Broken Wings
john mayall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody broke your wings - beat 'em down, beat 'em down,
And then, and then, and then and die.
And the love I have to give,
I'll be givin' you in years of my life.
Somebody is to blame - can't you see I love you so,
Somebody is to blame - can't you see,
Can't you see I love you so.
And the love I had to give,
I'll be givin' you in years of my life
Somebody is to blame - can't you see, - that I love you so.
Oh, oh,! oh baby I love you, yeah, whyi love you so.
Somebody is to blame - can't you see,
Can't you see I love you
Ahhh baby I love you.
And the love I had to give,
I'll be givin' in years of my life.
Yeah, I'll be givin' you inyears.
Ahhh!!
Yeah
The lyrics to John Mayall's song "Broken Wings" tell the story of a little bird whose wings have been broken by somebody. The bird is unable to fly as a result and is metaphorically represented as being helpless and vulnerable. The singer empathizes with the bird and offers to give all the love he has in the years of his life to help it heal. The song speaks to the idea of love being a healing force that can mend a broken heart.
The chorus of the song, "Somebody broke your wings, beat 'em down, beat 'em down, and then, and then, and then, and die" suggests that the person who caused harm to the little bird deserves to suffer the same fate of harm and death. This implies a sense of justice and karmic retribution for the person who caused harm. The singer also cannot understand why someone would cause harm to such an innocent creature, which adds an emotional depth to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody broke your wings - little bird, - you can't fly.
Someone caused you harm and now you are unable to soar and explore the world around you.
Somebody broke your wings - beat 'em down, beat 'em down, And then, and then, and then and die.
You were beaten down so much that you feel like giving up and dying because of the pain inflicted on you.
And the love I have to give, I'll be givin' you in years of my life.
I am willing to devote a significant portion of my life to love and care for you deeply as compensation for your pain and suffering.
Somebody is to blame - can't you see I love you so, I love you so, ahhh, - god almighty, - how I love you.
I want you to realize that I love you very deeply, and someone should be held responsible for causing you harm and distress.
Somebody is to blame - can't you see, Can't you see I love you so.
I am frustrated that you cannot see the depth of my love for you and the person who caused you pain should be held responsible.
Somebody is to blame - can't you see, - that I love you so. Oh, oh,! oh baby I love you, yeah, whyi love you so. Somebody is to blame - can't you see, Can't you see I love you Ahhh baby I love you.
I want you to understand that the person who caused you harm is responsible for your pain, and I love you with all my being.
And the love I had to give, I'll be givin' in years of my life. Yeah, I'll be givin' you inyears. Ahhh!! Yeah
I pledge to spend a significant portion of my life showering you with love and care to make up for the pain caused to you in the past years.
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Major Snagg
Hi M Goodwin (Mike ?) This has long been a favourite of mine from John Mayall. I nearly wore that 'Blues Alone' album out (LP record back in the day).
Well, here's what I've always assumed the lyrics to be. Some of the lyrics aren't as you think, due to Johns extended vocal vibrato on certain words ie: paying and years.
You’ll be paying..... years.... of your life.
I hope this helps. By the way it's in Bbmin. I prefer to play it in Dmin. It's a much easier key for adding a Peter Green style guitar solo to it. Remember, plenty of reverb for the Greeny solo. :)
Broken Wings … John Mayall (The Blues Alone LP)
Somebody broke your wings . . . little bird you can't fly.
Somebody hurt you bad . . . beaten down and left cry,
And the price you’ll have to pay ,
You’ll be paying, years of your life.
Somebody is to blame, can't you see . . . I’m feeling sad
Somebody got away, and it makes . . . me feel sad
And the price you'll have to pay
You’ll be paying . . . years of your life.
solo verse.
Somebody gotta help you . . . I believe I love you so.
Somebody’s gonna touch you . . . I don’t believe I’ll let you go.
And the love I have to give,
I'll Be givin', . . . years of my life.
And the love I have to give,
I'll be givin', years of my life.
TheJosharmonics
Somebody broke your wings, little bird, you can't fly..
Somebody hurt you bad, beaten down - and left to cry...
And the price you have to pay, you'll be paying in years of your life....
Somebody is to blame, can't you see her feeling sad?
