My black name blues
Sonny Boy Williamson Lyrics


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Now, I can hear my black name a-ringin'
All up an' down the line
Now, an' I hear my black name a-ringin'
All up an' down the line
Now, I don't believe you love me
Woman, I believe I'm just drivin' away my time, now

Well now, I have this blues before sunrise
A-with tears standin' in my eyes, now
I have the blues before sunrise
Oooh, tears standin' in my eyes
Now that make me have such a funny feelin'
Man, a feelin' I'm do to sighin'

Now last night I was layin' down dreamin'
Oh, you know an' I was dreamin' all to myself
Now last night I was layin' down dreamin'
You know an' I was dreamin' all to myself
Now an' I was just thinkin' if my woman didn't love me
I hope she ain't in love with nobody else

Oh, you know I'm goin' back down in the country




You know, where old John is
Believe I'll go back in Alabama somewhere, you know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sonny Boy Williamson's "My Black Name Blues" addresses the pain and sorrows of being a black man in America. The phrase "my black name a-ringin'" implies that the artist is hearing negative connotations and judgment being attached to his race. He is aware that prejudice exists and is felt a little weighed down by the burden that comes with being a black man. The chorus line of the song addresses his self-doubt and his cynicism towards his lover, stating that he believes he is just wasting his time loving her.


In the second verse, the artist tells us that he has the blues before sunrise. It portrays a sad and lonely picture of the man, with tears in his eyes while feeling the pain of longing for his relationship to work. He says that the feeling he is experiencing is making him feel like he is "do to sighing," which implies that he is tired of the feeling that love has brought him. Then in the third verse, he is considering the possibility that perhaps his lover does not love him anymore, and he hopes that she is not in love with anyone else.


Line by Line Meaning

Now, I can hear my black name a-ringin'
I can hear my identity being called out, alluding to my black ethnicity


All up an' down the line
Everywhere I go, my black identity is announced or recognized


Now, an' I hear my black name a-ringin'
I am aware that people acknowledge or perceive me based on my black name


Now, I don't believe you love me
I doubt the existence of the love or affection that you claim for me


Woman, I believe I'm just drivin' away my time, now
I am of the opinion that I am wasting my time with you


Well now, I have this blues before sunrise
I am experiencing a melancholic mood before the start of a new day


A-with tears standin' in my eyes, now
My eyes are filled with tears, amplifying the sad emotion that I feel


Now that make me have such a funny feelin'
It induces a strange feeling in me


Man, a feelin' I'm do to sighin'
It makes me want to sigh


Now last night I was layin' down dreamin'
During the previous night, I was in a state of sleep, having a dream


Oh, you know an' I was dreamin' all to myself
I was privately indulging in a reverie or fantasy


Now an' I was just thinkin' if my woman didn't love me
My thoughts were of the possibility that my partner may not have feelings for me


I hope she ain't in love with nobody else
The ideal outcome for me is that she does not have affection for another person


Oh, you know I'm goin' back down in the country
I intend to return to the rural area


You know, where old John is
I plan on going back to the place where my acquaintance John is


Believe I'll go back in Alabama somewhere, you know
I am considering returning to Alabama, to an unspecified location




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIE WILLIAMSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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