Although his recording career was cut short by an early death, Carr left behind a large body of work. He had a long-time partnership with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell. His light bluesy piano combined with Blackwell's melodic jazz guitar to attract a sophisticated black audience. Carr's vocal style moved blues singing toward an urban sophistication, influencing such singers as T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ray Charles among others.
Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing used some of Carr's songs and Basie's band shows the influence of Carr's piano style.
His music has been covered by notable artists such as Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, Big Bill Broonzy, Moon Mullican, Champion Jack Dupree, Lonnie Donegan and Memphis Slim.
Carr died of nephritis shortly after his thirtieth birthday.
How Long How Long Blues
Leroy Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has that evenin' train been gone?
How long, how, how long, baby how long?
Went and asked at the station: 'why's my baby leavin' town?'
You were disgusted, nowhere could peace be found
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
And it's deep down in my heart baby, there's lies an achin' pain
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
Sometimes I feel so disgustin' and I feel so blue
That I hardly know what in this world baby just to do
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
And if I could holler, like I was a mountain train
I'd go up on the mountain and I'd call my baby back
But for how long, how, how long, baby how long?
And someday you gonna be sorry that you done me wrong
But it will be too late, I will be gone
For so long, so long, baby so long?
My mind gets a ramblin', I feel so bad
Thinkin' about the bad luck that I have had
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
The song "How Long How Long Blues" by Leroy Carr is a blues standard that speaks about a couple's separation and the agony of the one left behind. The opening lines of the song, "How long babe how long, Has that evenin' train been gone?" sets the tone for the theme of longing for a loved one who has left town. The singer of the song seems to be obsessed with the duration of time that has elapsed since his lover's departure. He attempts to find answers at the station but only gets more disheartened. The song's language is poetic, and the lyrics are symbolic; the train and whistle are metaphors of the pain and anguish felt by the singer.
The chorus acts as a refrain and repeats throughout the song, a sad lament of the looming separation: "How long, how, how long, baby how long?" The singer is consumed by loneliness, and the song expresses his misery through words like "disgusted," "blue," and "bad luck." The final verse carries a sense of angst as the singer's heart gets weighed down by his thoughts, and he starts to feel hopeless.
Overall, the lyrics of "How Long How Long Blues" echo the familiar blues themes of lost love and the cruel passage of time. The song's emotional tone and poetic lyrics make it an excellent representation of the blues genre, and it has since become a classic blues standard.
Line by Line Meaning
How long babe how long
How long has the train been gone, my dear?
Has that evenin' train been gone?
Did the train leave in the evening?
Went and asked at the station: 'why's my baby leavin' town?'
I went to the station to know why my beloved was leaving the town.
You were disgusted, nowhere could peace be found
I was disappointed and couldn't find peace anywhere.
I can hear the whistle blow'n but I cannot see no train
I can only hear the sound of the whistle, but I can't see the train.
And it's deep down in my heart baby, there's lies an achin' pain
I feel a deep pain in my heart caused by your leaving, baby.
Sometimes I feel so disgustin' and I feel so blue
I feel so disgusted and sad sometimes.
That I hardly know what in this world baby just to do
I don't know what to do in this world, baby.
And if I could holler, like I was a mountain train
If I could holler like a mountain train, I'd call you back.
I'd go up on the mountain and I'd call my baby back
I'd climb the mountain to call my beloved back.
And someday you gonna be sorry that you done me wrong
You'll regret what you did wrong someday.
But it will be too late, I will be gone
But it will be too late, I'll have already left.
For so long, so long, baby so long?
For so long, so long, baby, I'll be long gone.
My mind gets a ramblin', I feel so bad
I feel bad and my mind wanders sometimes.
Thinkin' about the bad luck that I have had
Thinking about the unfortunate events that led me to this situation.
Writer(s): Leroy Authur Carr Copyright: MCA Music Publishing A.D.O. Universal S
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@samsmith7775
How long babe how long
Has that evenin' train been gone?
How long, how, how long, baby how long?
Went and asked at the station: 'why's my baby leavin' town?'
You were disgusted, nowhere could peace be found
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
I can hear the whistle blow'n but I cannot see no train
And it's deep down in my heart baby, there's lies an achin' pain
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
Sometimes I feel so disgustin' and I feel so blue
That I hardly know what in this world baby just to do
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
And if I could holler, like I was a mountain train
I'd go up on the mountain and I'd call my baby back
But for how long, how, how long, baby how long?
And someday you gonna be sorry that you done me wrong
But it will be too late, I will be gone
For so long, so long, baby so long?
My mind gets a ramblin', I feel so bad
Thinkin' about the bad luck that I have had
For how long, how, how long, baby how long?
@karencole7781
This was my husband's favourite artist and song. He even had a record player with the words 'how long , how long blues' as a tattoo. He discovered blues as a 10 year old in late 50s in the UK. It spoke to him in a way that no other music did. He became a 45s blues vinyl collector and ended up sharing his love of the music as a presenter on ABC radio in Darwin where he spun his vinyl and talked about the origins and influences of the music he played. People loved his show. He passed away from cancer in Oct 2021 and his wishes were, not to have a funeral, but a party with single malt scotch, weed, good food and playing this song, along with another Leroy Carr song " 6 feet cold in the ground' and his other blues, R& B and motown favourites. It was a great night in our back yard in the tropics of northern Australia. A long way from his upbringing in South London in the swinging 60s. As an avid collector of first pressings, 45s vinyl, I am left with an incredible collection (labels, labels, labels haha) with so many songs bringing back memories of him playing them and us follicking around. I miss those days. Music is everything and Leroy is the man.
@sethodman
Beautiful to hear - he sounds like quite the character :) I'm just getting into the blues myself, I'm in my 30s down in Sydney just kicking off my vinyl collection. About to move to London permanently actually - hopefully the blues is alive there! Be well my dear ❤
@karencole7781
@Reuben CollinsIncredible! All the best for the journey ahead! Take care
@dcan911
What a guy, Im sat here reading your comment weeping
@sherrard5492
I’m reading this in October 2022, when I’m guessing a lot of memories return as a source of both comfort and grief. Thanks for sharing a bit of your husband and your life together. In my mind’s eye, I see the two of you dancing to Leroy—and your husband’s wonderful tattoo.
@habilabdulkhaliq8470
Love This real Blues😢
@carlosarturosousagarridole9361
...and Scrapper Blackwell on guitar.
@Shioning04
Iconic. A Masterpiece. Even such descriptors or accolades somehow even don't do it justice. Absolutely love and revere this song. It, to me, is among a handful that simply are The Blues.
@SA-gu3ed
Magical. Just one guitar, one piano and a human voice. This is raw music making!
@louiegallo1289
In an interview with Alan Lomax in August 1941, Muddy Waters said that "How long blues" by Leroy Carr was the first song he tried to learn on the guitar.