40s, 50s, and prior? Is that your claim?
Or would you even venture to say that our laws in the year 2022 are on par with the Jim Crow/segregated laws of past decades?
You really want to look Lead Belly in the face and say, "Yeah, me being a black man in 2022, I understand your pain"?
Yeah, how about we step back and realize they had it harder than any of us could possibly imagine and respect the past? Sounds good to me. Check your damn privilege.
@MrYossarianuk
Rock and roll is being invented as the track progresses
@edharbas4828
Everyone suffers from the bourgeois blues. Vale, Leadbelly.
@inoshikachokonoyarobakayar2493
👈 This here white folk ❤'s Led Belly. He can go wherever the hell he wants. R.I.P. Led Belly, and thank you for bearing witness with you beautiful voice so that we never let racism stay in the dark.
@madmerdhyntheblack911
Leadbelly