"Preachin' Blues" is a song by Peter Green Splinter Group, which is a tribute band led by the British blues rock guitarist Peter Green. The song is actually a cover of a blues classic originally composed and performed by Robert Johnson, one of the pioneering figures of the Delta blues genre. The lyrics describe the narrator waking up in the morning feeling down and overwhelmed by the blues, which is metaphorically personified as a man. The blues is depicted as a sort of companion that the narrator asks to give him strength and understanding by offering its right hand. This demonstrates the deep connection and familiarity the narrator has with the blues, as if it were an entity of its own. The blues is described as a "low down shaky chill," which signifies its haunting and depressing nature. The narrator remarks that if you have never experienced the blues, they hope you never will, emphasizing the burdensome and challenging emotions associated with it. The song also references the blues as a form of heart disease, indicating the way it affects the narrator's emotional well-being. It is compared to consumption (tuberculosis), a disease that slowly deteriorates the body, suggesting that the blues has a similar effect on the soul, slowly killing the narrator's spirit. The rain is mentioned as a means of finding temporary solace from the blues. The narrator seeks refuge by going to a steel rail (possibly a train track) and staying there all day. This could represent a desire to disconnect from society or find peace in solitude. Overall, "Preachin' Blues" captures the heavy-heartedness and emotional weight associated with the blues. It explores themes of loneliness, despair, and the all-consuming nature of this particular style of music.
