Lawd Send Me a Man Blues
Ma Rainey Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who gonna pay my board bill now?
Had a good man, and he turned me down
Landlord comin′, knock on my door
I told him my good man don't stay here no more
______, bye bye, ask the good Lord help you find

Oh, Lord, send me a man
I′m the loneliest woman in the land
I work hard both night and day
Tryin' to find a good man to come my way

Send me a zulu, a voodoo, any old man
I'm not particular, boys, I′ll take what I can
I′ve been worried, almost insane
Oh Lordy, send me a man
Oh Lordy, send me a man

Oh, Lord, send me a man
I'm the loneliest woman in the land
I work hard every night and day
Tryin′ to find a good man to come my way

Send me a zulu, a voodoo, any old man
I'm not particular, boys, I′ll take what I can
I've been worried, almost insane




Oh Lordy, send me a man
Oh Lordy, send me a man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ma Rainey’s “Lawd Send Me a Man Blues” depict a lonely and desperate woman praying for a man to come her way. She references her board bill, alluding to her financial struggles as a single woman. The chorus repeats the plea for a man, emphasizing her loneliness and desire for companionship. The verses describe her hardships, including the loss of her previous lover and the threat of eviction by her landlord.


In the early 20th century, blues music often depicted the struggles of the working class and minorities, and “Lawd Send Me a Man Blues” is no exception. The song’s lyrics reveal societal issues women faced at the time, such as financial hardship and the societal pressure to have a man. The character in the song also mentions wanting a “zulu” or “voodoo” man, possibly a reference to African culture, which was often exoticized and fetishized by white audiences.


The song was recorded in 1923 and was a commercial success for Ma Rainey. It is considered an early example of the Blues genre and showcases Rainey’s vocal prowess. The song has been covered by several artists over the years, including Bessie Smith and Janis Joplin.


Line by Line Meaning

Who gonna pay my board bill now?
I am worried about how I will pay my bills now that my good man has left me.


Had a good man, and he turned me down
I had a good man, but he rejected me.


Landlord comin', knock on my door
My landlord is coming to collect rent that I cannot pay.


I told him my good man don't stay here no more
I explained to my landlord that my good man no longer lives with me and cannot help with the rent.


______, bye bye, ask the good Lord help you find
I am leaving, goodbye. I hope the good Lord helps you find what you are looking for.


Oh, Lord, send me a man
I am asking the Lord to send me a man.


I'm the loneliest woman in the land
I feel very lonely as a woman.


I work hard both night and day
I work very hard day and night.


Tryin' to find a good man to come my way
I am trying to find a good man to come into my life.


Send me a zulu, a voodoo, any old man
I do not care about race or religion, I just want any man to come my way.


I'm not particular, boys, I'll take what I can
I am not picky, I will take any man who comes to me.


I've been worried, almost insane
I have been very worried and it is affecting my mental state.


Oh Lordy, send me a man
I am pleading with the Lord to send a man my way.


Oh Lordy, send me a man
I am still hoping and praying for the Lord to send a man to me.




Writer(s): Ma Rainey

Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found