Memphis Slim (3 September, 1915 in Memphis, Tennessee – 24 February, 1988 i… Read Full Bio ↴Memphis Slim (3 September, 1915 in Memphis, Tennessee – 24 February, 1988 in Paris, France) was a blues pianist and singer. His birth name was John Len Chatman although he himself claimed to be born Peter Chatman (the name he gave himself in honour of his father Peter Chatman Sr. when he first recorded for Okeh in 1940). He composed the blues standards "Every Day I Have the Blues" and "Mother Earth". Memphis Slim got his start playing the blues at the Midway Café, at 357 Beale Street (southeast corner of Fourth and Beale Streets) in Memphis in 1931. Two years before his death, Memphis Slim was named a Commander in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France. Memphis Slim died on 24 February, 1988 in Paris, France at the age of 72. During his lifetime, he cut over 500 recordings and influenced blues pianists that followed him for decades.

I Feel So Good
Memphis Slim Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a letter
It come to me by mail
My baby's a comin' home
I hope that she won't fail

Because I feel so good
I feel so good
You know I feel so good

Feel like ballin' the jack

I drove into town to that old station
Just to meet her old train
My baby said, "She's a comin' home"
I hope that she won't fail

Because I feel so good
I feel so good
You know I feel so good
Feel like ballin' the jack

Feel so good, I hope I always will
Feel just like I just got out of jail
Where ever I'm with you

Because I feel so good
I feel so good
You know I feel so good
Feel like ballin' the jack

All right, I can see you
Let's have you
Are you with me up there?
Are you with me, are you with me?

Feel so good
(Feel so good)
Feel so good
(Feel so good)
Oh, I feel so good
(Feel so good)
Ah, yeah

I want you to, uh
Shout as loud as you can
'Cause we're going to try
And record this, so you're gonna know
You're gonna know what

I feel so good
(I feel so good)
Feel so good
(Feel so good)
Feel so good
(Feel so good)
Feel so good
(Feel so good)

So nice, so nice
(So nice, so nice)
So nice, so nice
(So nice, so nice)
So nice, so nice
(So nice, so nice)

Woh, woh, woh, woh
(Woh, woh, woh, woh)
Woh, woh, woh, woh
(Woh, woh, woh, woh)
Woh, woh, woh, woh
(Woh, woh, woh, woh)

Oh, I feel so good
(I feel so good)
Oh, yeah
Let's hear you come

Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel so good
Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel so good
Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel so good
Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel so good

Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel so good
Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel so good
You know I feel so good
I feel like ballin' the jack

You know I feel so good

I feel like ballin' the jack
You know I feel so good

Overall Meaning

The song "I Feel So Good" by Memphis Slim portrays an overwhelming sense of happiness and excitement for his lover's return. The first verse of the song indicates that Memphis received a letter informing him that his lover is coming back home, and he expresses hope that she will not fail him. This hope is further emphasized in the next verse, where Memphis drives to the train station to meet her. The chorus explains how Memphis "feels so good" and compares his feeling to "ballin' the jack." The repetition of this line in the chorus highlights how good Memphis is feeling and how eagerly he is awaiting his lover's arrival.

The final part of the song is a live recording in front of an audience where Memphis encourages the listeners to shout as loud as they can. The repetition of the chorus continues, and the energy of the song is increased in response to the audience's participation. The repetition of "Feel so good" in this section further emphasizes Memphis's sense of elation and his anticipation of being with his lover again.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a letter
I received a letter through the mail

It come to me by mail
The letter was delivered to me by mail

My baby's a comin' home
My significant other is returning home

I hope that she won't fail
I hope that she will not disappoint me

Because I feel so good
I am feeling very happy

Feel like ballin' the jack
I feel like doing the Charleston dance

I drove into town to that old station
I drove to the old train station in town

Just to meet her old train
To meet the train that my significant other is arriving on

My baby said, "She's a comin' home"
My significant other let me know she is on her way

Feel so good, I hope I always will
I hope to always feel this happy and joyful

Feel just like I just got out of jail
I feel incredibly relieved and free