About the song
“Ball and Chain” is a seminal blues song that embodies the raw, emotive power of Big Mama Thornton’s vocal prowess. Penned and first recorded by Thornton in the early 1960s, the track initially languished in obscurity until its eventual release by Arhoolie Records in 1968. Despite its initial commercial underperformance, “Ball and Chain” has since cemented its place as one of Thornton’s most iconic pieces, largely propelled by its transformative renditions by Janis Joplin.
Thornton’s original recording, backed by a small combo featuring her trusted guitarist Edward “Bee” Houston, captures a bluesy lament that speaks to themes of heartache and resilience. Her commanding delivery and Houston’s understated accompaniment set a haunting tone that resonates deeply with listeners. Although Thornton’s version didn’t make significant waves in its time, subsequent performances and covers ensured its enduring legacy.
The song found a new lease on life through Janis Joplin and her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. Joplin, profoundly influenced by Thornton’s bluesy style, discovered “Ball and Chain” during one of Thornton’s electrifying performances in San Francisco. Transforming the song into a slow, minor-key blues anthem punctuated by Joplin’s distinctive vocal intensity, Big Brother and the Holding Company introduced it to a broader audience at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
The impact of their performance was immediate and profound, resonating deeply with both the audience and critics alike. The rendition at Monterey, captured in part in the iconic documentary film, solidified “Ball and Chain” as a cultural touchstone of the 1960s counterculture movement. Subsequent live recordings by Joplin and her band, notably featured on albums like “Cheap Thrills,” further embedded the song into the annals of rock history.
Despite its transformative success, the journey of “Ball and Chain” has been marred by copyright disputes and financial complexities. Thornton, having recorded the song for Bay-Tone Records, faced challenges in claiming full ownership and royalties, a situation exacerbated when Joplin’s rendition surged in popularity. Nevertheless, Thornton’s influence and contribution remain unmistakable, recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”
In essence, “Ball and Chain” stands not just as a blues standard but as a testament to the enduring power of raw, soulful expression in music. Its journey from obscurity to prominence mirrors the broader cultural shifts of the 1960s, where voices like Thornton’s and Joplin’s challenged conventions and expanded the horizons of popular music forever.
Video
Lyrics
Sittin’ down by my window
Honey, lookin’ out at the rain
Lord, Lord, Lord, sittin’ down by my window
Baby, lookin’ out at the rain
Somethin’ came along, grabbed a hold of me
And it felt just like a ball and chain
Honey, that’s exactly what it felt like
Honey, just dragging me down
And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now hon’, tell me why
Why does every single little tiny thing I hold on goes wrong?
Yeah it all goes wrong, yeah
And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now babe, tell me why
Why does every thing, every thing
Hey, here you gone today, I wanted to love you
Honey, I just wanted to hold you, I said, for so long
Yeah! Alright! Hey!
Love’s got a hold on me, baby
Feels just like a ball and chain
Now, love’s just draggin’ me down, baby, yeah
Feels like a ball and chain
I hope there’s someone out there who could tell me
Why the man I love wanna leave me in so much pain
Yeah, maybe, maybe you could help me, come on, help me!
And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now hon’, tell me why
Now tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me why, yeah
And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, when I ask you
When I need to know why, c’mon tell me why, hey hey hey
Here you’ve gone today
I wanted to love you and hold you
Till the day I die
I said whoa, whoa, whoa!
And I say oh, whoa, whoa, no honey
It ain’t fair, daddy it ain’t fair what you do
I see what you’re doin’ to me and you know it ain’t fair
And I say oh, whoa whoa now baby
It ain’t fair, now, now, now, what you do
I said hon’ it ain’t fair what, hon’ it ain’t fair what you do
Oh, here you gone today and all I ever wanted to do
Was to love you
Honey an’ I think there can be nothing wrong with that
Only it ain’t wrong, no, no, no, no, no
Sittin’ down by my window
Lookin’ at the rain
Lord, Lord, Lord, sittin’ down by my window
Lookin’ at the rain, see the rain
Somethin’ came along, grabbed a hold of me
And it felt like a ball and chain
Oh this can’t be in vain
And I’m gonna tell you one just more time, yeah, yeah!
And I say oh, whoa whoa, now baby
This can’t be, no this can’t be in vain
And I say no no no no no no no no, whoa!
And I say whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Now now now now now now now now now no no not in vain
Hey, hope there is someone that could tell me
Hon’, tell me why
Hon’, tell me why love is like
Just like a ball
Just like a ball
Baaaaaaalllll
Oh daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy
And a chain
Yeah!