Mood Indigo
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble Lyrics


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You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".

I always get that mood indigo,
Since my baby said goodbye.
And in the evenin' when the lights are low,
I'm so lonely I could cry.
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
When I get that mood indigo,
I could lay me down and die.

You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.




That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Mood Indigo" by New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble are about the feeling of sadness and longing that comes with heartbreak. The song describes how this feeling goes down to the very core of the singer's being, even affecting their physical body down to their shoes. The singer laments about being so lonely he could cry, and feeling like nobody cares. The mood is set by the low lights of the evening, suggesting a time of introspection and contemplation.


The repeated refrain of "You ain't never been blue" implies that the person being addressed has never experienced the intense emotional pain of heartbreak until they have felt the "mood indigo." The lyrics express how this feeling is all-consuming and overwhelming, leading the singer to contemplate death. The sorrowful mood is accentuated by the slow tempo and the haunting instrumental accompaniment.


Overall, "Mood Indigo" is a melancholy yet strikingly beautiful song that captures the essence of heartbreak and the all-encompassing feeling of sadness that accompanies it.


Line by Line Meaning

You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You haven't experienced the depth of sadness until you've felt the particular sadness that comes with mood indigo.


You ain't never been blue,
Nothing you've ever experienced before matches the kind of sadness expressed in this song.


Till you've had that mood indigo.
The unique feeling, or color, of sadness known as mood indigo is something you must experience to really understand.


That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
The feeling of sadness is so complete that it seems to seep into every part of my body, affecting even my feet.


While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
All I can do is sit here and let the sadness take over, feeling like the blues will never leave me alone.


I always get that mood indigo,
This feeling of deep sadness is not a one-time occurrence, but a constant companion in my life.


Since my baby said goodbye.
The source of this mood indigo is a painful breakup with someone I loved deeply.


And in the evenin' when the lights are low,
Especially in the stillness of the night, my loneliness and sadness are most acute.


I'm so lonely I could cry.
The loneliness is so intense that it almost feels physical, and I can't help but cry.


'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
The feeling of loneliness is compounded by the sense that nobody cares about me, and I'm all alone in the world.


I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
The depth of my sadness and loneliness is beyond measure, and I feel like a fool for being unable to shake it off.


When I get that mood indigo,
This feeling of deep sadness takes over me suddenly and completely, leaving me helpless in its grip.


I could lay me down and die.
The sadness is so overwhelming that death seems like a relief, a way out from the pain and loneliness of life.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS, BARNEY BIGARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Paul Diffin

I love the Coleman Hawkins version, but this is sublime in whole different way. Thanks for sharing.

Manuel Vázquez

años buscando la canción y sin querer llegue a ella, gracias!!!! :D

Rohit Kumar

thanks for uploading

mandrake mandrake

smooth