32-20 Blues
Nigel Watson; Peter Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'F I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
And if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wan' do
And if she gets unruly and thinks she don't wan' do
Take my 32-20, now, and cut her half in two
She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light
I got a 32-20, got to make the caps alright
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my gatling gun
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gotta shoot my gatling gun
You made me love you, now your man have come
Ahoh, baby, where you stayed last night
Ahah, baby, where you stayed last night
You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
I got a 32-20 now, and it's a burning
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Wisconsin sure can't help her none
Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night
Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night
You didn't come home until the sun was shining bright
Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest
Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest
With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast
The lyrics of Nigel Watson's "32-20 Blues" tell the story of a man who is frustrated waiting for his lover to come to him. He has sent for her, but she has not shown, despite all the doctors in Hot Springs being unable to help her. The man becomes increasingly agitated as the song progresses, threatening to harm his lover with his 32-20 revolver if she becomes unruly or doesn't listen to him. He also alludes to her having a .38 special, a gun that he believes is ineffective, indicating his superiority with his own weapon.
The song is a classic example of blues music, with its repetitive structure and emphasis on storytelling through lyrics. It also highlights the typical themes of the genre, such as lost love, desperation, and violence. The lyrics are raw and emotive, reflecting the pain that the singer is feeling, making the song relatable to many listeners who have experienced similar emotions in the past.
Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the blues genre, and it remains a classic to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
'F I send for my baby, and she don't come
If I summon my beloved and she fails to arrive
'F I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
If I request my sweetheart's presence but she doesn't show
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
Even the physicians in Hot Springs cannot cure her absence
And if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wan' do
And if she becomes defiant and thinks she doesn’t want to comply
Take my 32-20, now, and cut her half in two
I'll use my firearm, the 32-20, to threaten and bring her to order
She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light
She has a .38 caliber revolver, but I think it's insufficient
I got a 32-20, got to make the caps alright
I have a 32-20, I need to prepare the ammunition properly before using it
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my gatling gun
I'll fire my pistol first and, if necessary, my machine gun to make you pay
You made me love you, now your man have come
You captivated me with your love, but now I'm here to seek revenge for your unfaithfulness
Ahoh, baby, where you stayed last night
Oh, baby, where did you spend the night yesterday?
You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right
Your hair is disheveled, and you're not making sense
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
Her .38 caliber revolver is pretty useful, boys
I got a 32-20 now, and it's a burning
I possess a 32-20, and it's itching to be used
All the doctors in Wisconsin sure can't help her none
Even the physicians in Wisconsin cannot cure her absence
Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night
Hey, baby, where did you spend the night yesterday?
You didn't come home until the sun was shining bright
You didn't return home until dawn
Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest
Oh, boy, I just can't find peace
With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast
With this 32-20 resting on my chest
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind