Holt has been in a Chicago band called Mr. Pitiful And The Teardrops. When that band broke up, Holt re-formed the Teardrops with his two brothers (of whom one brother, Nick Holt, became a permanent member as the bass player). The band recorded its first single for the local Wes label in 1966, and another for the equally small Mean Mistreater label in 1970. It was not until 1978 that Magic Slim And The Teardrops began recording in earnest, contributing four tracks to an Alligator Records anthology. That was followed by a live album for the small Candy Apple label as well as recordings made in France that were released in the USA on Alligator in 1982 as "Raw Magic" . That same year he recorded the highly praised Grand Slam for Rooster Blues Records. A live album recorded in Austria, Chicago Blues Session, followed in 1987. Gravel Road, released on the small Blind Pig label in the USA, was issued in 1990.
Magic Slim and The Teardrops continued to record until 2012.
Before You Go
Magic Slim and The Teardrops Lyrics
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Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been spendin' my money on other women
But you've been runnin' with somebody else
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I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
Well your mother said 'son,
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Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Well now you say I've been runnin' around
But you got somebody else
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Come on back home baby, try my love one more time
Come on back home baby, try my love one more time
Well now you've been gone away so long
I'm gonna lose my mind
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Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Well now you say I've been buyin' other women clothes
You've been taking money from somebody else
The song "Before You Go" by Magic Slim and The Teardrops is a blues classic that delves into themes of infidelity, dishonesty, and self-reflection. The first stanza begins with a plea for the accuser to take a closer look at themselves before pointing fingers. The accusations of spending money on other women are met with a counter-accusation that the accuser has been running around with somebody else. The next stanza reveals the singer's attempt to reach out to the accuser's mother, only to be met with a request to stop contacting her daughter. The third stanza is a repetition of the first one, with the addition of a line that acknowledges the accuser's own infidelity. The final stanza is the singer's earnest appeal for the accuser to come back home and give their love another chance before it's too late.
One of the interesting aspects of this song is how it flips the script on traditional blues narratives. It's usually the men who are accused of cheating and running around, but in this case, it's the woman who is under suspicion. The singer here is not the one confessing to their own misdeeds but rather pointing out the hypocrisy of the accuser. The song also incorporates elements of social commentary by addressing the mother, suggesting that family and community expectations play a role in shaping people's behavior. Ultimately, the song is about the importance of honest self-reflection and communication in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Reflect on your own actions and behavior before you point fingers at me.
You say I've been spendin' my money on other women
You accuse me of wasting money on other women.
But you've been runnin' with somebody else
But you have been seeing someone else behind my back.
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I tried to contact your mother few days ago.
Well your mother said 'son, Don't call my daughter no more'
Your mother requested me not to call you again.
Well now you say I've been runnin' around
Now you accuse me of being unfaithful.
But you got somebody else
However, you actually have someone else.
Come on back home baby, try my love one more time
Please come back to me and give our love another chance.
Well now you've been gone away so long
You have been away for a long time.
I'm gonna lose my mind
I am going crazy without you.
Well now you say I've been buyin' other women clothes
Now you accuse me of buying clothes for other women.
You've been taking money from somebody else
But in reality, you have been taking money from someone else.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELLAS MCDANIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind