Nine Below Zero
Sonny Boy Williamson Lyrics


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Yeah, ain't that a pity
People ain't that a cryin' shame
Ain't that a pity
I declare it's a cryin' shame
She wait till it got nine below zero
And put me down for another man

I give her all my money
All of my lovin' and everything
All of my money
All of my lovin' and everything
It done got nine below zero
And she done put me down for another man

Nine below zero
The little girl she done put me down
Nine below zero
The little girl she done put me down




She know I don't have nowhere to stay
And I don't have not one dime

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sonny Boy Williamson's song "Nine Below Zero" convey a sense of heartbreak and betrayal. The repeated phrase "ain't that a pity" and "cryin' shame" suggests that the singer is feeling sorry for himself and is lamenting his situation. He reveals that his lover, the "little girl," has left him for another man, and he is left with nothing, not even a place to stay or a dime in his pocket. The reference to the temperature being nine below zero adds to the sense of desperation and hopelessness that the singer is feeling.


The lyrics also reveal that the singer had given his lover everything he had, his money, and his love, and yet she still left him. The use of repetition in the lyrics, both in the phrases "all of my money" and "nine below zero," emphasizes the singer's desperation and isolation. The lyrics suggest that the singer is at a low point in his life, and that he feels like he has nothing left to give.


Overall, "Nine Below Zero" is a song that conveys a deep sense of heartbreak and desperation. The singer is left alone and destitute, his love and his money gone, and he is left to face the bitter cold alone. The repeated phrases in the lyrics emphasize his desperation, and the use of the temperature adds to the sense of isolation and hopelessness that the singer is feeling.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, ain't that a pity
An expression of disappointment or regret about a situation


People ain't that a cryin' shame
It's sad how people behave in certain situations


Ain't that a pity
Repeating the expression of disappointment or regret


I declare it's a cryin' shame
Strong assertion that the situation is very upsetting


She wait till it got nine below zero
Referring to a woman who waited until it was very cold outside to do something


And put me down for another man
Betrayed by the woman who chose to be with someone else


I give her all my money
He gave her all of his money


All of my lovin' and everything
He gave her all his love and everything he had


All of my money
Repeating that he gave her all his money


All of my lovin' and everything
Repeating that he gave her everything he had


It done got nine below zero
Repeating that it became very cold outside


And she done put me down for another man
Repeating that she betrayed him by being with someone else


Nine below zero
Repeating the extremely cold temperature


The little girl she done put me down
Referring to the woman who betrayed him


Nine below zero
Repeating the cold temperature again


The little girl she done put me down
Repeating that the woman betrayed him


She know I don't have nowhere to stay
The woman knew he had nowhere to go


And I don't have not one dime
He has no money or resources




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

2quundar

To me , band's work is the most important event of this tune. Just brillant, and that good taste!

blondbear confederete

never get's old , love it till the day i die !!!

Sifu Richard

Now this is real blues at its finest!

MrJamson007

Es un encanto, una magia, una hipnosis...me atrapa esta melodía.

SINISTER RP

Sonny boy was amazing love this version of nine below zero

paleologue

This was the original version. Sonny Boy put it out around 1951, on the old Trumpet label.

Fred Simmons

Love this song right here.

clifford adams

The ultimate harp player
Living proof that America has spawned wonderful musicians

2quundar

Sure, but among the best, think first about The Walters (Little and Big), James Cotton etc etc and the one and only one John Lee "Sonny Boy"Williamson , if you know what I mean...

ElisonJackson

American has produced some of the best, there's plenty of proof of this

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