I Asked The Bossman
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics


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We were down in Louisiana
Asked that Bossman to let my baby be
Down in Louisiana
Asked to the Bossman, let my baby be
You know that I was doing alright
But you Bossman, takin' my little old girl from me

I said it ain't nothin' but a low down, low down
People let the low down, dirty shame
It's a low down, it's a low down
God knows it's a low down, dirty shame
Whoa, too bad little woman
She got it bad with another man

Wonder will I ever, Lord have mercy
See my little Margie's face again
Lord, I wonder, will I ever, will I ever
See my little Margie's face again
I just want her to remember
Poor Lighnin', once have been her friend

There been days I've been thinkin' about my little Margie
Wonderin' if the little poor girl doin' just fine
There been days I've been thinkin' about my little Margie
Wonderin' if the poor child's doin' just fine
You know the Bossman's taken her away from me
But on the papers she still is mine
And I couldn't help but to call her, I said

Please release my little Margie, Bossman
And let her come back home to me
Please release my little Margie, Bossman
And let her come back home to me
You know she, with all her powers
She couldn't do no better
That's why poor Lightnin' had to let Margie be

And like the song where I used to sing
About everything I get, somebody takes it away from me
But I've got to say one more word
Release my little Margie
Bossman, please let her come back to me
Release my little Margie
Bossman, please let her come back to me





Your know, longer that my little Margie's gone
Old Lightnin's sufferin' in misery

Overall Meaning

In "I Asked The Bossman," Lightnin' Hopkins is expressing his heartbreak after his lover, Margie, is taken away from him by the Bossman. He goes to the Bossman and pleads with him to let Margie come back to him. Throughout the song, Lightnin' uses the phrase "low down dirty shame" to describe the situation he's in. He feels helpless and powerless because the Bossman has taken his loved one away from him without any real explanation. Lightnin' wonders if he will ever see Margie's face again and if she is doing well without him. Ultimately, Lightnin' realizes that he has no choice but to let her go because the Bossman has all the power.


The song is a poignant reflection on the power dynamics that existed in the southern United States between black workers and their white bosses during the Jim Crow era. The bossman held all the power and could take away anything that belonged to the workers, including their loved ones. The song also speaks to the emotional toll of this power dynamic, as Lightnin' is clearly devastated by the loss of his relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

We were down in Louisiana
I was in Louisiana


Asked that Bossman to let my baby be
I asked the bossman to let my girlfriend go


Down in Louisiana
Still in Louisiana


Asked to the Bossman, let my baby be
I implored the bossman to release my girlfriend back to me


You know that I was doing alright
I was okay before the bossman took my girlfriend


But you Bossman, takin' my little old girl from me
But the bossman took my girlfriend away from me


I said it ain't nothin' but a low down, low down
It's a terrible, terrible thing


People let the low down, dirty shame
People allow this type of shameful behavior


It's a low down, it's a low down
It's such a terrible thing to do


God knows it's a low down, dirty shame
It's a disgraceful act


Whoa, too bad little woman
It's a pity for my girlfriend


She got it bad with another man
She's suffering with another man


Wonder will I ever, Lord have mercy
I wonder if I'll ever see her again


See my little Margie's face again
See my girlfriend's face again


Lord, I wonder, will I ever, will I ever
I wonder if I'll ever


I just want her to remember
I want her to think of me


Poor Lighnin', once have been her friend
I was her friend once


There been days I've been thinkin' about my little Margie
I think about her often


Wonderin' if the little poor girl doin' just fine
I wonder if she's doing well


You know the Bossman's taken her away from me
The bossman took her away from me


But on the papers she still is mine
But on paper, she's still mine


And I couldn't help but to call her, I said
I had to call her on the phone


Please release my little Margie, Bossman
Please let my girlfriend go, bossman


And let her come back home to me
And let her come back to me


You know she, with all her powers
She, with all her might


She couldn't do no better
She couldn't do any better


That's why poor Lightnin' had to let Margie be
That's why I had to let her go


And like the song where I used to sing
And like the song I used to sing


About everything I get, somebody takes it away from me
Where everything I have, someone takes away


But I've got to say one more word
I have one more thing to say


Release my little Margie
Let my girlfriend go


Bossman, please let her come back to me
Bossman, please let her come back to me


Your know, longer that my little Margie's gone
You know, the longer she's gone


Old Lightnin's sufferin' in misery
I'm suffering in misery




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: SAM HOPKINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Dom Corrieras

du très grand Lightnin' !

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