Eldridge was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His nickname was Little Jazz. Eldridge played in the bands of Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw before making records under his own name. He also played in Benny Goodman's and Count Basie's Orchestras, and co-led a band with Coleman Hawkins.
St. Louis Blues
Roy Eldridge Lyrics
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I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I love my man till the day I die
The song "St. Louis Blues" by Roy Eldridge is a poignant lament of a man who is deeply troubled because his loved one has left him. The first line of the song sets the tone for the rest of the song: "I hate to see that evening sun go down." The singer is upset because the end of the day reminds him that his loved one is gone. He goes on to say that if he feels the same way tomorrow, he will leave town and start fresh somewhere else.
The chorus of the song repeats the title phrase "St. Louis Blues," which is a reference to the sadness and heartbreak the singer is experiencing. He compares his lover to a woman from St. Louis who wears a diamond ring and controls her man. He implies that it was this controlling behavior that drove his lover away, leaving him with a heart as hard as a rock.
In the final verse of the song, the singer expresses his deep love for his departed partner, comparing it to how a schoolboy loves his pie and a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye. The lyrics suggest that though he is deeply hurt by his lover's departure, he will always love her until the day he dies.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down
I don't want the day to end
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
Because my love has left me and gone away
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If tomorrow is just as bad as today, I'll leave
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
I will pack up and leave this town for good
St. Louis woman with her diamond ring
A woman from St. Louis who is rich and powerful
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
The woman controls the man with her money and status
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
Without the woman's help, the man I love wouldn't have succeeded
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
I am very sad and depressed
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
The man I love is very hard-hearted and unfeeling
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
If he truly loved me, he wouldn't have left me behind
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
I love my man very much
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I love my man like a wealthy man loves his favorite drink
I love my man till the day I die
I will always love the man I love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC., Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Christopher Handy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind