Rolling Stone
Muddy Waters & Otis Spann Lyrics

The opening lines of Muddy Water's song "Rollin' Stone" express a feeling of wanting to escape from his current life to a simpler and more carefree existence. Muddy wishes he was a catfish, swimming in the deep blue sea, where he could have all the good looking women after him. The image of a catfish, a scavenger fish that swims in murky waters, conjures up images of a life outside of civilization, free to do as one pleases. The metaphorical meaning behind Muddy’s desire to be a catfish is that he wishes to be able to engage in promiscuity without any societal repercussions or consequences.

In the next verse, Muddy visits his lover’s house, where he learns that her husband has just left. This is a recurring theme for Muddy, who was known to have affairs with married women. The lyrics suggest that Muddy takes advantage of every opportunity that presents itself, even if it means breaking up a marriage. This is where the reference to Muddy being a “Rollin' Stone” comes in. The phrase, “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” means that someone who never settles in one place, never has to deal with the consequences of their actions.

The final verse expresses a sense of urgency, as Muddy knows that his time is running out. The line “I feel that I could lay down, time ain't long” implies that he knows he doesn’t have much time left to live. The idea of catching the first thing smoking and traveling back down the road he came from suggests that he wants to go back to a simpler time where he felt more free and unencumbered by life's responsibilities.