Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2010-10-05
- Album Name: The Best of Lead Belly
Song Meaning (Interpretation) of “The Bourgeois Blues” by Lead Belly
The Bourgeois Blues by Lead Belly speaks to hardship and oppression faced by the poor and working classes during the early 20th century. The opening line “I got them bourgeois blues” serves as a metaphor for the struggle and stress that working people had to face. The bluesy guitar and harmonica instill a sense of struggle, frustration, and sadness. Throughout the song, Lead Belly speaks to a number of topics from unjust wages, to the discrimination they faced and the burden of living in poverty. With a chorus of “it’s a low down, dirty shame”, Lead Belly conveys the desperation of the situation of the poor during this era and how their plight seemed to go unrecognized. The song serves as a reminder of the history of oppression and exploitation and the need for justice and equity.