"Worried Life Blues" is a blues standard that has become "one of the most covered of all blues songs." Major "Big Maceo" Merriweather recorded "Worried Life Blues," a mid-tempo, 8-bar blues, in 1941. The song was Big Maceo's first single and was recorded with frequent collaborator, guitarist and fellow recording artist, Tampa Red. It was reported to have been a "big hit," but was released before the Billboard charts or a similar service began tracking such releases. Although based on "Someday Baby Blues," recorded by Sleepy John Estes in 1935 (Champion 50068/Decca 7279), Big Maceo's ""Worried Life Blues" eclipsed the song that inspired it." It was in the first batch of songs inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983 (alongside "Stormy Monday," "Sweet Home Chicago," "Dust My Broom," and "Hellhound on My Trail") in the "Classics of Blues Recordings" category.

Although there are differences between "Worried Life Blues" and "Someday Baby Blues," over the years they have become blurred by various cover versions of the songs which use elements from both songs, often combined with new lyrics and variations in the music. To illustrate the lyrical differences of the originals, the first few verses are as follows:

"Worried Life Blues" Big Maceo (1941):

Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord

It hurts me so bad, for us to part

But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life anymore

"Someday Baby Blues" Sleepy John Estes (1935):

I don't care how long you go, I don't care how long you stay

But that good kind treatment, bring you back someday

Someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my mind anymore

 

 

Worried Life Blues

Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord.
It hurts me so bad for us to part.
But someday baby,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.

You're on my mind every place I go.
How much I love you, nobody know.
Yeah, someday babe,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.

So many days since you went away.
I've had to worry both night and day.
Yeah, but someday babe,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.

So many nights since you've been gone.
I've been worried, grieving my life alone.
Yeah, but someday babe,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.

So that's my story and this is all I've got to say to you:
Bye bye, baby, I don't care what you do.
'Cause someday darling,
I won't have to worry my life any more.

Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord.
It hurts me so bad for us to part.
Oh, but someday baby,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.