Doublewide Blues
Todd Snider Lyrics
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I got the blues, doublewide
V-neck t-shirt, with a mustard stain
Rollin' up a hose, outside in the rain
He's been my neighbor since seventy-nine
'Course he was in prison most of that time
His old lady works days and they fight most nights
Laid off and blown off, pissed off on booze
Doublewide blues
Metallica song blastin' out from two trailers down
It's them cut-off t-shirt numbchuck kids comin' around
Tonight they'll get drunk, try to get laid
End up in a fight out behind the arcade
You know one of them little shits broke my window last spring
I told his mama, she did't do anything
She works two jobs, he runs loose
Doublewide blues
Doublewide blues
I got the blues, doublewide
My buddy Jimmy, now his trailer's cool
He got him a deck with one of them blue plastic pools
Workin' construction, he builds speck homes
His old lady left him, now he's down there alone
My friend Anita, she loves him, but he don't know
He's so busy chasin' my neighbor's wife, Flo
Soap opera heaven without all the clues
Doublewide blues
Doublewide blues
I got the blues, doublewide
Wild Bill the manager he keeps to himself
The war took his smile like them pills took his health
Too old to run with the Klan anymore
US Flag hangin' outside his door
I sit here watchin' all this nothin' go on
I don't get out much now since mama's been gone
Sometimes it's nice, havin' nothin' to lose
Doublewide blues
Doublewide blues
I got the blues, doublewide
Take me home boys
I think I'm drunk
In Todd Snider's song Doublewide Blues, he sings about the lives of the people who reside in the trailer park. The singer, who seems to be observing the people around him, shares different stories about his neighbors. He starts with describing his neighbor who has not been the same since he was released from prison. The neighbor's wife works during the day and they fight most nights, and he spends most of his time drinking. The singer also talks about the kids from two trailers down who always have loud music blasting and cause trouble in the trailer park. He notes that one of the kids broke his window, but their mother did not take any action.
The second story he shares is about his friend Jimmy, who is also a resident of the trailer park. Jimmy's trailer is cool with a deck and a blue plastic pool. However, he became lonely after his wife left him. The singer also mentions his friend Anita, who loves Jimmy, but he is too busy chasing after a married woman, Flo. The last person he mentions is Wild Bill, who used to be part of the Ku Klux Klan but is too old to participate anymore, and he hangs the US flag outside his door.
The song paints a vivid and believable picture of life in a trailer park. It is easy to imagine the characters described in the song and the struggles they face on a daily basis.
Line by Line Meaning
Doublewide blues
The singer is expressing his despair about living in a doublewide trailer
I got the blues, doublewide
The singer is explaining that he feels unhappy and depressed because of living in a doublewide trailer
V-neck t-shirt, with a mustard stain
The singer is describing his unkempt appearance and poor living conditions in the trailer park
Rollin' up a hose, outside in the rain
The singer is doing a mundane task outside in the rain, which further emphasizes his lack of satisfaction with his life
He's been my neighbor since seventy-nine
The singer has lived next to his neighbor for a long time, which has made him aware of the dysfunction and troubles he sees around him
'Course he was in prison most of that time
The neighbor was in prison for a large amount of the time the singer has been living next to him, which may have contributed to his issues and behavior
Ever since then he just ain't been right
The neighbor's time in prison has affected him negatively, which is evident in his strange behavior
His old lady works days and they fight most nights
The neighbor's spouse works during the day and they argue frequently at night, which contributes to the overall disorder of the trailer park
Laid off and blown off, pissed off on booze
The neighbor has lost his job and is drinking heavily, which causes his behavior to worsen
Doublewide blues
A repetition of the song's title that reinforces the singer's unhappiness
Metallica song blastin' out from two trailers down
A Metallica song is playing loudly from a nearby trailer, which is disturbing and contributes to the overall chaos of the trailer park
It's them cut-off t-shirt numbchuck kids comin' around
Young people wearing cut-off t-shirts (indicating a lack of resources) are hanging about, causing mischief and trouble
Tonight they'll get drunk, try to get laid
