On a Monday
Ry Cooder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(D) - (A) - (C) - (E)
(D) On a Monday, I was are (A) rested
On a Tuesday, I was locked up in (D) jail
On a Wednesday, my trial was at (A) tested
On a Thursday, nobody would go my (D) bail
(D) Al (C) most (A) done, I'm almost (E) done, (D) al (C) most (A) done
Take these stripes, stripes from around my shoulder
Take these chains, these chains from around my legs
Lord, these stripes, it sure don't worry me
But these chains, these chain's gonna kill me dead
Yes, I'm almost done, almost done, almost done
And I ain't gonna bring them yellow women no pail
On Friday, my baby went a-walking
On a Saturday, she locked me outa the door
On a Sunday, we were sitting down a-talking
On a Monday, she pawned all of my clothes
The lyrics to Ry Cooder's song "On a Monday" are actually a variation on an old folk song by Lead Belly called "Good Morning Blues". The song is a blues lament about a man who, through a series of unfortunate events, finds himself in jail with no one to help him out. Each verse represents a day of the week and a different twist in the man's fortunes. On Monday, he's rested and feeling good. By Tuesday, he's locked up. On Wednesday, he's on trial, and on Thursday, no one will help him out. In the chorus, he sings that he's almost done and won't be bringing any yellow women (who might try to take advantage of him) a pail.
The second half of the song focuses on the man's feelings about his chains and stripes. He doesn't mind the stripes (or marks of shame) on his shoulder, but the chains around his legs are weighing him down and causing him worry. He reprises the chorus, expressing his weariness and his desire to be free of his troubles.
The song speaks to the human experience of feeling trapped by circumstance and longing for freedom. As a blues song, it also highlights the African American experience of being discriminated against and persecuted by the justice system. The song is a reminder of the power of music to express the deepest emotions and connect us with our shared struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
On a Monday, I was are rested
I was feeling good and relaxed on a Monday
On a Tuesday, I was locked up in jail
The very next day, I was arrested and put in jail
On a Wednesday, my trial was at tested
On the third day, my trial was being questioned and evaluated
On a Thursday, nobody would go my bail
By the fourth day, no one was willing to pay the money required for my release
Almost done, I'm almost done, almost done
And I ain't gonna bring them yellow women no pail
I'm getting closer to the end of my life, and I won't be doing any more hard labor for them
Take these stripes, stripes from around my shoulder
Take these chains, these chains from around my legs
Lord, these stripes, it sure don't worry me
But these chains, these chain's gonna kill me dead
I don't mind losing my military honors, but these chains around my legs will be the death of me
On Friday, my baby went a-walking
On a Saturday, she locked me outa the door
On a Sunday, we were sitting down a-talking
On a Monday, she pawned all of my clothes
My lover left the house on Friday, kicked me out on Saturday, and then we had a conversation on Sunday before she finally sold all my clothes on Monday
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HUDDIE LEDBETTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind