He was born in 1942 in Osceola, Arkansas where his father, Jim "Son" Seals, owned a small club. He began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer and later as a guitarist. In 1959, he formed his own band which performed locally and he also toured with Albert King.[1]
In 1971, he moved to Chicago. His career took off after he was discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the Flamingo Club in Chicago's South Side. His debut, Son Seals, was released in 1973. The album included "Your Love Is Like a Cancer" and "Hot Sauce". Seals followed up with 1976's Midnight Son and 1978's Live and Burning. He continued releasing albums throughout the next two decades. He received the W.C. Handy Award, an honor for best blues recording of the year, in 1985, 1987, and 2001.
Author Andrew Vachss was a friend of Seals, and used his influence to promote Seals' music. Vachss gave Seals several cameo appearances in his novels[2] and co-wrote songs with him for his 2000 album, Lettin' Go.[3] Vachss dedicated the novel Mask Market to Seals' memory.[4]
Son had a host of troubles to deal with over his life. He survived all but one of his 14 siblings; he himself was shot twice in the face by his ex-wife, which required extensive surgeries. One of his legs was amputated, due to complications from diabetes. He lost belongings in a fire that destroyed his home while he was away performing live, and several of his prize guitars were stolen from his home. [5]
The band Phish performed Son's song "Funky Bitch" throughout their career and brought him on stage on multiple occasions, turning a whole new generation on to his music.
Seals died from complications of diabetes; he was survived by his sister and fourteen children.[6]
Can't Hear Nothing But The Blues
Son Seals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, what a beautiful memory of them
My father used to sing a sweet love song
Mother would sing that soul for him
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
And Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues
I know I can't dig the sweet melody
I'm blue and all alone
I wonder what in a hell is wrong with me
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues
Mister Bartender
I want you to play the jukebox for me
I want you to take my last dime
And put it on BB, Ray or me
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues
In "I Can't Hear Nothing But the Blues," Son Seals shares his struggle to connect with anything other than the blues. He begins by reminiscing about his parents, both of whom were musical. His father sang love songs, while his mother sang soulful tunes for him. But Son doesn't seem to have inherited their musical tastes, as he admits to feeling detached from other genres of music. In fact, he can't even appreciate the song of a beautiful bird in the trees because he's so enshrouded in the blues.
Throughout the song, Son seems resigned to his mood, as if he knows that he'll never feel the joy or contentment that other people experience while listening to different types of music. His request to the bartender to play the jukebox for him and to put the last of his money on BB, Ray, or himself is a poignant reflection of his desperation to find some relief from his blues-embedded existence.
Overall, "I Can't Hear Nothing But the Blues" is a powerful declaration of Son Seals's emotional state, as well as a reminder that music can be both unifying and divisive, connecting some and separating others.
Line by Line Meaning
My father and mother were great people
I have fond memories of my wonderful parents.
Oh, what a beautiful memory of them
The memories of my parents are so beautiful.
My father used to sing a sweet love song
My father used to sing lovely songs about love.
Mother would sing that soul for him
My mother would sing soulful songs to him.
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
I believe I have a different emotional state from others.
And Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues
I can only hear blues music, and I cannot hear anything else.
A beautiful bird whispering down through the trees
A pretty bird singing a sweet tune through the trees.
I know I can't dig the sweet melody
I cannot enjoy the beautiful melody because of my current emotional state.
I'm blue and all alone
I am sad and lonely.
I wonder what in a hell is wrong with me
I am wondering what could be the cause of my sadness and loneliness.
Mister Bartender
I am addressing the bartender.
I want you to play the jukebox for me
I request the bartender to play some music for me.
I want you to take my last dime
I am willing to spend my last money on this.
And put it on BB, Ray or me
I want the bartender to use the money to play music from either BB King, Ray Charles or me.
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
I believe I am a unique individual with different emotions from others.
Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues
I can only hear blues music, and I cannot hear anything else.
Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Enrique Aldanondo
Mi padre y mi madre eran grandes personas.
Oh, qué hermoso recuerdo de ellos.
Mi padre solía cantar una dulce canción de amor.
Madre cantaría esa alma por él.
Supongo que solo soy un chico con un humor diferente
Y Señor, oh, no puedo oír nada más que los azules.
Un hermoso pájaro susurrando a través de los árboles.
Sé que no puedo cavar la dulce melodía
Estoy melancólico y solo
Me pregunto qué diablos está mal conmigo.
Supongo que solo soy un chico con un humor diferente
Señor, oh, no puedo escuchar nada más que los azules.
Instrumental.
Señor barman
Quiero que toques la gramola por mi
Quiero que te lleves mi ultimo centavo
Y ponlo en BB, Ray o Yo.
Supongo que solo soy un chico con un humor diferente
Señor, oh, no puedo escuchar nada más que los blues.
_____________________________________________________
My father and mother were great people
Oh, what a beautiful memory of them
My father used to sing a sweet love song
Mother would sing that soul for him.
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
And Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues.
A beautiful bird whispering down through the trees
I know I can't dig the sweet melody
I'm blue and all alone
I wonder what in a hell is wrong with me.
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues.
Instrumental.
Mister Bartender
I want you to play the jukebox for me
I want you to take my last dime
And put it on BB, Ray or me.
I guess I'm just a guy with a different mood
Lord, oh, I can't hear nothing but the blues.
Robert Freiberger
Saw Son a few times at Chicago Blues in NYC in the 90’s. Good lord, what a powerhouse singer and player. Gone far too soon. Rest In Peace and Power, Son
Jeanette McClintick
I saw him in Chicago in the mid-90's in a fairly small blues bar. Practically knocked me off my feet. I could feel the music in my chest. Great backing band with horns.
Patricia Kimbrell
Great Blues 💙Love the Music of Son Seals 💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙
Artem Korobockin
Отличный Блюз , эти дудки , этот шикарный фон !!! 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 !!! И ничего не поделаешь , Это Исполнение , просто : " Ох - ххуителььнооо ! ".
scottpatricknow
One of my favorite Blues men. I always go back to his music. I wish I could have seen him live.
Owen Gilmore
I regret that I never got to see and hear Son when he was alive. God damn, he gets you right in the heart. thanks for posting this.
LastViking1066
How fortunate we are to live in modern times. Even a couple of hundred years ago, when great artists like this passed their work was gone forever. Now they can live on in video and audio still showing their talents.
Gattoman
I discovered this guy through a woman I met on Freecycle. She had the privilege of filming him play at the local Zoo Bar back in the day. I never really like this kind of music, until Life Is Hard, and I'm Gonna Take It All Back. I will never forget how smooth these tunes slid into my ear for the first time. I seriously almost cried, really put some things into perspective. Damn great man, damn great.
Don Hensley
One of my favorite blues songs. Since the only time I'd ever heard it was when Albert King played it, I had thought he wrote. Five Star Blues, for sure!
Sharon Walthew
I miss Son so much. I still cry when I listen to his singing, especially this great album.