Going to The Westside – English Lyrics

• By: Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers
• Album: Going to The Westside

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the authentic sounds of American blues with "Going to The Westside" by Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers. This song offers a superb entry point to understanding the soulful depth of the blues genre, particularly the spirit of Chicago blues. Through Jackie Scott's powerful and genuine vocals, you'll experience a musical tradition that's deeply rooted in emotion and storytelling. Its dedication to blues legend Eddie Shaw makes it special, providing a cultural and historical connection to the heart of American music, while the band's tight instrumentation makes the blues accessible and engaging.

[English]

I remember the day… I remember it…well 

My baby looked right through me…and I could tell… 

He would not even touch me… Couldn’t look me in the eyes… 

His lips says ‘I’m sorry’… Why it’s hard to say goodbye… 

And I’m tired…and I’m ready to lay down… He won’t kiss me no more… 

Don’t even conversate… I put his food on the table, 

And he won’t even touch his plate… Even a blind man…even a blind man can see… 

I can feel it in my soul…my  baby’s slipping away from me…

They say you reap… just what you sow… 

But I really really really reaaallyyyy  noooo want him to go… but I’m tired… 

And I’m ready to lay down…I  can feel it in my soul… 

My baby won’t be hanging around… Got to get myself together…don’t worry no more… 

God give me strength to get up, turn  off the light and lock the door…. 

But I’m so tired… and I’m just ready to lay down… Hmmmmm… I got a strange  

strange feeling that my baby  won’t be hanging around…

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
remember /rɪˈmem.bər/ A2	verb - to be able to bring back a piece of information into your mind
baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ A1	noun - a very young child noun - a term of endearment
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	verb - to put your hand or another part of your body lightly on something or someone
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organ of sight
sorry /ˈsɒr.i/ A2	adjective - feeling sadness or regret
tired /ˈtaɪəd/ A2	adjective - feeling a need to rest or sleep
kiss /kɪs/ A2	verb - to touch with the lips
food /fuːd/ A1	noun - anything that people or animals eat
table /ˈteɪ.bəl/ A1	noun - a flat surface, usually supported by four legs, used for putting things on
plate /pleɪt/ A1	noun - a flat, usually round dish with a slightly raised edge
blind /blaɪnd/ B1	adjective - unable to see
soul /soʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
strength /streŋθ/ B1	noun - the quality or state of being physically strong.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle; the opening it closes.
feeling /ˈfiː.lɪŋ/ B1	noun - an emotional state or reaction.
strange /streɪndʒ/ A2	adjective - unusual or surprising; difficult to understand or explain.

Key Grammar Structures

• My baby looked right through me…and I could tell…

  ➔ Past Simple (looked) and Modal Verb (could tell)

  ➔ Uses "looked" in the past simple to describe an action that happened in the past. "Could tell" is a modal verb indicating the ability to understand or perceive something.

• His lips says ‘I’m sorry’…

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement (simplified). Colloquial simplification.

  ➔ Technically incorrect: should be 'His lips say'. The use of 'says' is a colloquial simplification, perhaps to emphasize the singular idea conveyed.

• Why it’s hard to say goodbye…

  ➔ Inversion (Stylistic)

  ➔ Instead of 'Why it is hard...', the inversion 'Why it's hard...' is used. This is sometimes for emphasis or stylistic effect, common in songs.

• And I’m tired…and I’m ready to lay down…

  ➔ Use of 'lay down' (phrasal verb) - to lie down

  ➔ 'Lay down' is a phrasal verb meaning 'to lie down' or 'to recline'. Here, it expresses a desire to rest.

• He won’t kiss me no more…

  ➔ Double Negative (non-standard English)

  ➔ Using "won't" and "no more" creates a double negative. In standard English, it should be 'He won't kiss me anymore'. Double negatives are often used in informal or dialectal speech for emphasis.

• Even a blind man…even a blind man can see…

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis

  ➔ The repetition of "even a blind man" emphasizes the obviousness of the situation.

• They say you reap… just what you sow…

  ➔ Proverb / Idiom (Present Simple - General Truth)

  ➔ This is a common proverb expressing the idea that your actions have consequences. The present simple is used to express a general truth or a commonly held belief.

• Got to get myself together…don’t worry no more…

  ➔ "Got to" (contraction of "have got to"): Expressing obligation/necessity; imperative (don't worry)

  ➔ "Got to get myself together" means "I have got to get myself together," showing a strong sense of needing to regain control. "Don't worry" is an imperative sentence, giving a command or instruction. Using "no more" with "don't worry" is non-standard but adds emphasis.