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Crazy Cryin' Blues
Memphis Minnie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I been going crazy, I just can't help myself, ahhhhuuuuhahhhh
I been going crazy, I just can't help myself, ahhhhuuuuhahhhh
Because the man I'm loving, he's loving someone else

(spoken: You know I'm bound to cry)

Ahhhhaaahhhhuuuuhhuh
Ahhhhaaahhhhuuuuhhuh
Ahhhhaaahhhhuuuuhhuh

I was locked outdoors, sat on my steps all night long and cried, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I was locked outdoors, sat on my steps all night long and cried, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I'm going crazy, crazy as I can be

I got up this morning, I made a fire in my stove, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I got up this morning, I made a fire in my stove, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I made up my bread and sat my pan outdoors

I'm crazy, I'm crazy, just can't help myself, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I'm crazy, I'm crazy, just can't help myself, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I'm just as crazy, crazy as a poor girl can be

Ahhhhaaahhhhuuuuhhuh
Ahhhhaaahhhhuuuuhhuh
Ahhhhaaahhhhuuuuhhuh

Overall Meaning

In "Crazy Cryin' Blues," Memphis Minnie laments the pain of unrequited love as she vividly portrays her anguish and desperation. The song begins with the repeated cry of "I been going crazy, I just can't help myself" which instantly sets the tone for the listener. Memphis Minnie's voice is raw and powerful, amplifying her emotions and conveying her sense of heartbreak. She sings of the man she loves who is now with someone else, causing her to feel as if she is losing her grip on her sanity. The spoken line "You know I'm bound to cry" adds to the intensity of the song, reaffirming that this is not just another love song, but a testament to the pain of lost love.


Memphis Minnie's raw and emotive delivery of "Crazy Cryin' Blues" reflects the harsh realities of life in the American South, where relationships and love were often fraught with complexity, jealousy, and loss. The song's lyrical structure, with its repetition of specific phrases, underscores how Minnie was trapped in a cycle of agony, unable to extricate herself from the grip of her emotions. The line "I was locked outdoors, sat on my steps all night long and cried" is particularly poignant, revealing the depths of her despair and sense of isolation. Yet, amidst the pain, there is a sense of resilience and kinship with other women who may have found themselves in similar situations. Throughout this song, Minnie's voice and lyrics combine seamlessly to create a powerful reminder of the pain and suffering that love can bring.


Line by Line Meaning

I been going crazy, I just can't help myself, ahhhhuuuuhahhhh
I am losing my mind due to my inability to stop loving a man who loves someone else.


Because the man I'm loving, he's loving someone else
I am heartbroken since the person I love is in love with someone else.


I was locked outdoors, sat on my steps all night long and cried, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I spent a night crying on my doorstep after being locked out, unable to bear the pain anymore.


I'm going crazy, crazy as I can be
I am driven to madness, losing control of my emotions.


I got up this morning, I made a fire in my stove, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I woke up and tried to distract myself from the pain by cooking and tending to my fire.


I made up my bread and sat my pan outdoors
I baked bread and left it outside, possibly as a gesture of hope towards a reconciliation.


I'm crazy, I'm crazy, just can't help myself, ahhhhaaahhhuuuhhhaaah
I am acknowledging that I am acting irrationally and that my feelings are taking control of me.


I'm just as crazy, crazy as a poor girl can be
My emotional distress has made me as overwhelmed and helpless as someone who is struggling financially.




Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@SmokinGun55

One of my favorites of Minnie's songs.👍

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