I Am a Man Of Constant Sorrow
The Soggy Bottoms Boys Lyrics


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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

"I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" is a folk traditional song that was recorded by The Soggy Bottom Boys, which is a fictional band in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Both the movie and the soundtrack that features the song were hugely successful and brought interest in roots music to mainstream audiences.


The lyrics of "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" tell the story of a man who has experienced a lot of hardship and trouble throughout his life. He is bidding farewell to his home in Kentucky, where he was born and raised, as he has no choice but to continue to wander through life. He admits that he has no friends to help him and that the pleasures of life have eluded him for six long years. He has also resigned himself to the fact that he may not see his old lover again, as he is bound to ride a northern railroad to his unknown fate.


The last stanza is the only one that offers a glimmer of hope. Even though he may be viewed as a stranger to his former friends, he promises that he'll reunite with his old lover on God's golden shore, thus suggesting that he may find redemption and solace in the afterlife.


Line by Line Meaning

I am a man of constant sorrow
I have been through a lot of difficulties in my life


I've seen trouble all my day
I have faced troubles throughout my life


I bid farewell to old Kentucky
I am leaving the place where I was born and raised


The place where I was born and raised
The place where I spent my childhood days


For six long years I've been in trouble
I have been in a difficult situation for six long years


No pleasures here on earth I found
I have not found any enjoyment in my life


For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I am destined to wander around in this world


I have no friends to help me now
I am all alone and do not have any friends to support me


It's fare thee well my old lover
I am saying goodbye to my old love


I never expect to see you again
I do not think I will see you again


For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
I have to travel on the northern railroad


Perhaps I'll die upon this train
I might not survive this journey


You can bury me in some deep valley
When I die, bury me in a deep valley


For many years where I may lay
I will be there for many years


Then you may learn to love another
After I am gone, you may find love elsewhere


While I am sleeping in my grave
While my body is buried in my grave


Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
Your friends may not know me or understand our relationship


My face, you'll never see no more
You will not see my face again


But there is one promise that is given
There is one thing that I promise


I'll meet you on God's golden shore
We will meet again in heaven




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Traditional, John Allen, Scott Mills, Victor Carrera

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@michaal105

Would you consider yourself to be a good person?
How many lies have you told, and what do you call someone who lies? Have you ever stolen something, and what do you call someone who steals? Have you ever taken God’s name in vain (very serious; in Old Testament times, the Jews wouldn’t even say the name of God for fear of blasphemy) – even ‘OMG’? One more: Jesus said whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart; have you ever looked with lust?

Well I’m not judging you – but if you’ve done these things then you’re a liar, thief, blasphemer and adulterer-at-heart; that’s how seriously God takes sin. He is Holy (perfectly good/righteous and separate from sin) which means that H e is perfect in justice – and if He were to judge you by the moral law (we’ve already looked at 4 commandments) would you be innocent or guilty? Heaven or Hell? The answer is hell – the wrath of God upon you for your sin. Is that concerning?

But fortunately, God’s will is not that you perish. He wants all men everywhere to be saved. So do you know what He did for us guilty sinners? In self-giving mercy, He sent His Son Jesus Christ. He lived the perfect life that we should have lived – tempted at all points and yet He NEVER sinned. Through His life, being in very nature God, He revealed God to men; but we in our hatred condemned Him to death. On that cross as Jesus suffered, He took on the sin of the world and was judged in our place; receiving God’s wrath. You and I broke God’s law, but Jesus paid the fine. God can justly forgive us.

On that cross He died, then He was buried, but 3 days later He was raised from the dead – conquering death and Hell and ushering in The Kingdom of God. He then ascended to the right hand of God the Father (where He came from) now Lord of the living and the dead. God has fixed a date when He will judge the world in righteousness. What you need to do is repent (In humility, acknowledge your sin before God and turn to a relationship with Him) and trust ALONE in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross; and God will grant you the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then be baptised.

When you place your trust in Jesus – the Lord and Saviour – these things will happen:
1) God will forgive the sins that you have committed; they were paid for by Jesus at the cross.
2) The perfect life that Jesus lived will be credited to you. He will find you holy and blameless on judgement day (and now), as Christ’s righteousness covers you.
3) You receive a place in Christ’s kingdom as an adopted child of God. God becomes your Father. Eternal life isn’t just about living forever, but a personal relationship with God Himself. That life can start now; The Father will reveal Himself to you if you seek Him.
4) God doesn’t just save you from the penalty of your sin (Hell). He can save you from the power of sin itself. Whoever practices sin is a slave of sin; but when you repent and believe the gospel [WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED] the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you and sanctify you (working in you to further abandon sin and turn to the will of God). When the end of the age comes, and eternity begins, this work will be brought to completion as you are finally freed from the presence of sin.

Jesus offers to take away your sin and to give you His righteousness; you must receive it by faith. Choose this day if you will align with the world, or with Jesus and His kingdom – only His is eternal.

ROMANS 10:9 – If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.



@georgelaconga1493

I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my days
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 pleasure 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 true 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
And you may learn to love another
Whilst 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 never will see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore



@davidabuashvili3158

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



All comments from YouTube:

@Bast-hs5sz

"I have no friends to help me now"

several backup singers "HE HAS NO FRIIIIENDS-"

@cubai5740

Here hear!

@WritteninAsh

Lol watching that now and was like aren’t they kind of your friends?

@trevordrexler5652

Lol you've never been in a band.

@Bast-hs5sz

@@trevordrexler5652 o-okay? what about it?

@Guy.WhoAsked

@@Bast-hs5sz your bandmates aren't your friends.

15 More Replies...

@bklyntraveler9705

My grandmother heard this song for the first time when she was visiting to see my newborn daughter. She was 91 at the time, and she got up and started dancing! She lived to be 104 - this is one memory I will have forever.

@mtsanonymous

That's Beautiful.

@aarde7036

Lovely, wish I saw that

@markknight6490

Priceless

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