The young people are planning to drink alcohol and engage in sexual activity, which is contributing to an unsavory vibe in the trailer park
End up in a fight out behind the arcade
The young people will probably get into a physical altercation, which is a common occurrence in the trailer park
You know one of them little shits broke my window last spring
One of the young people broke the singer's window in the past, which demonstrates that their behavior is damaging to the community
I told his mama, she did't do anything
The singer spoke to the mother of the young person, but she did nothing to help with the situation
She works two jobs, he runs loose
The mother is working two jobs, which may be contributing to the young person's behavior, as he is not being properly supervised
Doublewide blues
Another repetition of the song's title, indicating the ongoing sadness of the singer's situation
My buddy Jimmy, now his trailer's cool
The singer's friend Jimmy has a somewhat better trailer and lifestyle than the singer
He got him a deck with one of them blue plastic pools
Jimmy has a deck and a small swimming pool, which is a source of leisure and pleasure in his otherwise difficult life
Workin' construction, he builds speck homes
Jimmy works in the construction industry, building homes that are similar to the trailer park structures
His old lady left him, now he's down there alone
Jimmy's life has become worse since his partner left him, which demonstrates the issues and problems of the community
My friend Anita, she loves him, but he don't know
Anita, another friend of the singer, loves Jimmy, but she has not told him how she feels
He's so busy chasin' my neighbor's wife, Flo
Jimmy is preoccupied with pursuing the neighbor's spouse, which is complicating his already-chaotic life
Soap opera heaven without all the clues
Jimmy's love life and turmoil is like a soap opera, but none of the parties involved really know what they are doing
Doublewide blues
Another repetition of the song's title, which helps to emphasize the overall sadness and despair of the trailer park
Wild Bill the manager he keeps to himself
The manager of the trailer park, named Wild Bill, is reclusive and does not interact much with the community
The war took his smile like them pills took his health
Wild Bill appears to have been affected negatively by a past war, and he is also struggling with health issues related to pills
Too old to run with the Klan anymore
Wild Bill was once a member of the Ku Klux Klan, but he is now too old to participate in such activities
US Flag hangin' outside his door
Wild Bill is patriotic and has an American flag displayed outside his trailer
I sit here watchin' all this nothin' go on
The singer is observing the chaos and troubles of the trailer park from his vantage point in his own trailer
I don't get out much now since mama's been gone
The singer is not very active in the community and has isolated himself somewhat since the death of his mother
Sometimes it's nice, havin' nothin' to lose
Despite the overall negative aspects of the community, the singer sometimes feels a sense of freedom from having nothing to lose
Doublewide blues
The song ends with a repeat of the title, indicating the ongoing sadness and despair of life in the trailer park
I think I'm drunk
The singer admits to being drunk, which may be contributing to his negative feelings
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Todd Snider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas Raby
Having only recently discovered this guy I am WAY behind the times but he has so quickly become my favorite lyricist, bar none.
Chris Harp
I knew beer run, but just now realizing how amazing this guy is. Todd your awesome, keep it up brother, love ya !!!
Chuck Hall
This song has become my American anthem. It just fits me to a tee.😎🤗✌️❤️ Especially this version. Love ya Todd
Laurence Shone
Love the way Todd puts lyrics together and puts the songs across
Tabitha Lorraine Wolf
Great, funny, laid back, wonderfully raspy voice! Entertaining! Loved it...Wish I could see him live!
Terry Allard
Love those double wide blues. Todd has been here in Nashville for a long time. East side!
The first time I saw Todd, my wife and I walked into the Three Crow bar. And there he was. Bare feet and all,along with Will Kimbrough. What an evening. 😉👍
Keith Jones
he rocked it in the 90's. But, he still rocks it!!! The new Jerry Jeff
Robert King
May not be the best songwriter in the world but puts on one of the best one man show I've ever seen...guess he's just a hippie like me..thanks for the show
Keto-cheatO
Todd a natural..
Picks his guitar like I can pick my nose.
I really dig it. Hope to see ya this Sunday dammit. I'm in a low spot n need lifted.
Milo Kramer
One of the best singers in his class. And funny as hell!