Little Queen of Spades
Nigel Watson; Peter Green Lyrics

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Now, she is a little queen of spades, and the men will not let her be
Mmm mmm, she is the little queen of spades, and the men will not let her be
Everytime she makes a spread, hoo, fair brown, cold chill just runs all over me

I'm gon' get me a gamblin' woman, if it's the last thing that I do
Eee hee eee, gon' get me a gambling woman, if it's the last thing that I do
Well, a man don't need a woman, ho, fair brown, that he got to give all his money to

Everybody say she got a mojo, now, she's been usin' that stuff
Mmmm, mmmm, everybody says she got a mojo, 'cause she been usin' that stuff
But she got a way trimmin'1 down, hoo, fair brown, and I mean it's most too tough

Now little girl, since I am the king, baby, and you is a queen

Ooo eee, since I am the king baby, and you is a queen
Let's us put our heads together, hoo, fair brown, then we can make our money green

Overall Meaning

In Peter Green's "Little Queen of Spades", the singer introduces the titular character as a skilled gambler that men are drawn to, but can't seem to control. She has a powerful presence, as indicated by the line "Everytime she makes a spread, hoo, fair brown, cold chill just runs all over me." The singer seems both frightened and entranced by her. He sings about his own desire to find a woman who not only shares his love for gambling but also won't make him empty his pockets. He sees the "little queen of spades" as someone who could understand him and satisfy his craving for both gambling and love. However, he also acknowledges her seemingly mystical powers, with the repeated refrain of "everybody says she got a mojo, 'cause she been usin' that stuff".

The singer finally proposes a partnership, offering to merge their respective abilities in order to make a profit. While it's unclear if the partnership will actually happen, the singer's respect and admiration for the "little queen of spades" is evident in his acknowledgement of her skill and powerful presence. The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the power dynamics between men and women, particularly in the realm of gambling where men are often seen as the dominant figures. However, the "little queen of spades" challenges those expectations and demands respect and recognition for her own abilities.

Line by Line Meaning

Now, she is a little queen of spades, and the men will not let her be
She is a skilled gambler, but despite her talent, men refuse to accept her as an equal.

Mmm mmm, she is the little queen of spades, and the men will not let her be
The singer reiterates that the woman is indeed the queen of spades, and the men cannot tolerate that.

Everytime she makes a spread, hoo, fair brown, cold chill just runs all over me
The singer gets chills thinking about the woman's gambling skills and how much money she's won.

I'm gon' get me a gamblin' woman, if it's the last thing that I do
The artist is determined to find himself a woman who can gamble, even if it's his last act.

Eee hee eee, gon' get me a gambling woman, if it's the last thing that I do
The artist repeats his assurance that he'll find a woman who can gamble no matter what it takes.

Well, a man don't need a woman, ho, fair brown, that he got to give all his money to
The singer doesn't want to be involved with a woman he has to consistently give all his money to.

Everybody say she got a mojo, now, she's been usin' that stuff
The woman has a reputation for having 'mojo,' which may either refer to her magical abilities or a substance she uses to help her win at gambling.

Mmmm, mmmm, everybody says she got a mojo, 'cause she been usin' that stuff
Again, the artist confirms that it's a well-known fact that the woman uses 'mojo' to help her win at gambling.

But she got a way trimmin'1 down, hoo, fair brown, and I mean it's most too tough
Despite her repute for using 'mojo' to win at gambling, the woman still has a way of winning that proves challenging for the artist.

Now little girl, since I am the king, baby, and you is a queen
The artist refers to himself as the 'king' and the woman as a 'queen,' implying that they are the best at what they do, or that they complement each other perfectly in gambling.

Ooo eee, since I am the king baby, and you is a queen
The singer repeats the previous line, emphasizing their roles as 'king' and 'queen' in the gambling world.

Let's us put our heads together, hoo, fair brown, then we can make our money green
The artist suggests that he and the woman team up to make even more money together through gambling.

Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY,
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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