Dust My Broom
blues.the-butcher-590213 with James Gadson Lyrics

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I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin'
I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin'
I believe I'll dust my broom

I quit the best girl I'm lovin'
Now my friends can get in my room

I'm gonna write a letter
Telephone every town I know
I'm gonna write a letter
Telephone every town I know

If I don't find her in Mississippi
She be in East Monroe I know

And I don't want no woman
Wants every downtown man she meets
No, I don't want no woman
Wants every downtown man she meets

Man, she's a no good
Honey
They shouldn't allow her on the street, yeah

I believe, I believe my time ain't long
I believe, I believe my time ain't long

I ain't gonna leave my baby
And break up my happy home

Overall Meaning

James Gadson's song "Dust My Broom" is a blues classic that talks about a man who is getting ready to leave town after quitting his lover. The opening line, "I'm gettin' up soon in the morning, I believe I'll dust my broom," indicates that he is about to leave the town for good. The phrase "dust my broom" is a symbol for leaving a place behind and starting anew.

The song talks about the man's plans to find his lost love by writing letters and telephoning all the towns he knows. He is determined to find her, and if he cannot find her in Mississippi, he knows she will be in East Monroe. The song also reveals that the man is not interested in a woman who wants every downtown man she meets. He criticizes her for being "no good" and suggests that she should not be allowed on the street.

The final verse of the song reveals that the man is not leaving just because he is unhappy with his lover, but because he does not want to break up his happy home. He believes that his time is limited and that he needs to make the best of it. The song's tempo and beat match the lyrics' intensity, making it a classic blues song.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin'
I will wake up early in the morning

I believe I'll dust my broom
I think I will leave town and move on

I quit the best girl I'm lovin'
I left behind the woman I love the most

Now my friends can get in my room
My former lover is no longer an obstacle for my friends to visit me

I'm gonna write a letter
I will send a message in writing

Telephone every town I know
I will call every place that I am familiar with

If I don't find her in Mississippi
In case I do not find her in Mississippi

She be in East Monroe I know
I am certain she will be in East Monroe

And I don't want no woman
I do not desire a woman

Wants every downtown man she meets
Who pursues any man she encounters

Man, she's a no good
She is not a good person