Drifting Blues
Ray Charles Lyrics


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Whoa, I'm so lonesome baby, now
I am in a travelin' mood, yes I am
Whoa, I'm so lonesome now now, honey
I tell ya I am in a travelin' mood, um hm

Guess I'll have to hop a freight to California
'Cause I've got the travelin' blues, yes I have
Sometime I feel like walkin', now now
Well I have no walkin' shoes, no, no
Well, sometime I feel like walkin', now now
I tell you I got no walkin' shoes, do you believe me

That's why I've got to hop a freight to California
'Cause I've got the travelin' blues, um hm

'Cause I keep drifting and drifting
Like a ship out on the sea
I keep drifting and drifting, now
Like a ship out on the sea, well
You see I ain't got no, nobody
In this world to care for me

If my baby, if my baby
Would only take me back again
Oh now if my baby now
Uh, would only take me back again
Well I may not be good for nothing, baby
But you see I haven't got no friends

Play it, son

I'll give you all my money, now
Tell me what more can I do, I want to know
(Just give some more, just give some more, just give some more)
I'll give you all my money, little girl
Tell me what more can I do, I've got to know
(Just give some more, just give some more, just give some more)
Well you may be a good little girl sometime
But you just won't be true

Bye-bye baby, now
Baby, bye-bye bye-bye
(Bye baby, bye-bye baby)
Bye-bye baby, now
Baby, bye-bye bye-bye
(Bye baby, bye-bye baby)

Well it's too late to worry, I want you to know




I said, oh, it's too late to cry
(Cry, cry, cry, no more)

Overall Meaning

The song "Drifting Blues" by Ray Charles is about a man who is feeling extremely lonely and restless, and he feels like he needs to travel to California to escape his current situation. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get there, even if it means hopping a freight train. The man talks about how he feels like he's drifting without direction, like a ship out at sea, and he doesn't have anyone in this world to care for him. The lyrics suggest that the man has recently broken up with his lover, and he's hoping that she will take him back. He's willing to give her all his money and do whatever it takes to prove his love for her.


Line by Line Meaning

Whoa, I'm so lonesome baby, now
I'm feeling very lonely at the moment


I am in a travelin' mood, yes I am
I have a desire to travel


Guess I'll have to hop a freight to California
I'll have to catch a freight train to California


'Cause I've got the travelin' blues, yes I have
Because I'm feeling sad and I believe traveling might help


Sometime I feel like walkin', now now
Sometimes I feel like walking


Well I have no walkin' shoes, no, no
I don't have shoes for walking


I tell you I got no walkin' shoes, do you believe me
Trust me when I say that I have no shoes for walking


'Cause I keep drifting and drifting
Because I keep wandering aimlessly


Like a ship out on the sea, well
Just like a ship on the sea


You see I ain't got no, nobody
I don't have anyone


In this world to care for me
There is no one in the world who cares about me


If my baby, if my baby
If my partner, if my partner


Would only take me back again
Would only take me back


Well I may not be good for nothing, baby
I may not be useful for anything, baby


But you see I haven't got no friends
But I don't have any friends either


I'll give you all my money, now
I'll give you all my money right now


Tell me what more can I do, I want to know
Let me know what else can I do because I'm willing to do anything


Well you may be a good little girl sometime
You may be a good girl sometimes


But you just won't be true
But you're just not trustworthy


Bye-bye baby, now
Goodbye baby, now


Baby, bye-bye bye-bye
Hey, baby, bye-bye, bye-bye


Well it's too late to worry, I want you to know
It's too late to be worried, I want you to know


I said, oh, it's too late to cry
I said, oh, it's too late to cry




Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, KIM GANNON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Marsha Johnson

Ray's version is so SOULFUL.

Neal Luczkiewicz

I have loved this song since I first heard it in the early 70's. I found it for sale in vinyl in a discount record bin at a Woolworth's in upstate New York, and knew I had a treasure. The color of this tune is wistfulness, regret, lonliness that is somehow handled and held in the bosom of the blues. The vocal and the piano are very strong and expressive. At the end of the statement, the hero throws up his hands, but remains strong, standing till the last note.

concorde9615

Doesn't get much better. This is Sunday evening whiskey sippin blues.

Thomas Garbe

now, how has whiskey sipping turned out?

Bernardo Medina

One of Ray's Best Performances!

omukaede gonsu

I love it.

Dimitar Barachkov

Amazing!

Willman Musicman

great version!

Ant Medcalf

Iv'e had his album since it came out trouble is I can't play it as no player, so at last found it on here Ray is really carried away as he sings it I gets you right there!!!

Electric Church Music

Lovely !!!

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