About The Song

Themes

  • Loneliness and Heartbreak: The song centers on profound loneliness experienced after a relationship ends. The speaker feels utterly lost and without direction.
  • Despair and Hopelessness: There’s a sense of desperation in the lyrics. The speaker sees no reason to go on and believes they’ve reached the end of their emotional strength.
  • Resilience and Self-Awareness: Despite the pain, there’s a flicker of resilience. The speaker acknowledges their feelings, a crucial step toward healing, however difficult that may be.

Lyrics

Here’s a look at some key lyrical passages and their meaning:

  • “Sit there, hmm, count your fingers. What else, what else is there to do?” This opening sets the tone. The heartbroken individual is directionless, emphasizing their despair and emotional paralysis.

  • “Oh sit there, oh count those raindrops. Oh, feel ’em falling down, oh honey all around you.” The image of raindrops connects to tears and a pervasive sense of sadness. The speaker is surrounded and almost trapped in their own sorrow.

  • “And I know how you feel, And I know you ain’t got no reason to go on And I know you feel that you must be through.” This is both empathetic and bleak. The speaker understands the depth of the sadness and the feeling of hitting a breaking point.

Janis Joplin’s Interpretation

Janis Joplin’s raw, bluesy vocals add an extra layer of anguish to “Little Girl Blue”. This wasn’t just a performance for her; she was known for channeling her own tumultuous emotions into her music. This infuses her version with an almost unbearable sense of pain and longing.

Historical Context

“Little Girl Blue” wasn’t originally written for or by Janis Joplin. Here’s some background:

  • Original Composition: The song was written in 1935 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for a Broadway musical.
  • Notable Covers: Many singers have covered this classic, including Nina Simone, whose soulful version is equally renowned.

Video

Lyric

 🎶Let’s sing along with the lyrics!🎤

Sit thereHm-mm, count your fingersWhat else, what else is there to do?Ooh, honey, I know how you feelI know you feel that you’re throughOoh, wah-wah, sit there, hmm, countOh, count your little fingersMy unhappy, oh, little girl, little girl blue, yeah
Ooh-ooh, sit there, oh, count those raindropsOh, feel ’em falling down, ooh, honey all around youHoney, don’t you know it’s time?I feel it’s time somebody told you, ’cause you got to knowThat all you ever gonna have to count on
Or gonna wanna lean onIt’s gonna feel just like those raindrops doWhen they’re falling downHoney, all around youOoh, I know you’re unhappy
Ooh, sit thereOh, go on, go on and count your fingersI don’t know what else, what else, honey, have you got to doAnd I know how you feelAnd I know you ain’t got no reason to go onAnd I know you feel that you must be throughOh, honey, go on and sit right back down
I want you to count, ooh, count your fingersAh, my unhappy, my unluckyAnd my little, oh, girl blueI know you’re unhappyOoh-ooh, honey, I knowBaby, I know just how you feel