Somebody got away, and it makes me feel sad.
And the price you have to pay, you'll be paying in years of your life..
Somebody gotta help you.. I believe, I love you so..
Somebody's gonna touch you, I don't believe I'll let you go..
And the love I'll have to give, I'll be giving in years of my life...
And the love i have to give, I'll be giving in years of my life..
Göran Lindh
Somebody Broke Your Wings - Little Bird, - You Can't Fly.
Somebody Broke Your Wings - Beat 'Em Down, Beat 'Em Down,
And Then, And Then, And Then And Die.
And The Love I Have To Give,
I'll Be Givin' You In Years Of My Life.
Somebody Is To Blame - Can't You See I Love You So,
I Love You So, Ahhh, - God Almighty, - How I Love You.
Somebody Is To Blame - Can't You See,
Can't You See I Love You So.
And The Love I Had To Give,
I'll Be Givin' You In Years Of My Life
Somebody Is To Blame - Can't You See, - That I Love You
So.
Oh, Oh,! Oh Baby I Love You, Yeah, WhyI Love You So.
Somebody Is To Blame - Can't You See,
Can't You See I Love You
Ahhh Baby I Love You.
And The Love I Had To Give,
I'll Be Givin' In Years Of My Life.
Yeah, I'll Be Givin' You InYears.
Ahhh!!
Yeah
opie winston
wrong lyrics man :Somebody broke your wings - little bird, - you can't fly
Somebody hurt you bad, beaten down and left to cry
And the price you have to pay, you'll be paying in years of your life
Somebody is to blame -can't you see I'm feeling sad
Somebody got away, and it makes me feel so bad
And the price you have to pay, you'll be paying in years of your life
Somebody's got to help you, I believe I love you so
Somebody's gonna touch you, I don't believe I'll let you go
And the love I have to give, I'll be giving in years of my life
And the love I have to give
I'll be giving in years of my life
Oakleaf700
Somebody broke your wings, little bird, you can't fly..
somebody hurt you bad, beaten down -and left to cry...
and the price you have to pay, you'll be paying years of your life....
somebody is to blame, can't you see her feeling sad?
somebody got away with it, and it makes me feel sad.
and the price you have to pay, you'll be paying years of your life..
somebody gotta help you..
I believe, i love you so.. somebody's gonna touch you,
I don't believe I'll let you go..
and the love I'll have to give, I'll be giving years of my life...
and the love i have to give, I'll be giving years of my life..
M Godwin
All the lyrics I have found on the web seem wrong to me; this is what I make of it:
Keyboard Intro
Somebody Broke Your Wings, little bird you can't fly.
Somebody hurt you babe, beat 'em down And cry,
And the price you’ll have to pay
You’ll be paying all the years of your life.
Somebody Is To Blame - can't you see the thing you say,
Somebody got away and it made me just feel sad
And the price you’ll have to pay
You’ll be paying all the years of your life.
Keyboard solo
Somebody Gotta Help You, I believe you can’t help yourself.
Somebody’s Gonna Touch You, I don’t believe that you know.
And The Love I Have To Give,
I'll Be Givin' all the Years Of My Life.
And The Love I Had To Give, Yeah
I'll Be Givin' In Years Of My Life.
rundoetx
John Mayall influenced the entire music scene in England during the Sixties. Thus, changing music history forever. He's still doing it today! Truly a legend.
steven grant
This track so resonated with me in the late 60's that I carry it with me to this day. To be there for another is to truly exist.
Johns Siroid
Sounds just as good as it did 52 years ago.
circlecloud11
Hauntingly beautiful. Simple as that.
jason mcclelland
Still such a killer song!
Dirk Alck
Feel and love this song, my favorite all the time
Roger O'Sullivan
I bought this on "The Blues Alone" album for 12/6 old money on vinyl over 50 years ago (still have it!) Still sounds great, thanks for posting.
Jack Hopkins
Lost mine somewhere. Wish I still had it - Top Ten of all time.
Chris Harrison
I bought mine really cheap in about 1970 at a chemist shop in Ryde NSW Australia. Still have it and on CD. Great song from a great album by a very great blues man I have seen twice (only 😞) out here.
Ragnar Kristoffersen
One of my absolute blues favourites!