Blind Willie McTell
Statesboro Blues Lyrics
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Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
Have you got the nerve to drive Papa McTell from your door
My mother died and left me reckless
My daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
Mother died and left me reckless
Daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
No, I'm not good lookin'
I'm some sweet woman's Angel child
You're a mighty mean woman, to do me this a way
You're a mighty mean woman, to do me this a way
When I leave this town, pretty mama, I'm going away to stay
While I loved a woman, better than even I'd ever seen
I once loved a woman, better than even I'd ever seen
Treat me like I was a king and she was a doggone queen
Sister, tell your brother, brother tell your auntie now
Auntie tell your uncle, uncle tell my cousin now, cousin tell my friend
Goin' up the country, mama, don't you want to go?
May take me a fair brown, may take me one or two more
Big Eighty left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop
You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot
You can reach over in the corner mama and hand me my travelin' shoes
You know by that, I've got them Statesboro blues
Mama, sister got 'em, auntie got 'em
Brother got 'em, friend got 'em, I got 'em
Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues
I looked over in the corner, grandpa and grandma had 'em too
The song Blind Willie McTell by Statesboro Blues narrates the story of a man dealing with his mother's death and feeling reckless after his father's passing. He pleads to his mother in the first stanza, asking her to have the courage to drive away "Papa McTell" from her door. The second stanza speaks of his misfortunes in love and his feeling of inadequacy when it comes to physical appearance. He sings of a woman who once treated him like a king, but he had to leave her and move on. In the following stanza, he laments the cruelty of his woman, who has done him wrong, but he plans to leave town and never return.
The song then transitions to a more upbeat rhythm, and the singer talks about traveling on the Big Eighty train from Savannah, and the excitement of the journey. He informs his sister, brother, auntie, uncle, cousin, and friends about his plans to go up the country and invites them to join him. The song ends with the singer noticing that even his grandparents have the blues, and they are all dealing with the Statesboro Blues.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
Asking someone to reduce the light and maintain a calm environment
Have you got the nerve to drive Papa McTell from your door
Asking someone to forgive and forget a past mistake
My mother died and left me reckless
Lost loved ones at an early age, causing emotional instability
My daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
Lost loved ones at an early age, causing emotional instability
No, I'm not good lookin'
Humility in oneself
I'm some sweet woman's Angel child
Feeling loved and secure by someone special
You're a mighty mean woman, to do me this a way
Feeling offended and hurt by someone's actions
When I leave this town, pretty mama, I'm going away to stay
Deciding to leave a place because of something hurtful or unpleasant
While I loved a woman, better than even I'd ever seen
Having intense and deep emotions for someone
Treat me like I was a king and she was a doggone queen
Being truly in love and adored by someone special
Sister, tell your brother, brother tell your auntie now
A message of ripple effect, pass it on
Auntie tell your uncle, uncle tell my cousin now, cousin tell my friend
A message of ripple effect, pass it on
Goin' up the country, mama, don't you want to go?
Inviting someone to come with me and experience something different
May take me a fair brown, may take me one or two more
Deciding to take someone special along for the experience
Big Eighty left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop
A train trip that didn't stop and kept going
You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot
A descriptive sentence about a fireman working hard
You can reach over in the corner mama and hand me my travelin' shoes
Getting ready to travel
You know by that, I've got them Statesboro blues
Feeling the emotional burden of a situation
Mama, sister got 'em, auntie got 'em
Others are also having emotional burdens
Brother got 'em, friend got 'em, I got 'em
Others are also having emotional burdens
Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues
Feeling the emotional burden of a situation first thing in the morning
I looked over in the corner, grandpa and grandma had 'em too
Others who are older and wiser are also having emotional burdens
Contributed by Violet V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-ku9jl3ix3x
Just imagine England in the late fifties when records like this were coveted by the music loving youth. Young musicians who would go on to be The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, (I could go on and on) All because of Blind Willie McTell and all the other greats of Blues music.
@Raiwons
I made this video with photographs, greetings https://youtu.be/nreDuwqBx-w
@jeremyreagan9085
As a blind musician myself I got to say he was gifted on that 12 guitar we shall never hear another like him that is for certain!
@ElliottJamal
How are you typing if your blind
@jeremyreagan9085
@@ElliottJamal Technology even allows us the blind to join in the conversation. Be glad it has advanced enough to target us all from drones miles in the sky. Is not life grand?
@renh9858
@@jeremyreagan9085Power to you brother!
The gift of sight is delivered via the eyes.... But, the gift of true vision comes from the mind, heart and the soul!
✌🏽🙏🏽👍🏽
@jeremyreagan9085
I depise how stupid the non disabled are. We have learned nothing from the T4 Program. I have no hope for humanity.
@rubenskiii
I am from the Netherlands and the year is 2024 but thanks to the internet and the uploader of this music i am able to appreciate this man’s great voice. Thanks!
Warm greetings from the Netherlands🇳🇱.
@michaelvance1118
Makes my spine tingle! This is real country music,in it's truest form!
@MrWinklbauer
Like country blues