I Am a Man Of Constant Sorrow
Steve Ivey Lyrics


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() In constant sorrow through his days
I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my day.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised.
() The place where he was born and raised
For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasures here on earth I found
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now.
() He has no friends to help him now
It's fare thee well my old lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train.
() Perhaps he'll die upon this train.
You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave.
() While he is sleeping in his grave.
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you'll never see no more.
But there is one promise that is given




I'll meet you on God's golden shore.
() He'll meet you on God's golden shore

Overall Meaning

The song "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" by Steve Ivey is a mournful ballad sung from the perspective of a man who has seen a lot of trouble in his life. The opening line, "In constant sorrow through his days" sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer singing about how he has seen trouble all his life, and that he has found no pleasure in his time here on earth. He bids farewell to his old Kentucky home, the place where he was born and raised, and laments that he has no friends to help him now that he is in trouble. The singer speaks of his old lover, and how he never expects to see her again, as he is bound to ride the northern railroad, possibly to his own death.


The lyrics of "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" evoke powerful emotions of sadness, longing, and hopelessness as the singer seems resigned to his fate. The imagery of being buried in a deep valley for many years, while his lover moves on and learns to love another, is a heartbreaking depiction of the singer's acceptance of his own mortality. However, the final line of the song provides a glimmer of hope, as the singer promises to meet his lover on God's golden shore.


Line by Line Meaning

In constant sorrow through his days
He is constantly troubled and sorrowful every day.


I am a man of constant sorrow
He is someone who is always in trouble and sorrowful.


I've seen trouble all my day.
He has experienced trouble throughout his life.


I bid farewell to old Kentucky
He is saying goodbye to the place where he was born and raised, Kentucky.


The place where I was born and raised.
He is referring to Kentucky as the place where he was born and raised.


For six long years I've been in trouble
He has been in trouble for six years.


No pleasures here on earth I found
He has not found any joy or pleasure in life.


For in this world I'm bound to ramble
He is destined to wander aimlessly through life.


I have no friends to help me now.
He currently has no friends who can assist him.


It's fare thee well my old lover
He is saying goodbye to his former lover.


I never expect to see you again
He believes he will never see his former lover again.


For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
He is destined to ride the northern railroad.


Perhaps I'll die upon this train.
He speculates that he may die while on this train.


You can bury me in some deep valley
He wants to be buried in a deep valley.


For many years where I may lay
He will lay in that valley for many years.


Then you may learn to love another
He hopes his former lover will eventually move on and love someone else.


While I am sleeping in my grave.
He will be dead and buried while his former lover moves on.


Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
His former lover's friends may consider him a stranger.


My face you'll never see no more.
He believes his former lover will never see his face again.


But there is one promise that is given
There is a promise that has been made to him.


I'll meet you on God's golden shore.
He will reunite with his former lover on God's golden shore.




Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@jasoncabral1981

Solid version of a great song. I'm having the library get Steve Ivey's Bluegrass favorites on CD.

@hollywidmark6136

I really love this song so much I actually play this song in my dad's truck!

@kibacurtis

In constant sorrow through his days I am a man of constant sorrow I've seen trouble all my day.

I bid farewell to old Kentucky The place where I was born and raised. () The place where he was born and raised For six long years I've been in trouble No pleasures here on earth I found For in this world I'm bound to ramble I have no friends to help me now. () He has no friends to help him now It's fare thee well my old lover I never expect to see you again For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad Perhaps I'll die upon this train. () Perhaps he'll die upon this train. You can bury me in some deep valley For many years where I may lay Then you may learn to love another While I am sleeping in my grave. () While he is sleeping in his grave. Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger My face you'll never see no more. But there is one promise that is given I'll meet you on God's golden shore. () He'll meet you on God's golden shore

@mistikay

Awesome video, Very well put together. MIchelle

@kentist92

Great song

@leraymond777

Thank you for sharing this.

@gospelgirl1964

Thanks...I'm working on one now....

@gospelgirl1964

Thanks...been to Wisconsin a few times.

@gospelgirl1964

Thanks Sunset...Others seem to think so, I guess

@gunnarbiker

Hot damn, it's not the Soggy Bottom Boys! HA

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