Lewis was born in DeQuincy, Louisiana, U.S., with the given name of Overton Amos Lemons.
He began to play music in New Orleans, in his mid-teens. Lewis had hit songs in 1952 with "The Bells Are Ringing", and in 1955 with the original recorded version of "I Hear You Knocking" (written by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King).
Lewis' own song "Blue Monday" was covered by Fats Domino. Whilst Elvis Presley's cover of the Lewis song "One Night" (altering one risque lyric) was #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on UK Singles Chart.
Dave Edmunds' cover of "I Hear You Knocking" also reached number one in the UK. His version of the song lyric actually name checks Lewis (alongside Chuck Berry and Huey Smith).
Lewis' track "Shame, Shame, Shame" appeared on the soundtrack of the film, Baby Doll in 1956, but failed to find entry to the R&B chart.
Lewis died in the autumn of 1966 from stomach cancer. He was all but forgotten outside of his New Orleans home base.
Blue Monday
Smiley Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got me workin' like a slave all day
Here comes Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday
I'm so tired, I've got no time to play
Here comes Wednesday, I'm beat to my socks
My girl calls, got tell her I'm not out
Oh Thursday is a hard-workin' day
And Friday I'll get my pay
Saturday morning, oh Saturday morning
All my tired has gone away
Got my money and my honey
And I'm out on the stands to play
Sunday morning my head is bad
But it's worth it, all the times that I had
But I've got to get my rest
For Monday is a mess
Saturday morning
Oh Saturday morning
All my tired has gone away
Got my money and my honey
And I'm out on the stands to play
Sunday morning my head is bad
But it's worth it, for the times I had
But I've got to get my rest
'Cause Monday is a mess
The lyrics to Smiley Lewis's song "Blue Monday" lament the drudgery and exhaustion of the work-week, the bliss of the weekend, and the inevitable return to the daily grind. The song is a take on the classic blues theme of the tough, grinding blues. The singer hates Monday because of the work that it brings with it. He is worked like a slave throughout the week and only gets to enjoy social activities when the weekend comes around. The weekday blues make him so tired that he has no time for leisure time. Wednesday is particularly difficult, and he only gets some relief on Saturday morning when he has his money and girlfriend by his side.
The song portrays the struggles of the working-class and the cyclical nature of their lives. While the weekend brings freedom and respite from the daily grind, the harsh reality of Monday always looms over the horizon. The song is a commentary on the monotony and despair of the modern workforce, and how people yearn for the weekend when they can finally let loose and have some fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue Monday, how I hate blue Monday
I despise the start of the workweek, which is difficult to get motivated for
Got me workin' like a slave all day
Being forced to work like an indentured servant throughout the entire day
Here comes Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday
Tuesday is just as rigorous and exhausting as Monday
I'm so tired, I've got no time to play
The intense fatigue also constrains leisure and recreation time
Here comes Wednesday, I'm beat to my socks
Exhaustion continues even mid-week, to the point of physical weariness
My girl calls, got tell her I'm not out
Unable to maintain social commitments due to overwhelming exhaustion
Oh Thursday is a hard-workin' day
The onerous labor persists through Thursday too
And Friday I'll get my pay
However, the weekly paycheck provides some solace for the labor ordeal
Saturday morning, oh Saturday morning
After enduring the entire week, Saturday morning brings relief
All my tired has gone away
The fatigue has dissipated, leading to a new sense of energy
Got my money and my honey
Having earned income and having a significant other to enjoy leisure with
And I'm out on the stands to play
Taking the opportunity to indulge in recreational activities
Sunday morning my head is bad
However, overzealous partying on Saturday night leads to a headache on Sunday morning
But it's worth it, for the times I had
Regardless of the mild suffering, the fun and memories are worth it
But I've got to get my rest
Still, it's important to recuperate and recharge for the coming week
'Cause Monday is a mess
Being the beginning of a new workweek, Monday is inevitably overwhelming and difficult
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dave Bartholomew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kees Van Baaren
Raw R&B at his best.π
The legendary Smiley Lewisπ
Fercris Hart
Bartholomew's studio bands were incredible, the drumming on this track is phenomenal.
Three Dot Records
The snare sounds phenomenal! Thanks for posting :)
azdoowop
You can hear the early sounds of RnR & Rhythm & Blues all over this. The raw sounds of the early 50s, the roots of RnR, are the best.
northlight1908
Released January 1954. Very popular in many local R&B markets from February to June 1954, according to Cash Box magazine. That's Smiley with the guitar solo at 1:34.
Steven Wells
Written by Dave Bartholomew. By the time Fats Domino recorded the song he ( Fats ) was listed as co-writer.
Dejael Long
That's real R&B!
Darryl C Preston
While not taking anything away from Smiley; I've always thought that the Herb Hardesty sax break in Fats' version made a big difference.
Darrian Mitchell
Ironic because Fats Domino plays piano on this, then had his hit with it two years later
Chuck Powell
I'm interested in this. Where did you find that information? I'd like to confirm that it was FD instead of someone like Huey Smith who played on "I Hear You Knockin' ". I can't find any record of the session musicians with a basic Google search.