Bessie Smith
Norah Jones Lyrics


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Bessie was more than just a friend of mine
We shared the good times and the bad
Many years have since passed me by
I still recall the best thing I ever had

Now I'm going down the road to see Bessie
Oh... To see her soon
I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do

Now all the crazy things I had to try
Well I tried them all and then some
If you look you one day you will find out
Where it is that your really coming from

Now I'm going down the road to see Bessie
Oh... To see her soon
I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do

Now in my day I've made some foolish moves
But back then I didn't worry about a thing
Now and again I still wonder to myself
Was it the sweet love, or the way that she could sing

I'm just going down the road to see Bessie
Oh... To see her soon




I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do

Overall Meaning

The song "Bessie Smith" by Norah Jones is a tribute to the legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, who was known for her powerful voice and pioneering role in the development of blues music. In the lyrics, the singer reminisces about a past relationship with Bessie, who was more than just a friend, and reflects on the memories they shared together. He acknowledges that she was the best thing he ever had and decides to visit her, even though many years have passed since they last saw each other.


The song is not only a tribute to Bessie Smith, but also a reflection on the singer's own life experiences. He admits to trying all sorts of crazy things and making foolish moves, but wonders if it was the love he shared with Bessie or her singing that has stayed with him all these years. Despite the passage of time, he still feels a connection to Bessie and is excited to see her again.


Overall, "Bessie Smith" is a poignant and evocative song that pays tribute to one of the most important and influential figures in blues music, while also exploring themes of nostalgia and personal reflection.


Line by Line Meaning

Bessie was more than just a friend of mine
Bessie was a close companion with whom I shared more than just a casual friendship.


We shared the good times and the bad
We went through happy and sad moments together, providing each other with support and comfort through all of life's experiences.


Many years have since passed me by
A lot of time has gone by since I last saw Bessie or experienced the connection we shared.


I still recall the best thing I ever had
Despite the passing of time, I still hold on to the memory of Bessie, who was the most valuable thing in my life.


Now I'm going down the road to see Bessie
I'm on my way to visit Bessie, perhaps hoping to reconnect with her or reignite the bond we once had.


Oh... To see her soon
I'm eager and excited to see Bessie again and catch up on all that's happened since we last spent time together.


I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
The specific person I'm going to visit is Bessie Smith, since she is the one who I have this deep emotional connection with.


When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do
I'm feeling uncertain about how our interaction will go once I arrive, as I'm not sure what to expect from Bessie.


Now all the crazy things I had to try
I've experimented with various experiences and ideas in my life, even some that were considered unconventional or risky.


Well I tried them all and then some
I've not only sampled many unique experiences, but I've also pushed myself to the limits and gone beyond what others thought was possible.


If you look you one day you will find out
If you take the time to reflect on your life experiences, you may discover some important personal truths.


Where it is that your really coming from
This realization will help you to understand your identity and what has shaped you as a person.


Now in my day I've made some foolish moves
During my lifetime, I've made some mistakes or choices that might have seemed unwise at the time.


But back then I didn't worry about a thing
At the moment of making those decisions, I wasn't concerned about the outcome or potential consequences.


Now and again I still wonder to myself
Even now, there are times when I revisit those past decisions and contemplate what might have been different if I had chosen differently.


Was it the sweet love, or the way that she could sing
I'm still trying to understand what motivated me to make those choices, and whether it was a result of the affection I felt or the powerful effect that Bessie's singing had on me.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Soulmate

Bessie was more than just a friend of mine
We shared the good times with the bad
Now many a year has passed me by
I still recall the best thing I ever had
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
Oh, see her soon
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
When I get there I wonder what she'll do
All the crazy things I had to try
Well I tried them all and then some
But if you're lucky one day you find out
Where it is you're really comin' from
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
Oh, see her soon
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
When I get there I wonder what she'll do
Now in my day I've made some foolish moves
But back then, I didn't worry 'bout a thing
And now again I still wonder to myself
Was it her sweet love or the way that she could sing
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
Oh, see her soon
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
When I get there I wonder what she'll do



Trunke 10

Bessie was more than just a friend of mine
We shared the good times and the bad
Many years have since passed me by
I still recall the best thing I ever had

Now I'm going down the road to see Bessie
Oh... To see her soon
I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do

Now all the crazy things I had to try
Well I tried them all and then some
If you look you one day you will find out
Where it is that your really coming from

Now I'm going down the road to see Bessie
Oh... To see her soon
I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do

Now in my day I've made some foolish moves
But back then I didn't worry about a thing
Now and again I still wonder to myself
Was it the sweet love, or the way that she could sing

I'm just going down the road to see Bessie
Oh... To see her soon
I'm just going down the road to see Bessie Smith
When I get there I'm a wondering what she'll do



All comments from YouTube:

Soulmate

Bessie was more than just a friend of mine
We shared the good times with the bad
Now many a year has passed me by
I still recall the best thing I ever had
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
Oh, see her soon
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
When I get there I wonder what she'll do
All the crazy things I had to try
Well I tried them all and then some
But if you're lucky one day you find out
Where it is you're really comin' from
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
Oh, see her soon
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
When I get there I wonder what she'll do
Now in my day I've made some foolish moves
But back then, I didn't worry 'bout a thing
And now again I still wonder to myself
Was it her sweet love or the way that she could sing
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
Oh, see her soon
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
When I get there I wonder what she'll do

Cimone Watson

that's so cool. and it's great to see an extremely talented artist perform a tribute to another extremely talented artist.

DangerBird

this is what good musicians sound like when they do what they do best!

Adnan M.

A beautiful woman with a beautiful voice sings a beautiful song about a beautiful blues singer.

Claus Saunte

The most powerfull female bluessinger ever, Thats Bessie Smith!

Nautilus Guitars

It's sad to me how few people in the comments even know who Bessie Smith is. A wonderful woman so forgotten.

Requiemslove

This is from LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS, what a magical DVD that is. I still recall the first time i ever watched that and was flabbergasted by how talented Norah and her band [at the time] was. Oh, for the handsome band, Norah just ain't quite been the same since they parted company. She is still who she is...but they were all such a great group. This song shows that.

cantarooots

One of my favourite songs ever. Love it by the band, love it by Norah. I think most people know have a Bessie or two in their life. 

g jazzy

I love the way she sings this song. Real Gem!

S Morris

Thank you for the tribute! so many try to claim Legendary Black Musicians songs, style and flow as their own.

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