My Man
Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

My man's gone now
Ain't no use a listenin'
For his tired footsteps
Climbin' up the stairs
Oh, oh
Old man sorrows
Come to keep me company
Whisperin' beside me
When I say my prayers
When I say my prayers

Ain't that I mind workin'
Workin' means travelers
Journeyin' together
To the promised land
But old man sorrows
Mountin' all the way with me
Tellin' me that I'm old now
Since I lose my man
Since I lose my man
Old man sorrow
Sittin' by the fireplace
Lyin' on my floor
By me in the bed
Tellin' me the same thing morning, noon and evening
That I'm all alone now since my man is dead
Oh




Since my man is dead
Oh, ah, eeh

Overall Meaning

In the song "My Man" by Orchestra, the singer is grieving the loss of her beloved partner. Through the lyrics, she explains that she no longer hears the familiar sound of his footsteps climbing the stairs, and instead she is accompanied by Old Man Sorrows. This sort of personification of grief is both powerful and effective as it conveys a tangible sense of isolation and sorrow. The singer is constantly reminded that she is alone now that her partner has passed away. The singer also talks about how work provides a sense of community and journey towards a better place to just as traveling with her partner once did. She then goes on to describe how even at home, she is overwhelmed with a sense of loneliness and loss. Old Man Sorrows is ever present, lying on her floor, sitting beside her fireplace, and even joining her in bed. Through this beautiful and poignant song, Orchestra encapsulates the heartbreak and loneliness experienced after the loss of a loved one.


Line by Line Meaning

My man's gone now
My man has left me and is no longer here


Ain't no use a listenin'
No point in listening for him, he's gone


For his tired footsteps
His footsteps have ceased and I won't hear them anymore


Climbin' up the stairs
Going up the stairs like he used to


Old man sorrows
Intense sorrow that I'm feeling because of his absence


Come to keep me company
Sorrow is my only companion now


Whisperin' beside me
Sorrow forever whispering in my ear


When I say my prayers
Even when I pray, sorrow is still with me


Ain't that I mind workin'
I don't mind working, it's just not the same without him


Workin' means travelers
Working often means we journey together


Journeyin' together
We used to travel together while working


To the promised land
We worked to reach our goals


But old man sorrows
But my sorrow is always with me


Mountin' all the way with me
Sorrow has been with me through every step of this journey


Tellin' me that I'm old now
Sorrow tells me that without my man, I am old and alone


Since I lose my man
Because I lost my man, I carry this heavy sorrow


Old man sorrow
My intense sorrow that never leaves me


Sittin' by the fireplace
Sorrow is always with me, even by the comforting fire


Lyin' on my floor
Sorrow is always there, even on the floor where I lay


By me in the bed
Sorrow is even present with me in my bed


Tellin' me the same thing morning, noon and evening
Sorrow's message of my loneliness is always the same, no matter the time of day


That I'm all alone now since my man is dead
Every day I'm reminded of his absence and I'm left alone with my sorrow


Oh
An expression of my deep pain and suffering


Since my man is dead
His death left me with this unending sorrow


Oh, ah, eeh
More expressions of my emotional pain




Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN, DU BOSE HEYWARD, DOROTHY HEYWARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Rayito Romes

Música alegre y bonita 🌹

Cristina Carranza

I really love this song!!
Thank you so much for upload it!!

CatsPjamas1

@abendstunde49 Paul Whiteman had one of the best bands of the '20's! I love it too!

Robert Schwartz

What a very crisp, clear recording.

Naomi Merchant

I keep listening to this song over and over :)

St Chas

This song is a ballad. Making it a flapper dance number with no lyrics is next to obscene.

Bnojams

Another superior version of a great 20's tune. Cats, you rock.

CatsPjamas1

@rockerclogger Me too! I love the feisty dance bands of the '20's. The music is so catchy. You can't help humming it all day after you listen a few times :)

Main Account

Extremely enjoyable

CatsPjamas1

Thanks very much!

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