☝️ Key Points
- B.B. King talks about his personal experiences and why he sings the blues.
- He describes his tough past as a slave and the difficult living conditions he had to endure.
- He criticizes the injustices in society, such as the lack of educational opportunities for his child.
- B.B. King sees the blues as an expression of his emotions and not something to be ashamed of.
- Despite all the challenges, he is proud of his musical achievements and enjoys singing the blues.
Interpretation
In the lyrics of the song 'Why I Sing the Blues' by
B.B. King, he talks about why he sings the blues. He explains that he has been singing the blues for a long time and that he has worked hard for it. He tells that he was brought as a slave on a ship and that he endured harsh treatment and abuse. He has lived in a miserable apartment and had to coexist with rats, bedbugs, and cockroaches. He also talks about his struggle for a better life, when he was in the line for public housing and heard that there wasn't enough space for everyone. B.B. King complains that his child doesn't have enough educational opportunities and that society has told him that he is destined to fail. Through all these experiences, he has developed the blues and he loves to sing it. He doesn't consider it something to be ashamed of, but as an expression of his feelings. B.B. King also describes how he walks through the cities and sees the harsh realities of life. He talks about his age and how he has to face the truth about his appearance through the mirror. At the end of the lyrics, he sings about a blind man who is thrown in prison for a crime and about his own experiences with the social system. Despite everything, he is proud of his musical achievements and is happy to have the opportunity to sing the blues.