Chris Masterson and
Ele… Read Full Bio ↴The Dukes are Steve Earle's backing band:
Chris Masterson and
Eleanor Whitmore (aka The Mastersons),
[artists]Ricky Ray Jackson,
Jeff Hill,
Brad Pemberton
While makeup of The Dukes is fluid, SteveEarle.net lists recent members including Eric Ambel, Kelly Looney, and Will Rigby. Past members include such luminaries as Buddy Miller, Norman Blake, Mark Stuart, sister Stacey Earle, and the artist's son Justin Townes Earle.
My Old Man
Steve Earle & The Dukes Lyrics
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I should have known that you would come along
I can't believe I ever doubted you
My old friend the blues
Another lonely night, a nameless town
If sleep don't take me first, you'll come around
I know I can always count on you
My old friend the blues
Lovers leave and friends will let you down
But you're the only sure thing that I've found
No matter what I do I'll never lose
My old friend the blues
Lovers leave and friends will let you down
But you're the only sure thing that I've found
No matter what I do I'll never lose
My old friend the blues
Just let me hide my weary heart in you
My old friend the blues
The lyrics of Steve Earle's "My Old Friend The Blues" portray a heart-wrenching story of a man who finds solace in his only constant companion - the blues. The song opens with the singer's hopeless state, implying that he has reached rock bottom before his only friend, the blues, comes to his rescue. Despite his doubts, he eventually acknowledges that he can always count on the blues to be there for him, unlike the fleeting love of others. The line "Another lonely night, a nameless town, If sleep don't take me first, you'll come around" is particularly poignant as it speaks of his loneliness and how the blues is the only constant companion he can count on without fail.
The chorus is repetitive, emphasizing the consistency and reliability of the blues, the singer's only source of comfort. The lyrics highlight the transience of human relationships, yet highlight the enduring nature of the blues. The last verse, "Just let me hide my weary heart in you, My old friend the blues," is a cathartic release for the singer. He finds rest in his only known friend, his melancholic companion of the blues. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of despair, hope, and resignation that is deeply affecting and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when every ray of hope was gone
When I was completely hopeless and felt like I had no one to turn to, you appeared.
I should have known that you would come along
It was foolish of me to doubt that you'll show up when I needed you.
I can't believe I ever doubted you
I regret that I ever had doubts about you since you never let me down.
My old friend the blues
This phrase refers to the state of sadness that the singer is in, that he has been in before, and that he knows he'll be in again. A state of melancholy the singer knows and is quite familiar with.
Another lonely night, a nameless town
The singer is in a place where he doesn't know anybody, a place he doesn't seem to have any connection to, and he's lonely.
If sleep don't take me first, you'll come around
The singer doesn't feel like he'll fall asleep soon, but he knows that eventually, his old friend the blues will come to him.
I know I can always count on you
Regardless of how low the singer finds himself, he knows his old friend the blues will always be there for him.
Lovers leave and friends will let you down
People in the singer's life have let him down, but his old friend the blues never has.
But you're the only sure thing that I've found
The singer knows that his state of sadness, his old friend the blues, is the only thing that he can depend on.
No matter what I do I'll never lose
Whether he wants it or not, the singer knows that his old friend the blues will always be with him, even when he tries to forget about it.
Just let me hide my weary heart in you
The singer is so tired and drained from the hardships that he just wants to immerse himself in his blues.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shirlee Paul
on It's All Up To You
awesome song..