San Francisco Bay Blues
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
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Left me down by the Frisco Bay, yeah yeah
An ocean liner came and took her away, yeah yeah
I didn't mean to treat her bad
She was the best friend I ever had
She said goodbye, she made me cry
She made me wanna lay down my head and die
She don't come back I think I'm gonna lose my mind
If she ever comes back to stay, she's gonna be another brand new day
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay hey hey hey
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay
Well I'm sittin' down on my back porch
I don't know which way to go
The girl that I was so crazy about she don't love me anymore
Think I'm gonna catch a freight train, cause I'm feelin' blue
Gonna ride it to the end of the line, thinkin' only of you
Ain't got a nickel and I ain't got a lousy dime
She don't come back I think I'm gonna lose my mind
If she ever comes back to stay, she's gonna be another brand new day
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay hey hey hey
Walkin' with my baby down beside the San Francisco Bay
Hey, ain't got a nickel and I ain't got a lousy dime
You know if she don't come back I think I'm gonna lose my mind
Well, if she ever comes back to stay, it's gonna be another brand new day
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay hey hey hey
Walkin' with my baby down beside the San Francisco Bay
Walkin' with my baby, by the Frisco Bay
The lyrics to Peter, Paul & Mary's song "San Francisco Bay Blues" tell the story of a man who has been left heartbroken after his girlfriend has left him for an ocean liner. He is left with nothing but his blues and his thoughts, mourning their lost relationship. He reminisces about how she was the best friend he ever had and how he never meant to treat her badly. The man is so consumed with grief that he is considering catching a freight train, hoping that the journey will take him out of his sadness and back to her. Despite the pain he is experiencing, he still longs for her to return so that they can continue their walks down by the San Francisco Bay.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes his emotional and financial pain. He doesn't have a penny to his name, and he feels like he's going to lose his mind if she doesn't come back to him. He is consumed by the thought that she might never return, but he hopes that if she does, it will be a brand new day.
The song is a classic example of the blues in the folk tradition, with its focus on lost love, hardship, and poverty. It was written by Jesse Fuller, a blues musician who performed in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s and 1960s. The song gained renewed popularity in the 1960s when it was covered by Janis Joplin and other folk and rock musicians. "San Francisco Bay Blues" remains a beloved song, known for its catchy melody and evocative lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I got those blues where my baby Left me down by the Frisco Bay, yeah yeah
I am feeling extremely depressed because my loved one has left me by the San Francisco Bay.
An ocean liner came and took her away, yeah yeah
An ocean liner took my loved one away from me.
I didn't mean to treat her bad She was the best friend I ever had
I didn't mean to mistreat my loved one, she was always the best friend I ever had.
She said goodbye, she made me cry She made me wanna lay down my head and die
Her goodbye made me feel so sad and helpless that I felt like giving up on life.
Ain't got a nickel and I ain't got a lousy dime
I am completely broke and have no money to my name.
She don't come back I think I'm gonna lose my mind
If my loved one does not return, I might become insane due to the overwhelming sadness.
If she ever comes back to stay, she's gonna be another brand new day
If my loved one returns and decides to stay with me, it will bring a new day and a fresh start for us.
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay hey hey hey
Walking with my loved one by the San Francisco Bay would be a wonderful experience.
Well I'm sittin' down on my back porch I don't know which way to go
I am sitting on my porch, feeling lost and not knowing which direction to take in life without my loved one.
The girl that I was so crazy about she don't love me anymore
The girl I was deeply in love with, no longer loves me.
Think I'm gonna catch a freight train, cause I'm feelin' blue
I am feeling so down that I am contemplating catching a freight train to escape my sadness.
Gonna ride it to the end of the line, thinkin' only of you
I will ride the freight train to the end of the line, thinking only of my loved one.
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay
Walking with my loved one by the San Francisco Bay would be a magical experience.
Hey, ain't got a nickel and I ain't got a lousy dime
I am completely broke and have no money at all.
You know if she don't come back I think I'm gonna lose my mind
If my loved one never returns, I might go insane due to the sadness.
Walkin' with my baby by the San Francisco Bay hey hey hey
Walking with my loved one by the San Francisco Bay would be a dream come true.
Walkin' with my baby down beside the San Francisco Bay
Strolling with my loved one by the San Francisco Bay would be a perfect moment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JESSE FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stewart Webb
Love them. My elder brothers left their albums laying around after they left home..I found them and adored them..Puff is a great song. But they did so much more..
David Anthony Stone
I saw them as a teenager in the mid 60’s and all the way into 2006. Great live performers
Jeff318
Peter, Paul and Mary were the best. Great voices, funny comments. Play their live albums and you will have the best feel for their music.
David Anthony Stone
I saw them as a 12 year old at Carnegie Hall and for the next 40 years. Wonderful energy from that harmony. Miss them
Dan Peck
Absolutely beautiful song
820hurleyj
That brings back a whole lot of memories.
João Manguino
That's fantastic! Wow! Wish I found that earlier.
Matthew Bomster
Good Stuff! First concert I ever saw, PP&M at the Yale Bowl, opening act was The Checkmates! Sometime mid-60s.
Wilkins Micawber
Was that really 56 years ago? Where has my life gone? I was all of 19 when this was recorded. I’m getting melancholic. It’s been a good life though.
Bob Turano
This was when music felt real....acoustic no bullshit... greenwich village beat....yowza