Down Now
by 
B.B. King 
Jules Taub 
recording of 19 
from 
Blues Around Midnight (Ace 235 or Virgin/Alliance 86258 or Atlantic 91801) 
I keep on tryin' to get ahead, I'm doin' the best I can 
But every time I try to pull up 
They pull me right back down again 
You got me down now and I hope you're satisfied 
Oh, it's so hard to to try to keep my head up 
Yes, when you're puttin' pressure on me 
From every side, every side 
Even Uncle Sam say 
I owe a lot of money way back from nineteen fifty six 
Now, how could I owe him anything 
When that whole year I was sick 
They won't let me make my money 
Won't even let me buy my clothes 
Oh, it's so hard to get something to eat 
Yes, and now they want to throw me outdoors 
Throw me outdoors 
Yes, everybody's laughin' at me 
I can see the joy in their eyes 
They're glad because I'm down now 
Just look at the Devils in disguise 
And I have no-one to turn to 
No-one to lend me a helpin' hand 
Oh, I'm tellin' you, shakes has really got me now 
Yes, I'm a lonely, lonely man