I'm A Stranger
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics


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I'm a stranger, just blowed in your town
So I want my train fare home, so I have no worries on my babe

I'm a stranger here, just blowed in your town
Oh yes, I am, I'm a stranger here, just blowed in your town
Well, because I'm a stranger everybody wants to dog me 'round

Well, I wonder why some people treat the strangers so
Oh yes, I do, I wonder why some people treat the strangers so
Well, he may be your best friend that you will never know

I'm gonna write home to daddy, send me my railroad fare
Oh yes, I am, I'm gonna write home to daddy send me my railroad fare
Well, if he don't send it, I don't mind walkin' down
Go ahead man

Yes, yes, yes

Well, I wonder if my good girl knows I'm here
Oh yes, I do, Lord, I wonder if my good girl knows I'm here
Well, if she do, she just don't seem to care

Well, I'm goin' back home, wear out ninety-nine pair of shoes
Oh yes, I am, I'm goin' back home wear out ninety-nine pair of shoes
Well, when I get back home I won't have these old stranger blues

I'm gonna leave this town, nothing here that I can do
Oh no, it ain't, I'm gonna leave this town, nothing here that I can do
Well boy, sit right here in the troubadour
Sing these old stranger blues





Let's go out together
Yes, yes, yes

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm a Stranger Here" is about feeling like an outsider in a new town, and facing discrimination because of being a stranger. Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee, three prominent blues musicians of their time, are expressing their struggles as black men in a segregated society. The singer of the song is someone who has just arrived in a new town and faces hostility and suspicion from the locals. He is trying to get his train fare home to escape the feeling of isolation, but he is so broke that he has to walk home. The lyrics express the sadness and loneliness of being a stranger and how it is hard to find acceptance in society.


The song also talks about the general mistreatment of strangers and asks why people treat them badly. The lyrics suggest that even a potential friend could be among those who discriminate against strangers. The song, in general, highlights the unfairness and hostility strangers face, and how it feels like being stuck in a strange land.


Overall, the lyrics of "I'm a Stranger Here" convey the theme of isolation, loneliness, and the struggles of being a stranger in a society. Even today, the song has a strong message about the mistreatment of immigrants or newcomers in a new place.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a stranger, just blowed in your town
I am not from here, just arrived in your town


So I want my train fare home, so I have no worries on my babe
I need money for a train ticket to go back home, so I don't have to worry about my loved one


Well, because I'm a stranger everybody wants to dog me 'round
People mistreat or ignore me because I am not from here


Oh yes, I do, I wonder why some people treat the strangers so
I am curious as to why people here treat strangers poorly


Well, he may be your best friend that you will never know
Someone you ignore or dislike because they are a stranger could potentially be your best friend


Oh yes, I am, I'm gonna write home to daddy send me my railroad fare
I plan on asking my father for money to pay for my train ticket home


Well, if he don't send it, I don't mind walkin' down
If my father doesn't send me the money, I am willing to walk home


Well, I wonder if my good girl knows I'm here
I am unsure if my significant other is aware that I am in this town


Well, if she do, she just don't seem to care
Even if my significant other knows I am in this town, they don't seem to care


Well, when I get back home I won't have these old stranger blues
Once I go back home, I won't have to deal with feeling like a stranger anymore


I'm gonna leave this town, nothing here that I can do
I have no reason to stay in this town and therefore plan on leaving


Well boy, sit right here in the troubadour, sing these old stranger blues
I will stay in this bar and sing about my struggles as a stranger




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BROWNIE MCGHEE, SAUNDERS TERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

CarrshowProductions

0 comments? Whats wrong with music these days? This song is so damn good!!

Alexander Krebs

Great music....!

Bill

Love his playing, since I’m a "man" I won’t be in heaven, but I can listen iffin I’m living next door. :-)

Jonathan Harvey

One person ain't got no soul how dare they dislike this

William Minarcik

Lyrics: I´m a stranger, just dropped in your town
Stranger, I just dropped in your town
Yes because I´m a stranger, please ma´am don´t dog me around.

I´m a stranger here, I´m gonna leave ´fore the sun go down
Stranger here, baby, I´m gonna leave ´fore the sun go down
Yeah you know the people seem to don´t like me, why should I hang around here in this ol´ town?

emma garrett

Amen

warren fielding

Play C-7 lol

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