Can't Get no Grindin
Muddy Waters & B.B.King Lyrics

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I had a little corn
I put it in a sack
I get to the mill
and had to bring it right back
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down
What's the matter with this mill
Done broke down

I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Some people said that a preacher won't steal
I caught one down in my corn field
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

One had a bush and one had a peck
The other had the cornfield round his neck
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Done broke down
Done broke down

You don't know the way I feel
I got some more weevil in my corn field
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down
What's the matter with the mill
Done broke down

I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Can't Get No Grindin'" by Muddy Waters depict the struggles of a farmer trying to get his corn ground at the mill. He had gathered some corn and put it in a sack only to find that the mill had broken down. He looks for answers as to why the mill is broken, but no one can provide a clear response. The farmer also expresses his frustration with a preacher who he caught stealing from his cornfield, and complains about having weevil in his cornfield. All in all, the song seems to reflect the difficulties and disappointments of everyday life, and how sometimes things just don't work out as planned.

Line by Line Meaning

I had a little corn
I had a small amount of corn

I put it in a sack
I stored the corn in a bag

I get to the mill
I brought the corn to the mill

and had to bring it right back
but I had to return home with it

What's the matter with the mill
What's wrong with the mill

Done broke down
It's not working

I can't get no grinding
I can't have the corn processed

Tell me what's the matter with the mill
Please let me know what the issue is

Some people said that a preacher won't steal
There's a belief that preachers won't steal

I caught one down in my corn field
But I caught a preacher in my cornfield

One had a bush and one had a peck
One had a container full of corn and the other had a smaller amount