Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known … Read Full Bio ↴Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. He currently resides in the Minneapolis area with his family.

Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".[1] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on 6- and 12-string guitars.

Corrina Corrina
Leo Kottke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Corrina, Corrina,
Where you been so long?
Corrina, Corrina,
Where you been so long?
I been worr'in' 'bout you, babe,
Ever since you been gone

I got a bird that whistles,

I got a bird that sings.
I got a bird that whistles,
I got a bird that sings.
But I ain' a-got Corrina,
Life don't mean a thing.

I walked the world
On the bottom of the sea
I walked the world
On the bottom of the sea
Cause I can't breath
When she talks to me

Corrina, Corrina
Where you been so long?
Corrina, Corrina,
Where you been so long?

I been worr'in' 'bout you, babe,
Ever since you been gone

Overall Meaning

In Leo Kottke's song "Corrina Corrina," he's singing about a woman who has been absent from his life for an extended period. He addresses her directly, asking her where she has been all this time. He tells her that he has been worried about her since she left. He then goes on to sing about how he has everything he could ever want in life except for her. He has a bird that whistles and another that sings, but he doesn't have Corrina, and life just isn't worth living without her.

The next verse is unusual in that it speaks of the singer walking the world at the bottom of the sea. This line could be interpreted in various ways. The singer could be referring to feeling that his life's journey is meaningless without Corrina. Alternatively, he could be speaking about how he feels when he talks to Corrina. If he tries to communicate with her, it feels like he is underwater, unable to get his point across or take a breath.

Line by Line Meaning

Corrina, Corrina,
Addressing someone named Corrina.

Where you been so long?
Curiosity about where Corrina has been for such a long time.

I been worr'in' 'bout you, babe,
Expressing concern for Corrina's welfare.

Ever since you been gone
The duration of worry since Corrina's absence.

I got a bird that whistles,
Possession of a bird that makes a whistling sound.

I got a bird that sings.
Another acquisition of a bird that sings.

But I ain' a-got Corrina,
Lack of Corrina renders everything else meaningless.

Life don't mean a thing.
The absence of Corrina leaves life unfulfilled.

I walked the world
Travelled across the world.

On the bottom of the sea
Figurative walking on the seafloor in despair.

Cause I can't breath
The mere sound of Corrina's voice takes his breath away.