Song Description

The singer encounters a friend who has just been dumped by his girlfriend and suggests that a good way for him to work through his pain is to play some 8 bar blues on the guitar. The friend misunderstands and thinks he is supposed to go to 8 bars to drown his sorrows in alcohol and doesn't understand why this is not helping him with his problem.

Lyrics

Verse:
My buddy came by upset ... I was racing to leave for work
He said his girl had thrown him out ... he didn't know where to turn
I told him, "You chill here ... there's a guitar in my room.
Take it ... pour your sorrows out ... in the 8 bar blues."

I called at lunch; he said, "Took your guitar ... went to town.
Things were looking up ... by the 3rd bar I found ...
I poured out my sorrows ... each time they filled my glass
Now I'm halfway through the 8 bars ... I just gotta ask ...

Chorus:
Are you sure this'll help me? (BGV: Are you sure this'll help me?)
Tell me what I'm doing wrong (BGV: Tell me what I'm doing wrong)
I'm working the 8 Bar Blues ... the way you told me to
But I ain't feeling any better ... and she's still gone ... she's gone!"

Verse:
I heard he hit two honky-tonks and the Polynesian Lounge
Cowboy hats and Tiki lamps ... strange things going down
He ended at the Crawl On Inn ... then called me up to say
"I've done all 8 bars ... and I'm barely seeing straight.

Chorus:
Are you sure this'll help me? (BGV: Are you sure this'll help me?)
Tell me what I'm doing wrong (BGV: Tell me what I'm doing wrong)
I'm working the 8 Bar Blues ... the way you told me to
But I ain't feeling any better ... and she's still gone!"

Bridge:
There must be something special 'bout which 8 bars you choose
Or maybe I should tip more ... ain't that called paying your dues?

Chorus:
Are you sure this'll help me? (BGV: Are you sure this'll help me?)
Tell me what I'm doing wrong (BGV: Tell me what I'm doing wrong)
I'm working the 8 Bar Blues ... the way you told me to
But I ain't feeling any better ... and she's still gone!"