Never actually met Cindy. My dear friend, Joey Goldman, told me about her and I started musing until she became my muse for this tune. I had been playing the guitar riff for a while (I think it came with the guitar, a classical that I had recently bought) and the lyrics followed as soon as I learned about Cindy. I’m sorry I never had the chance to play this song for Dave Van Ronk, as I think he might have been interested in it. He was certainly in my mind when I wrote it. The penultimate line is from The Iceman Cometh and for some reason was a line my father loved and frequently interjected into conversation.
Lyrics
Cindy’s Blues Again
You couldn’t tell by looking that I’m feeling less than fine
But I went down to Brooklyn aboard the Canarsie Line
That’s where I met this gypsy and we had a drink or two
After we both got tipsy I told him what I’m telling you
I said believe it or not but this boy’s got
Cindy’s blues again
Don’t last long but they come on so strong
Get me thinking ’bout what might’ve been
The doctor assured me that he had cured me
And I believed I was on the mend when
I came down with Cindy’s blues again
He gulped his drink like water, he said to me: My son
I think perhaps you oughta tell me just how that’s done
He asked me how did I manage to get someone else’s blues
I said by speaking Spanish and wearing her father’s shoes
And believe it or not but that’s how I got
Cindy’s blues again
Don’t last long but they come on so strong
Get me thinking ’bout what might’ve been
The doctor assured me that he had cured me
And I believed I was on the mend when
I came down with Cindy’s blues again
I got my mother’s whiskers, I got my father’s eyes
I tried to tell that gypsy that I was a mixed-up guy
That only made him furious, that’s why I came to you
Won’t you tell Cindy if she’s curious that I’m the guy that’s got her blues
You can believe it or not but this boy’s got
Cindy’s blues again
Don’t last long but the come on so strong
Get me thinking ’bout what might’ve been
The doctor assured me that he had cured me
And I believed I was on the mend when
I came down with Cindy’s blues
Hickey Hickey what have you done to the booze
How can I lose old Cindy’s blues again.