Me and My Chauffeur Blues
Memphis Minnie Lyrics


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Won't you be my chauffeur
Won't you be my chauffeur
I wants him to drive me
I wants him to drive me downtown
Yes he drives so easy, I can't turn him down
But I don't want him
But I don't want him
To be ridin' these girls
To be ridin' these girls around
So I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur down
Well I must buy him
Well I must buy him
A brand new V8
A brand new V8 Ford
Then he won't need no passengers, I will be his load
(spoken: Yeah, take it away)
Going to let my chauffeur
Going to let my chauffeur
Drive me around the




Drive me around the world
Then he can be my little boy, yes, I'll be his girl

Overall Meaning

The song "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" by Memphis Minnie is an upbeat and lively tune that tells the story of a woman who desires a chauffeur to drive her around town, but her jealousy and possessiveness threatens the relationship. The song opens with the lyrics, "Won't you be my chauffeur? I want him to drive me downtown. Yes, he drives so easy, I can't turn him down." The woman is looking for a reliable driver, someone who can be trusted to take her where she needs to go in comfort and ease. She's found this driver in her chauffeur and is happy with his service.


However, her happiness is short-lived because she becomes increasingly jealous and possessive of her chauffeur. She doesn't want him to be "riding these girls around" and decides to take action by stealing a gun and threatening to shoot him down. She quickly changes her mind and decides that the best way to keep him all to herself is to buy him a brand new V8 Ford so that he won't need to take on any other passengers or women. The song concludes with her imagining a world where she and her chauffeur travel the world together, with her as his girl and him as her little boy.


The lyrics of "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" express themes of possession, jealousy, and a desire for control. The song is an example of traditional blues music, with its storytelling lyrics, use of call-and-response, and bluesy guitar riffs. Memphis Minnie's powerful and soulful vocals drive the song, and her mastery of the blues guitar is also showcased in the instrumental sections of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Won't you be my chauffeur
I am asking for a driver to take me places.


I wants him to drive me
I desire a driver to take me where I need to go.


I wants him to drive me downtown
I want my driver to take me to the city center.


Yes he drives so easy, I can't turn him down
My driver is an excellent driver and it's difficult to decline his services.


But I don't want him
I don't want my driver to be taking other women places.


To be ridin' these girls
I don't want my driver to be taking other women places.


To be ridin' these girls around
I don't want my driver to be taking other women places.


So I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur down
I am threatening to harm my driver if he continues taking other women places.


Well I must buy him
I must purchase something for my driver.


Well I must buy him
I must purchase something for my driver.


A brand new V8
I will buy my driver a new V8 car.


A brand new V8 Ford
I will buy my driver a specific type of car, a V8 Ford.


Then he won't need no passengers, I will be his load
If I buy my driver a new car, he won't need other passengers, I will be the only one he transports.


Going to let my chauffeur
I will allow my driver to take me places.


Going to let my chauffeur
I will allow my driver to take me places.


Drive me around the
My driver will take me on tours.


Drive me around the world
My driver will take me on a trip across the globe.


Then he can be my little boy, yes, I'll be his girl
I will have a relationship with my driver as his caretaker or mother figure, while he is in a subservient position as my driver.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERNEST LAWLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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