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Arthur Blake Lyrics by Ralph McTell

Blue Skies Black Heroes

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Down in sunny Florida where the oranges grow
Arthur Blake was born, and that's about all we know
He moved to a northern town, that's where the blind man settled down
And tried to make his home in Chicago
Winter came with ice and rain and wind and snow
Froze Lake Michigan, but Arthur's heart did not get cold
'Cause when he played that skiddle-dat-dee
It was just like a shot of vitamin C
Blowing right in from the southern orange groves
Arthur Blake played rags and songs as well as blues
One man playing guitar, but it sounded just like two
There's no doubt he was the king
Could make it talk and he could make it swing
Round about 1929 the first records rolled
Played low and lonesome till it chilled your very soul
But when he played that bo-dee-o-doe
It was just like getting some money from home
Blowing away the blues when the cold winds blow
Gambling cards and numbers kept him out at night
There were times when this blind man even ended up in a fight
Bad women, bootleg gin
Sang about the trouble that he was in
Yearning for that simpler southern life
He said a Georgia girl was always on his mind
I wonder if he tasted that sweet melon on the vine?
Ah, but when he rags them shuffling blues
He puts a little tap right in my shoes
I had to leave all my worries far behind
Credits
Ralph McTell

Ralph McTell

About “Arthur Blake” by Ralph McTell

Read the complete lyrics to "Arthur Blake" by Ralph McTell from the album " Blue Skies Black Heroes". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Blues, Pop.

"Arthur Blake" is performed by Ralph McTell. from the album " Blue Skies Black Heroes" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Arthur Blake", explore more songs by Ralph McTell using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Arthur Blake" is credited to Ralph McTell. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Arthur Blake" appears on " Blue Skies Black Heroes".

Visit the Ralph McTell artist page at /artist/ralph-mctell for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.