What Happened To My Blues
Willie Dixon Lyrics


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What happened to my blues
I used to sing long time ago
What happened to my blues
I used to sing long time ago

Well I know somebody got them
Didn't wanna let them go
Somebody took my blues
They added a little beat
They called it Boogie-Woogie
Ah, looky down the street

What happened to my blues
I used to sing long time ago
Well I know somebody got them
They don't wanna let my blues go

Somebody took my blues
They say they had it sold
And now they call my blues
Some kind of Rock 'N' Roll

What happened to my blues
I used to sing long time ago




Well I know somebody got them
Oh They don't think I'm blue no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "What Happened to My Blues" by Willie Dixon are about the evolution of blues music over time. The song begins with Dixon expressing his lament over the fact that his blues have disappeared, and he wonders where they went. He then suggests that someone else must have taken them and added a new beat to them, calling it "Boogie-Woogie." He feels his blues have been altered and lost their authenticity. Dixon then goes on to say that someone else has claimed his blues and sold them as "Rock'n'Roll." Dixon's frustration is evident as he feels that his blues have been stripped of their original style and purpose.


The lyrics of this song are a commentary on how blues music was altered over time as it became more mainstream. Blues originated in the African-American communities of the Mississippi Delta over a century ago. It was a raw, emotionally charged form of music that expressed the struggle and pain of the people who created it. However, over time, blues music evolved and blended with other genres, such as jazz and rock'n'roll, losing much of its original character.


Line by Line Meaning

What happened to my blues
Willie Dixon is expressing his concern about the state of his blues.


I used to sing long time ago
The blues that Willie Dixon used to sing were lost in time.


Well I know somebody got them
Willie Dixon knows that his music was taken by someone.


Didn't wanna let them go
The person who took his music didn't want to give it back.


Somebody took my blues
Willie Dixon's music was taken by someone else.


They added a little beat
The person who took his music added a new sound to it.


They called it Boogie-Woogie
The person who took his music gave it a new name.


Ah, looky down the street
Willie Dixon saw the new music being performed down the street.


They say they had it sold
The person who took his music claimed to have sold it.


And now they call my blues
The person who took his music now refers to it as a different genre.


Some kind of Rock 'N' Roll
The new genre that his music was classified as is rock and roll.


Oh They don't think I'm blue no more
The people who took his music now think that he is no longer sad because of his new sound.




Writer(s): Willie Dixon

Contributed by Eli L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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