Throughout the years, and changing line-ups, the group maintained a strong fan-base among jazz fans of all ages.
Am I Blue?
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Lyrics
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Waiting on the weary shore
I'm just a woman who's only human
One you should feel sorry for
It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it, why should he do it
Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldn't you be too
If each plan with your man
Done fell through
There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one lonely
Was I gay, until today
Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue
The Dave Brubeck Quartet and Jimmy Rushing's song "Am I Blue?" is a poignant ballad that expresses the sadness and loneliness of a woman whose lover has left her. The lyrics describe the woman as a lonely figure waiting on the shore, someone to be pitied for her vulnerability and emotional state. The opening stanza establishes a sense of helplessness and isolation, as the woman declares herself to be just a woman, a human with emotions that have been pushed to their limit.
The second stanza reveals the reason for the woman's despair - her lover has left her without warning. She wonders why he would do such a thing, especially since he had never done it before. The chorus, "Am I blue?," repeats twice, emphasizing her hopelessness and vulnerability. The woman's tears speak for her, revealing the depth of her sadness.
The final stanza recounts the past, a time when the woman was happy and in love. Now that her lover is gone and her plans thwarted, all she is left with is loneliness and heartache. The repetition of "lonely" underscores her isolation, and the closing line, "Am I blue," reminds the listener of the woman's pain and sorrow.
Overall, the song is a sobering reminder of the fragility of love and the power of heartbreak to leave us feeling lost and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a woman, a lonely woman
I am a woman who is struggling with loneliness
Waiting on the weary shore
I am waiting for someone to come back to me, no matter how long it takes
I'm just a woman who's only human
I am only human and I have feelings which can be hurt
One you should feel sorry for
You should feel empathy and sympathy for me because of my situation
It was a morning, long before dawn
It was an early time of day when the sun had not yet risen
Without a warning I found he was gone
I did not receive any kind of notice or indication that he was leaving me, he just disappeared
How could he do it, why should he do it
I do not understand his actions and do not know the reasons behind them
He never done it before
This behavior is not something he has done in the past
Am I blue, am I blue
Can you see the sadness in my eyes?
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
Do you not see the evidence of my sadness, as displayed by my teary eyes?
How can you ask me am I blue
It's obvious that I am sad, as demonstrated by my tears
Why, wouldn't you be too
If you were in my shoes, wouldn't you be just as sad as I am?
If each plan with your man
If every future plan you had with your loved one
Done fell through
Has suddenly disintegrated and failed
There was a time
In the past when things were better
When I was his only one
When I was the most important person to him
But now I'm the sad and lonely one
Now I am the one who is unhappy and feels alone
Was I gay, until today
Was I happy and content until this day
Now he's gone, and we're through
Now that he is gone, our relationship is over
Am I blue
Asking if I appear sorrowful
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRANT CLARKE, HARRY AKST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind