Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, is one of the best-known … Read Full Bio ↴Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, is one of the best-known and respected Christian rock bands in the history of Contemporary Christian music. It was based out of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago, Illinois, and most of its members continue to be part of that community to this day.

Led by the husband-and-wife team of Glenn and Wendi Kaiser, the band has been the preeminent example of how to evangelize using Christian rock, but the quality musicianship of Resurrection Band has also been a driving force in the development of the Christian music industry at large. Glenn Kaiser also has an established solo career as a blues musican and is also a well-known speaker on various spiritual issues to youth and adults.

Official website: http://www.resurrectionband.com/

Child Of The Blues
Resurrection Band Lyrics

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Oh, I grew up in a welfare state where the winters were cold and the cheques came late,
With hand-me-down clothes and a hole in my heart, it seemed nothing could fill a child of the blues.

Mamma was lonely, she left us at night,
She said, "You be good, and lock door tight,"
But I couldn't sleep for wondering if she would return...'cause sometimes you lose.

Mama was crying when the sheriff came in, like being on welfare is some kind of sin,

All of our things tossed out in the street,
Wish I knew what to do, but it ain't no use.

They said that we're lazy, ignorant poor,
We get there too late, they lock up the door,
The shelter is warm, but it sure ain't no home,
Is this paying your dues?
Child of the blues.

Oh, I grew up in a welfare state where the winters were cold and the cheques came late,
With hand-me-down clothes and a hole in my heart, it seemed nothing could fill the child of the blues.

Overall Meaning

These lyrics to Resurrection Band's "Child Of The Blues" paint a picture of a difficult and heart-wrenching childhood in a welfare state. The opening lines set the tone for the song, describing the harsh realities of growing up poor in a cold climate where survival is a daily struggle. The image of hand-me-down clothes highlights the poverty and lack of resources that characterizes the singer's life. The line "it seemed nothing could fill a child of the blues" speaks to the feeling of emptiness and hopelessness that can come from a life of poverty and hardship.

The absence of the singer's mother is a recurring theme throughout the song. She leaves at night, telling the singer to be good and lock the door tight. This abandonment only adds to the singer's already overwhelming feelings of loneliness and isolation. The uncertainty around her return creates an undercurrent of anxiety throughout the song. The reference to "sometimes you lose" highlights the fact that life is often unfair and unpredictable, especially for those in poverty.

The lyrics also address the stigma and judgement that often comes with being poor and on welfare. The reference to the sheriff coming in and our possessions being tossed out in the street highlights the lack of dignity and respect that is often experienced by those living in poverty. The lines "they said that we're lazy, ignorant poor" speak to the stereotypes and assumptions that are often made about those struggling to make ends meet. The final line, "Child of the blues" serves as a powerful reminder that poverty is not a choice and that those who experience it deserve compassion and understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I grew up in a welfare state where the winters were cold and the cheques came late,
I was raised in a state where the government provides us with financial assistance, but it's not enough. It's hard to survive during the cold winter months, and the welfare checks don't come on time.

With hand-me-down clothes and a hole in my heart, it seemed nothing could fill a child of the blues.
I had to wear second-hand clothes, and I felt very lonely and sad, and nothing could make me feel happy or complete.

Mamma was lonely, she left us at night,
My mother was lonely, and sometimes she would leave us at night.

She said, "You be good, and lock door tight,"
Before she left, she told us to behave and to lock the doors securely.

But I couldn't sleep for wondering if she would return... 'cause sometimes you lose.
I couldn't sleep because I worried if my mother would come back, but sometimes, things don't turn out the way we want them to.

Mama was crying when the sheriff came in, like being on welfare is some kind of sin,
When the sheriff arrived, my mother was crying because people treated us badly for being on welfare, as if we had done something wrong.

All of our things tossed out in the street,
All our belongings were thrown out onto the street.

Wish I knew what to do, but it ain't no use.
I wished I could have done something to prevent it from happening, but it was inevitable.

They said that we're lazy, ignorant poor,
People called us lazy and ignorant because we were poor.

We get there too late, they lock up the door,
When we arrived, it was already too late, and the doors were locked, leaving us with nowhere to go.

The shelter is warm, but it sure ain't no home,
The shelter may be warm, but it doesn't feel like home.

Is this paying your dues?
Is this the price we have to pay for being born into poverty?

Child of the blues.
I am someone who has grown up in difficult circumstances, feeling sad and lonely, like a child of the blues.

Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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