Black and Blue
Papa Bue Lyrics
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Pains in my head, feel like old Ned
What did I do to be so black and blue?
No joys for me, no company
Even the mouse ran from my house
All my life through I've been so black and blue
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
I'm so forlorn. Life's just a thorn
My heart is torn. Why was I born?
What did I do to be so black and blue?
I'm hurt inside, but that don't help my case
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
How will it end? Ain't got a friend
My only sin is in my skin
What did I do to be so black and blue?
Tell me, what did I do?
What did I do? What did I do?
What did I do? What did I do?
What did I do? What did I do?
What did I do? Tell me, what did I do to be so black and blue?
What did I do to be so black and blue?
The lyrics to Papa Bue's song "Black and Blue" speak of the pain and sorrow that an individual has to go through because of the color of their skin. The singer of the song talks about the physical pain they are feeling in their body, with a cold and empty bed where the springs feel hard as lead, with pains in their head as if they feel old and battered. They go on to question why they must endure this agony and what they did to deserve such treatment. The singer says they have never known any joys in their life nor has any company around them. Even the mouse runs from their house. All throughout their life, they have been plagued by the burden of being black and blue.
The singer then goes on to talk about how even though they are white on the inside, it does not help their condition as they cannot hide what is on their face. They describe their life as a constant thorn, with a torn heart wondering why they were ever born. They emphasize the fact that they are hurt on the inside, but nobody can see that. They end the song by asking how their plight will end, with no friends and their only sin being the color of their skin. They question what they did to deserve such a fate and beg the listener to tell them what they did to be so black and blue.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold empty bed, springs hard as lead
I'm in a bed that feels cold and empty, and the springs are so hard that they feel like lead.
Pains in my head, feel like old Ned
I have a terrible headache, and I feel just as bad as a character from an old story called 'Old Ned.'
What did I do to be so black and blue?
I can't understand why my life has been so difficult and painful.
No joys for me, no company
I have no happiness or friendships in my life.
Even the mouse ran from my house
Things are so bad that even the mice don't want to be around me.
All my life through I've been so black and blue
My whole life has been filled with suffering and pain.
I'm white inside, but that don't help my case
Even though I may feel a certain way on the inside, it doesn't change the way that people see me because of the color of my skin.
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
My emotions are visible on my face, and I can't conceal them.
I'm so forlorn. Life's just a thorn
I feel completely alone and hopeless, and life seems to be just a source of pain for me.
My heart is torn. Why was I born?
I feel emotionally and mentally wounded, and I wonder why I was even brought into the world to suffer like this.
What did I do to be so black and blue?
Once again, I can't understand why my life has been so difficult and painful.
I'm hurt inside, but that don't help my case
I may be mentally or emotionally injured, but it doesn't change the way that people perceive me because of my skin color.
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
Once again, my emotions are visible on my face, and I can't conceal them.
How will it end? Ain't got a friend
I don't know what the future holds, and I don't have anyone to turn to for help or support.
My only sin is in my skin
The only thing that I have done wrong is being born with a certain skin color that causes me to suffer.
What did I do to be so black and blue?
Once again, I can't understand why my life has been so difficult and painful.
Tell me, what did I do?
I am desperate for an explanation for my suffering.
What did I do? What did I do?
I am continually asking the same question because I don't have an answer.
What did I do? Tell me, what did I do to be so black and blue?
Once again, I am asking for an explanation for my suffering because I can't understand why my life has been so difficult and painful.
What did I do to be so black and blue?
One final time, I am expressing my confusion and frustration over my life's difficulties.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abskwat2
Wild Bill just the same as always - volcanic, elemental; the rest of the band sounding as though they were born from the same earth. Fats would have been in heaven. What an entirely perfect track. It's a miracle. Julian Dent, Toronto
@Camberdown10
How come no comments. This is a great version. Love it
@karlchristianhansen2540
Ja, fantastisk godt!!