Rory Block (born as 'Aurora Block', November 6, 1949) is an American female… Read Full Bio ↴Rory Block (born as 'Aurora Block', November 6, 1949) is an American female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country blues style.

Rory Block was born in Princeton, New Jersey and grew up in Manhattan. Her father, Allan Block, ran a sandal shop in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the constant presence of members of the Greenwich Village folk music scene made an impression on the young girl, who studied classical guitar. Around age 14, she began to be fascinated by old Mississippi Delta blues, listening to old albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis and Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians; then she moved to California where she played in clubs and coffeehouses.

After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the music business in the 1970s with middling success until signing with Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many Robert Johnson covers. Block has won four W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998), and two for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999).

Come On In My Kitchen
Rory Block Lyrics

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You better come on
In my kitchen
Well, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
A woman I know
Took my best friend
Some joker got lucky
Stole her back again
He better come on

In my kitchen
It's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
Well she's gone
I know she won't come back
I took the last nickel
Out of her nation sack
You better come on
In my kitchen
Well, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

Yeah can't you hear that wind how;?
You can hear it now

You better come on
In my kitchen
'Cause it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

Oh when a woman gets in trouble
Everybody throws her down
Lookin' for a good friend
But none cane be found

You better come on

In my kitchen
Babe it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

Overall Meaning

Rory Block's song Come On In My Kitchen is a blues classic originally written by Robert Johnson in 1936. The song begins with a plea for someone to come inside the kitchen, away from the cold and rain, implying that the kitchen is a safe and warm place, a metaphor for love and companionship. The next verse reveals that the singer's friend was taken by a woman he knew and then stolen back by someone else. The singer is left brokenhearted and alone, having taken the woman's last penny. The third verse stresses the urgency of the plea to come into the kitchen, as the wind howls outside.

The song highlights the theme of betrayal by those who are supposed to be friends, as well as the harsh reality of being alone and without support, especially for women in distress. The kitchen symbolizes protection, warmth, and camaraderie, which is a sharp contrast to the difficult and cruel outside world. The lyrics reflect the underlying theme of blues music, which is pain, sufferings, and the human condition.

Overall, the song portrays the harsh reality of life and the importance of finding solace and support in others during difficult times, rather than facing the world alone.

Line by Line Meaning

You better come on
I implore you to visit my house

In my kitchen
Come into my home and discuss your problems with me

Well, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
A storm is coming which symbolizes hard times

A woman I know
I have a female friend

Took my best friend
She took the person who was closest to me

Some joker got lucky
An unknown person has taken her away

Stole her back again
He has taken her away before and done so again

He better come on
He should come and seek shelter with me

Well she's gone
My friend has left me

I know she won't come back
I am certain that she will not return

I took the last nickel
I have taken all her money