The Weary Blues - A poem by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes - The Weary Blues

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
     I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light
     He did a lazy sway . . .
     He did a lazy sway . . .
To the tune o' those Weary Blues.
With his ebony hands on each ivory key
He made that poor piano moan with melody.
     O Blues!
Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
     Sweet Blues!
Coming from a black man's soul.
     O Blues!
In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--
     "Ain't got nobody in all this world,
       Ain't got nobody but ma self.
       I's gwine to quit ma frownin'
       And put ma troubles on the shelf."

Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
He played a few chords then he sang some more--
     "I got the Weary Blues
       And I can't be satisfied.
       Got the Weary Blues
       And can't be satisfied--
       I ain't happy no mo'
       And I wish that I had died."
And far into the night he crooned that tune.
The stars went out and so did the moon.
The singer stopped playing and went to bed
While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.

Added: on October 7th, 2007 at 6:10 PM | Viewed: 35660 times | Comments and analysis of The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes Comments (20)

The Weary Blues - Comments and Information
Poet: Langston Hughes Poem: The Weary Blues Comment 20 of 20, added on March 21st, 2008 at 1:19 PM. I really like how Hughes seems to make his poem flow like a blues song. I feel as if the pianist himself shows not just black people but great musicians themselves, a musicians heart and sole is in his instrument, and when one isn't playing it they are really nothing, just normal. Jake from United States Comment 19 of 20, added on December 6th, 2007 at 2:57 PM. "The Weary Blues" is a good poem. I think the piano is the symbol in this poem because when he plays it its like a song but when its over he falls asleep like a rock and that shows that the piano is a symbol in this poem. It's like if the piano represents the life of the man. sergio c from United States Comment 18 of 20, added on October 7th, 2007 at 6:10 PM. This poem is not about Langston Hughes, Its about all blacks during that time. Its also about W.E.B. Dubois theory on "Double-Consciousness." The theory of a "two-ness" being African and American, and the constant struggle between the two. Theres a contrast in "Ebony hands for each Ivory key." Its also about the isolation that people feel when they are stuck with this dilemma. He offers a solution by saying quit ma frowning, and put ma troubles on the shelf," saying that we as a people need to make the best of what this is and achieve the way we always do. Thats just my opinion though... Josh from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Weary Blues, has received 20 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Langston Hughes with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Langston Hughes Poem: The Weary Blues Last read: May 14 2008, 4:45AM Viewed 35660 times. Added on October 7th, 2007 at 6:10 PM.

Hughes Info
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