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]
Now That I'm Down
Son Seals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was the talk of the town
But now I′m broke and raggely
And they don't even want me around
Bad, bad, boy
How your friends can let you down
You know I think I′ll pack my rags
And move on to some other town
Now when I had money, all of the party was all on me
You know I'm made everybody high, now
And we'd all ride around in my brand new Mark III
I said it′s bad, boy, and, Lord, you know I don′t even have a dime
And when I try to call or see one of my friends, Lord, they say
"Son, I just don't have the time"
My baby walked up to me one day and she said
"Son, you know this is all"
"′Cause all your money's gone
And you know I love to ball"
And I just couldn′t believe it, now, Lord
The words that my baby said
You know all I could do then, ha
Was walk by and shake my head
Now I'm doing all right
And I′m on my feet again
And I don't need nobody to help me
To drink up my whiskey, wine and gin
And I don't need you, woman
Always running up in my face
′Cause I done found somebody better, woman
Someone else to take your place
So you go right ahead, woman
Go right on with your so-called friends
Because I′ll never, woman, no
Let you get me back down again now
The lyrics of Son Seals's blues song "Now That I'm Down" describe the singer's experience of losing his wealth and social standing. He laments that when he had money, he was the center of attention, but now that he is broke and raggedy, no one wants to be around him. He reflects on how fickle his friends were and how they let him down when he needed them the most. He decides to leave his current town and start anew somewhere else.
In the second verse, the singer remembers how his money used to buy him and his friends good times. He had a brand new car and could afford to throw parties for all his friends. However, he is now broke and can't even get his friends to return his calls. His girlfriend also breaks up with him, citing his lack of money as the reason. The singer seems to be in disbelief that his friends and girlfriend have abandoned him so easily.
In the final verse, the singer sounds like he's picked himself up and is doing better. He doesn't need anyone else to help him drink his alcohol, and he's found someone new to take his ex-girlfriend's place. He mocks his ex-girlfriend and tells her to go ahead and hang out with her friends because he won't let her bring him down again.
Overall, the lyrics of "Now That I'm Down" are a poignant portrayal of the effects of losing wealth and social status. The song highlights the fickleness of human relationships and the need to be self-reliant when times get tough.
Line by Line Meaning
When I had money
Back when I had plenty of cash
I was the talk of the town
I was popular and everyone wanted to be around me
But now I'm broke and raggedy
But now that I'm poor and in shabby clothes
And they don't even want me around
People don't want to be around me anymore
Bad, bad, boy
I haven't been a good person
How your friends can let you down
It's disappointing how my friends have turned their backs on me
You know I think I'll pack my rags
I'm thinking about leaving town
And move on to some other town
And finding a new place to live
Now when I had money, all of the party was all on me
When I had a lot of money, everyone would party with me and enjoy my company
You know I'm made everybody high, now
I would buy drugs for everyone
And we'd all ride around in my brand new Mark III
And we would all enjoy riding around in my expensive car
I said it's bad, boy, and, Lord, you know I don't even have a dime
It's tough now, and I don't even have any money
And when I try to call or see one of my friends, Lord, they say
When I try to contact my friends, they give me excuses
"Son, I just don't have the time"
"Sorry, I'm too busy to talk to you"
My baby walked up to me one day and she said
My girlfriend confronted me and said
"Son, you know this is all"
"This is the truth"
"'Cause all your money's gone
"Because you don't have any money left"
And you know I love to ball"
And you know I love to have fun and spend money
And I just couldn't believe it, now, Lord
I was in disbelief, God
The words that my baby said
What my girlfriend said to me hurt
You know all I could do then, ha
All I could do was
Was walk by and shake my head
Walk away and shake my head in disappointment
Now I'm doing all right
Now, I'm doing okay
And I'm on my feet again
And I can support myself again
And I don't need nobody to help me
And I don't need anyone to support me
To drink up my whiskey, wine and gin
To drink with me
And I don't need you, woman
And I don't need you, my ex-girlfriend
Always running up in my face
Always confronting me and being a nuisance
'Cause I done found somebody better, woman
Because I found someone better than you
Someone else to take your place
Someone else to be my girlfriend
So you go right ahead, woman
So you go ahead with your life, my ex-girlfriend
Go right on with your so-called friends
Continue hanging out with your friends
Because I'll never, woman, no
Because I'll never let
Let you get me back down again now
You bring me back down to where I was before
Writer(s): Frank Seals
Contributed by Anthony L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alphasixfive1658
Totally Underrated !
@dalesamuels8667
I saw him at the Sarasota Blues Festival in '02, way under rated
@man4145
Beautiful. Really hits the soul
@leedee4968
🎉
@benjaminhuggins3934
ART WORK
@Mr007Fred
Gracias por este blues , no lo había escuchado , una gran pieza !!!
@ripdbtpoo1441
Andrew Vachss saw him and told him he was "the ace". Read "Dead and Gone".
@grosper
Great!